County 2 Bradford 3

Plus! You’ll find Dan Cowan behind the window on The County Advent Calendar today

Dec 12, 2024

Thursday 12 December 2024

If you’d like to write an article for The Scarf My Father Wore, share a few snippets or photos, or advertise your business, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Bradford supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Thursday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

Having also written the match report after the Tranmere game last month, Hannah Brown is now officially our go-to girl for shit Football League Trophy nights in the Main Stand. Probably not the most attractive proposition she’s ever had, but she does have a year to find herself something better, as Bradford ended our interest in this season’s competition on Tuesday night.

County 0 Tranmere 2

The Scarf My Father Wore

Nov 14

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There is still plenty to cheer about, however. Dave Challinor’s men remain in the play-offs, there’s new bobble hats in the club shop, we’ve just signed a wonderkid from Iceland (Kerry Katona’s lad apparently), and there’s another window to open on The County Advent Calendar. We’ve got Dan Cowan joining us today.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Rub A Dubz Detailing and The Electrics Guy. A big thank you to Grant and Guy.

Thanks also to MB Photography Services who sponsor our Bradford City content on the website.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 192.73 miles

Total steps so far: 311,804

Total raised so far: £2,192

Total completed streets so far: 469 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

✍️ Tuesday’s match in one word

Disappointing (said with a 'not angry, just disappointed' tilty head).

🤔 Pre-match thoughts

I thought we'd be okay. I honestly did. Chally's Big Rousing call to arms about players proving their worth would surely work, wouldn't it? Also, big question of the day: is it acceptable to wear a County-branded snuddie as outerwear?

🧐 Post-match thoughts

It didn't really seem to work. But I maintain that the reason this second XI doesn't seem to click is because they're not used to playing together in game play, and that shouldn't detract from their abilities as individual contributors and to slot into the first team as cover.

🔵 Verdict on County

After coming back from two goals down I really thought we knew what we needed to do in the second half but they caught us on the counter far too easily and we just weren't able to finish anything.

🟠 Verdict on Bradford

Better than their league position suggests. They did really well in the second half, but we let them play all game. With their first choice keeper in net it would likely have been a worse scoreline.

🎩 Top Hatter

Odin was the only one showing much creativity in midfield, but Jack Diamond was great at finding space (just for no one to pass to him), and Addai pulled off some cracking saves.

🐓 Top Bantam

Andy Cook – 10 goals in their league campaign so far this season from 17 games, and lazy critics still describe him as fat. Bobby Pointon showed he's definitely one to watch too.

👂 Atmosphere

Very very quiet. I had a restricted view seat on account of the liner and Chally, interchangeably, and I definitely heard more from Dave than the crowd. I learnt some new words…

🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season

I think the official line is “we can concentrate on the league now” just in time for Stevenage who are gathering a bit of momentum after two wins from two (although one was against Burton in the BDSM trophy).

😀 Best part of the day

My nephew's birthday cake at half-time. Elite level Costco cake. Tied with opening my advent calendar.

😡 Worst part of the day

Trying to manage a global Secret Santa where it emerged 24 hours before the exchange that not everyone knew what a Secret Santa exchange was. So that was fun.

The British Library receives a copy of every single book published in the UK. In the same fashion, Des Junior believes a detailed record of every County game should be preserved for the history books. So here’s the full story of our 3-2 defeat at home to Bradford City on Tuesday 10 December, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…

6.04pm: Surprised Horsfall's playing. Presumably whatever it was on Saturday, was identified as something and nothing.

6.06pm: Migraine apparently.

6.07pm: Probably brought on by the advertising boards.

7.14pm: Absolutely atrocious. They’re not even communicating.

7.17pm: Good to see the reserves staking a claim to be in the first team, again, isn’t it. Sigh.

8.25pm: Bradford want it more.

8.54pm: I’m straight up not arsed about that competition but fuck me that was a mess. I don’t think I have ever seen so many players needlessly played out of position.

8.57pm: Three really poor goals given away. Won't win many games by conceding three and we didn't look like winning this one after half-time.

10.34pm: Guys, I was that pissed off I just walked home. Then I realised home was actually quite far. I'm now consoling myself with a cheesy garlic bread as a reward for the effort.

10.37pm: Oh I do this all the time even when I'm not pissed off.

Give a little TLC to your car

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They also do gift vouchers, if you’re still looking for Christmas gift ideas.

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Your go-to Guy for any electrical problems this winter

Unfortunately, Guy was unable to work for eight months recently due to ill health (he had a stem cell transplant in February) but he’s now on the mend and he’s already taking on work again.

As we head into the festive season, the telly will be on all day, the Christmas lights will be on all night, and your oven will be gearing up for the biggest day of the year on the 25th. If there’s any electrical stuff you need sorting out this winter, make sure you give Guy a call.

➡️ You can contact Guy on 07703 395902 or email theelectricsguy@icloud.com.

The County Advent Calendar: Day 11 – Dan Cowan

After joining from Macclesfield Town, Dan Cowan made his County debut on the opening day of the 2017-18 season in a 1-0 defeat at Spennymoor. The defender went on to make 125 appearances for the club, scoring twice, including the winner at AFC Fylde in December 2019 in front of a bonkers away end.

First of all, Mr Cowan, I’ve got a special hotline to Father Christmas. He’s asked me if you’ve been naughty or nice this year?

Of course I’m saying I’m on the nice list. If you ask someone else that answer might change!

What was the best thing about being a footballer at Christmas?

I think it’s just being around the boys over Christmas. Over the season you get so close to everyone, so spending Christmas and New Year with lads you go into battle with every week is special.

And the worst?

I guess it’s the congestion of it all. You could play games on the 26th, 28th and the 1st so it’s a hard period on your body. Mentally it’s tough because you see everyone breaking up for Christmas and recharging their batteries before the new year, but we have to keep going, staying disciplined on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve as our main focus is getting as many points as possible.

What does a typical Christmas Day look like in your house?

Mine has changed a lot over the years because I now have nieces and nephews who bring a lot of life to the mornings! But normally it’s very chilled. We might stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve and have a glass of champagne and open a present. Then the morning consists of opening presents, having a good brew and playing Christmas songs. After that it turns a bit chaotic because I have a big family (four older brothers) so if they’re all here there needs to be a lot of food cooked! The ‘boys’ normally help prep, Dad does the meat, and Mum is the orchestrator of it all, pulling the strings. After that we all normally hit a food coma and fall asleep watching a Christmas special.

What’s your favourite Christmas film?

Home Alone is an absolute classic which I have to put on before watching anything else at Christmas!

What would be the best Christmas present underneath the tree for you this year?

If you can fit a trip to the Maldives under the tree then that would do nicely!

County have got Huddersfield away, Rotherham away and Birmingham at home over the festive period. How many points are we getting?

Tough run of fixtures for the boys but I’m saying seven points out of nine, and I’m sure they’d snatch your hand off with three tricky games coming up.

Where do you get your Christmas tree from?

I get it from the local garden centre, so all natural. My girlfriend calls every tree “she” so she’ll go up to one and say “she looks nice” or “she’s a bit wonky” – so the process is quite long…

What’s your best Christmas cracker joke?

Why is Santa worried about being stalked?

He’s surrounded by baby reindeer.

Are you organised when it comes to Christmas shopping or are you a Christmas Eve petrol station sort of guy?

I’m the least organised person ever, but I never panic. I just wait patiently until the 19th and get it all boxed off in one day. Efficient.

Photo of the day

Valley Parade, Bradford

County fans queue up at Valley Parade in December 2023, ahead of our 0-0 draw in League Two.

Are you looking for an experienced photographer with a passion for capturing the perfect moment?

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Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Conclave (12A) at 5.30pm, followed by Wicked (15) at 8pm.

The screening of Wicked coincides with Pizza Club. Tickets include a pizza from I Knead Pizza, a drink of your choice and an ice cream – all in the comfort of your cinema seat!

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍹 Food and drink

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £5.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £1.50, and 3 for £7 on Jägerbombs.

Pop in for a pint at Heaton Hops (SK4), CAMRA Pub of the Year for Stockport and South Manchester.

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8).

Cocktails are 2 for £12 at Flute & Firkin (SK12) till 7pm.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as AMP (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this festive season by popping in for a few drinks.

Random photos of County players at other clubs

#71 – Antoni Sarcevic, Bradford

Sarcevic has only made four appearances for Bradford since moving to Valley Parade in the summer. He’s been out of action since August with a knee injury, but he has recently returned to training.