County 2 Notts County 1
Plus! Des Junior’s Great Big Review of 2023 takes us back to May and the ups and downs of the play-offs
Sunday 24 December 2023
NEXT HOME GAME: Mansfield – Monday 1 January, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Barrow – Tuesday 26 December, 3pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and any Magpies joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Sunday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Today’s not just any old Sunday… it’s Christmas Eve! On that note, there’s three important things you’ve got to do today:
1) Watch Home Alone 2 on ITV at 5.25pm (or Miracle on 34th Street on Channel 4 at 5.45pm).
2) Leave out some cookies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph.
3) Sign up as a paid subscriber on The Scarf My Father Wore.
The first one will make you feel good, the second will make Father Christmas feel good, and the third will fill your hard-working editor with plenty of Christmas cheer.
County fan Ben Roach did that recently. (Signed up as a paid subscriber – I don’t know if he’s been watching classic 90s movies or leaving food in his front room for people who don’t exist*)
Here’s a quick chat with Ben on why he upgraded his subscription from free to paid.
Why did you decide to become a paid subscriber?
The article with quotes from Keith Mills. Keith does great work with his Forever Friends of Uganda charity and I'm looking forward to reading the book he's recently written. His endorsement reminded me that I've been meaning to send you a few quid for a while. I'd happily buy a fanzine off you every month so setting up a subscription seemed like the right thing to do.
Favourite thing about The Scarf My Father Wore?
The away fan contributors are always interesting and I also enjoy reading about County fans' journeys to away games – it's reassuring that there are other people who make trips even crazier than mine! [And on that note, Des Junior inserts the link for Morecambe away!]
Why should other County fans become paid subscribers too?
I read nearly every article and I think it's good value for less than a quid a week. Plus I'm sure you'll remember all us early subscribers when you're a multi-millionaire and invite us to your posh corporate box at the newly developed EP!
I might need a few more subscribers before I’m rubbing shoulders with Mark Stott on a matchday, but Ben – and all of our other paid subscribers – will be receiving free tickets to my book launch (plus a free, signed copy of the book) once it’s published. Paid subscribers will also receive loads of other bits and bobs as well – I’ll always be thinking of new ways to thank subscribers for helping me to grow the website and produce even more content.
Today’s reading material is our match report from a rather strange game at Edgeley Park on Friday, which saw (Stockport) County win 2-1 to maintain their six-point lead at the top of League Two, although the visitors produced an extremely impressive display on the night. Dave Philbin and Adopted Magpie93 reflect on the final game of 2023 in SK3.
I’m sure most of our readers are running around like headless chickens today, sorting out the last few bits and bobs for tomorrow, but I’ve included an extra article myself, for when you’re finally relaxing on the sofa later on. It’s part five of my Great Big Review of 2023 as the season ends in heartbreak at Wembley, but mixed with a huge amount of pride as well after reaching the play-off final in only our first season back in the Football League.
Today’s edition is sponsored by Pro Clean Carpet Services. If you wake up tomorrow morning and find that Santa and Rudolph have trampled mud all over your carpet, and dropped cookies and carrots everywhere, call 07359 461781 or email info@procleancarpetservices.co.uk.
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: 46.68 miles
Total steps so far: 83,302
Total raised so far: £1,027
Total completed streets so far: 24 (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
*I know they both exist really, don’t worry
✍️ Friday’s match in one word
Dave: Resilient.
Adopted Magpie93: Compelling.
🤔 Pre-match thoughts
Dave: I thought it would be high scoring at both ends. Notts have a leaky defence and we’ve conceded more goals than usual recently. That coupled with two sides with great forward lines, my prediction was 5-2 to us!
Adopted Magpie93: Concerned that with our squad depleted, we might struggle against a very good side that score freely and were coming off an 8-0 win. We’ve been through a bumpy patch on the pitch and rather too much speculation off it. I hoped for a point, expected a loss. What mattered was the performance. We needed to regain confidence and perform better.
🧐 Post-match thoughts
Dave: We got the job done. It was nice that we were able to show that we can do the other side of the game – sitting back, absorbing the pressure and playing on the counter attack. The subs Challinor made were big gambles, but each one paid off in their own right. Wright on in midfield to sit in the back line out of possession was a great shout, and Richardson up front? A revelation!
Adopted Magpie93: Disappointed to lose, especially to a penalty, but so satisfied with the performance. Our possession play was excellent and we dominated the second half. Stockport were very savvy defensively and know how to grind out wins. But this was a huge confidence booster for everyone at Notts. I think this will springboard us into the Christmas and New Year fixtures with renewed optimism. It was some performance to overwhelm the league leaders for long periods of the game, particularly in the second half. Great stuff.
🔵 Verdict on County
Dave: Started well and got our early goal. The comments from Notts fans in the build-up suggested they could implode if they conceded early so I convinced myself we'd get a load more. We defended brilliantly all game; any of Pye, Horsfall or Byrne deserved MOTM for me. The only thing that mattered on Friday night was the three points and I'm over the moon we got them. Could have been different had their keeper not made that great save from Wootton at 1-0. Special mention for Madden as well, he's become undroppable again and I love to see it.
Adopted Magpie93: Accomplished. Didn’t find their best game, but like us, injuries are impacting. However, they won and did so professionally. I feel they will continue strongly into the second half of the season and will be a solid bet for the title.
⚫️ Verdict on Notts County
Dave: They didn't look like a side that have lost six of their last eight, that's for sure. They were reminiscent of some of our recent away performances – Morecambe and Newport specifically, loads of the ball, dominated the midfield, but couldn't break down a packed defence. They didn't test Ben nearly enough but signs of a great side are there. Based on last night, if they strengthen in defence then they'll definitely be up there. On a side note, if Challinor was to get a job offer that he couldn't turn down higher up the leagues, Luke Williams would be top of my list. Watching his interviews it seems his ethos is similar to Dave and the County fans.
Adopted Magpie93: Frankly, we need to make our possession more incisive. It’s quite usual that we have 65% or more of the ball and now we need to make that count. Langstaff is not getting enough service – feed that lad and the points will come.
🎩 Top Hatter
Dave: Byrne.
Adopted Magpie93: Byrne had a good game but given so many injuries it’s difficult to single out any one player. Stockport played effectively as a defensive unit to keep Notts out. Credit to them for that.
🐤 Top Magpie
Dave: Jones.
Adopted Magpie93: Johnny Bostock. Another midfield playmaker masterclass. Stepped brilliantly into the void Matty Palmer has sadly relinquished this term. Good to see him back to his best. Also a big shout for Aden Baldwin, who had a tough time recently after a few poor games, but looked much improved on Friday.
👂 Atmosphere
Dave: I sit in LT4 and for most parts it was great. Went flat at times but when the players needed a lift, they got one.
Adopted Magpie93: Sadly, I didn’t get there despite having a ticket and a day planned with the lads. I was so disappointed because Edgeley Park is a ground I haven’t been to and was so much looking forward to visiting. It’s just a proper football ground. Everyone I’ve talked to since Friday night says it was the best away day for years. Noisy, passionate and real love for the gaffer and players. Stockport fans are always brilliant, I’ve got a lot of respect for them.
🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season
Dave: Top of the league at Christmas, the answer has to be winning the league. But I'll take finishing 3rd with a +1 goal difference on 4th.
Adopted Magpie93: Despite not getting anything, I’m taking tremendous confidence from the performance, application, intensity and frankly dominance. We do need two or three acquisitions in the window to strengthen the squad, but I’m pretty sure those wheels will be in motion. Assuming that happens, I truly believe we’ll make the play-offs and I haven’t written off automatic yet, but we’ll need others to hit a bad spell.
😀 Best part of the day
Dave: Putting my out-of-office on at 12:45pm until 2 January!
Adopted Magpie93: Our incredible fans throughout the game and especially at full-time, with such a special moment with Luke Williams. The guy has transformed our club and the reception he got was incredible. If you haven’t seen it, please take a look. The mutual respect and affection is beautiful to see.
😡 Worst part of the day
Dave: People booing Powell as he came on the pitch. Only a few but it pissed me off.
Adopted Magpie93: A last-minute business conference call with a customer I had to attend (why do they always do this in the middle of the afternoon on the last working day of the year?). That was followed by a red triangle warning light on my car dashboard that I couldn’t chance ignoring. Had to settle for the stream and a glass of something nice!
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 2-1 victory at home to Notts County on Friday 22 December 2023, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…
7.54pm: Wootton 1-0. Notts defending like statues. Love it!
9.16pm: This is genius or mental from Challinor.
9.17pm: It’s a fine line…
9.28pm: 2-0! Paddy penalty.
9.35pm: 2-1. Awful defending.
11.53pm: Feel like Challinor won that. Most of his subs felt odd at the time, but everything he changed improved us and took the game further from Notts.
11.55pm: Think we had three chances. Scored two. I reckon if we scored the other one, we'd have won by three or four. Have said to my Notts mate that those subs defied all sense. But they worked. Challinor has had an absolute blinder tonight.
11.56pm: I don’t want to deal in clichés, but those are the sorts of games that are the difference between a County that loses a play-off final and a County that just gets promotion done and dusted. Not always going to be pretty. Ideally more often than not, but it’s all about what you take…
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Des Junior’s Great Big Review of 2023: Part 5 – May
Monday 8: Hartlepool (H) 1-1
Saturday 13: Salford (A) 0-1
Saturday 20: Salford (H) 2-1
Sunday 28: Carlisle (N) 1-1
“Lad, we’re absolutely shite. Wouldn’t wish for too much.”
“From my time growing up in Birkenhead, I can tell you one thing, and that’s never to rely on Tranmere.”
“To all the Stockport fans relying on Tranmere to beat Northampton next week in order to gain automatic promotion, can I give you a warm advanced welcome to the ‘Tranmere will ruin your weekend’ club.”
It’s always exciting heading into the first week of May with a chance of automatic promotion, but County needed a huge favour from Tranmere, and Tranmere fans started the month by telling us there wasn’t much chance of that happening.
I did my bit. I’m possibly the only writer in the world who’s ever used the following headline on an article:
We published a lovely article on Birkenhead Market and Half Man Half Biscuit but it didn’t have the desired effect, as Northampton won 1-0 at Prenton Park on the final day. Crossbar wankers. Although we couldn’t really blame Tranmere in the end, as County failed to beat already-relegated Hartlepool. Callum Camps gave us a half-time lead from the penalty spot, but Callum Cooke equalised just past the hour mark. Camps went on to miss a penalty in stoppage time, but it wouldn’t have changed the outcome of our 46-game campaign.
Mozzer had the final word on County’s (regular) season: “Glad Northampton won, because if they hadn’t I’d have been raging at not taking advantage. I confess I can’t even get worked up about the farce around the disallowed goal. I know things might have been different if we’d known Northampton were losing/drawing, but we just lacked that extra bit of urgency we needed. Obviously we still should have won despite being well below our best and it was annoying not to do that, just to help with momentum going into the play-offs. We’ll have to hope it acts better as a wake-up call.”
A disappointing end to the season on the pitch, but Monday 8 May was still a special day off it, as the statue of Danny Bergara was unveiled in a special ceremony at the Cheadle End.
Sad news was to follow after the weekend, with the announcement that one of Danny Bergara’s signings, Neil Matthews, had passed away from cancer at the age of 56.
The first leg of the play-offs took County to Moor Lane, following a frantic scramble for tickets during the week after Salford only gave us an allocation of 12. The lucky Hatters who did manage to obtain a ticket saw County suffer defeat for the first time in nearly three months. Matt Smith scored the only goal of the game.
Simon Lomas shared his post-match thoughts: “It was a bit dispiriting that we couldn't cause them more problems but on reflection they'll probably see it as a bit of a missed opportunity to put the tie to bed when we were so depleted by injury. The game hinged on Croasdale hitting the bar with a sitter then Smith bundling home straight down the other end, even though it looked a blatant foul having seen it back. Fine margins.”
I wasn’t at Moor Lane myself, but I did have a ticket for the second leg at Edgeley Park a week later. Up bright and early, I was at Bask not long after opening time. I’d decided to write an in-depth feature on all aspects of a County home day. I couldn’t have planned the day better if I’d tried.
The atmosphere inside Edgeley Park that day was phenomenal. With a Wembley final agonisingly slipping through our fingertips, the noise that greeted Tanto’s equaliser (on aggregate) is something that will stay with me for a very, very long time. As will the reaction to Jack Stretton’s goal in extra-time, just seconds after Salford looked to have secured their trip to Wembley through Stephen Mallan’s deflected effort. That took the game to penalties, which County won 3-1, with Ben Hinchliffe making a couple of stunning saves.
Dave Philbin agreed with me on the noise in SK3 that day. “One of the best atmospheres I’ve experienced. The sheer noise when Tanto scored was off the scale. From start to finish the fans were on it and played a huge part.”
It was WEMBLEY WEEK on The Scarf My Father Wore, which kicked off with yours truly pissing about on ChatGPT.
I did turn my hand to some proper journalism as well during the Wembley build-up. I spoke to FA Cup winner Paul Stewart, Mike Keegan from the Daily Mail, author Justin Walley, Adam Hurrey and Adam Crafton from The Athletic and former footballer David Preece. They all thought County would be victorious in London.
Sadly, they were all wrong. Tanto fired County in front at Wembley, but with just six minutes to go Omari Patrick forced extra-time. No further goals during the extra half an hour, before the Cumbrians clinched promotion from the penalty spot, 5-4 the score with Ryan Rydel seeing his effort saved.
The Wembley defeats to Stoke, Peterborough, Port Vale and Burnley felt horrendous, but I think the photo of Nick Lee at Wembley Park tube station perfectly summed up the mood of County fans following the latest Wembley dejection: gutted, but extremely proud, and still made up to be back in League Two.
County had struggled to find their feet initially upon returning to the Football League – down in 16th in the middle of October – but slowly started to find their rhythm, losing just 1 of their last 20 games of the season. At the very start of the campaign, we didn’t look like we’d be anywhere near the play-offs, let alone be in with a chance of automatic promotion on the final day.
I’m not going to have the final word on this piece today. I’m not even going to give the final word to another County fan. Instead, I’m going to simply wrap this up with a quote from author Justin Walley, who I’d interviewed as part of my Wembley build-up.
“If you don't go up this season, I suspect you'll be champions in 2023-24. If I had to call it, I'd say you'll win on Sunday, but perhaps being promoted 12 months from now might be better for the club's trajectory. Be careful what you wish for. And good luck!”
Today in SK
If you’re still looking for something festive to enjoy today, allow us to point you in the direction of Rainbow 88 (SK8).
The restaurant is open from 4pm today, and Magic Dave will be entertaining diners with his Christmas tricks!
A normal menu and a set menu are available, and there’s also lots of festive fun and Christmas carols as well.
Call 0161 485 2288 to book a table.
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