(C)ounty 4 Accrington 2
Stanley aren’t in town simply to make up the numbers, but nothing can spoil the party on the day County get their hands on the League Two trophy
Tuesday 23 April 2024 – CHAMPIONS FORTNIGHT!
NEXT GAME: Wrexham A – Saturday 27 April, 3pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Accrington supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to CHAMPIONS FORTNIGHT on The Scarf My Father Wore.
It’s not every day Stockport County win a Football League title – in fact, the last time it happened was 57 years ago – so we’re shouting our success from the rooftops, with 14 champion-flavoured articles over 14 days. Nick Lee and Adam Scarborough join us today for a look back at Saturday’s game, with a crowd of over 10,000 managing to see six goals before the trophy lift.
Today’s edition is sponsored by LM Stone Creative. A big thank you to Chris, who’s also sponsoring Stockport Town’s play-off final against Abbey Hey this Saturday. If you’re not going to Wrexham, that should be a great game at Stockport Sports Village.
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: 136.36 miles
Total steps so far: 217,174
Total raised so far: £1,666
Total completed streets so far: 271 (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
✍️ Saturday’s match in one word
Nick: Procession.
Adam: Predictable.
🤔 Pre-match thoughts
Nick: Beer or spirits? Other than that I just wanted us to put on a bit of a show to mark the occasion.
Adam: I was very impressed with how County played at our place earlier in the season so I was just hoping we wouldn’t get a hammering. That said, some of us thought your players may have been in the pub all week so we might actually have a chance…
🧐 Post-match thoughts
Nick: Beer.
Adam: It was a great game I thought. Good to see us score a couple but it didn’t help conceding straight after scoring our second.
🔵 Verdict on (C)ounty
Nick: Thought we picked up where we left off on Tuesday night. The first 20 minutes saw us being utterly dominant, and with better decisions it could easily have been over by then. We showed a proper champions' mentality to stay focused and come away with a deserved win.
Adam: A very professional performance given you’d already won the title. To score a minute after conceding showed great strength.
🔴 Verdict on Accrington
Nick: They looked shell-shocked early on and I fancied us for a cricket score, but to be fair to them they grew into the game and scored two good goals to at least give us a bit of jeopardy.
Adam: I thought we gave a decent account of ourselves against an excellent side. It was very pleasing to see Shaun Whalley and Jack Nolan on the scoresheet.
🎩 Top Hatter
Nick: Tricky one, this. Wootton showed just how good he can be when he gets the ball into feet, and fully deserved his brace after working hard for months with little reward in terms of goals. Couldn't argue with the choice of Sarce for MOTM though, he was absolutely everywhere and absolutely bossed it.
Adam: They all played their part but I’ll go with Kyle Wootton after his double.
🔴 Top Red
Nick: I was impressed by the number 7, Whalley, and have been every time I've seen him. I definitely didn't assume it was McConville and spend the first half booing him every time he touched the ball. Definitely not.
Adam: I’ll go for Jack Nolan after his goal, even though it took most of us in the away end a bit to realise he’d actually scored!
👂 Atmosphere
Nick: I was in UT2 and it was noisy from the off. Hope to see more of that in future. I don't think it can be denied that it's been a bit flat at times this season.
Adam: Edgeley Park is one of those grounds where you can generate a great atmosphere. All around the ground the fans were in fine voice.
🙏 Hopes for next season
Nick: I know the club will have bigger ambitions but I'd be very happy with upper mid-table, a small flirtation with the play-offs and a cup run. Sounds as if we'll see a few new faces in the summer so a slow start feels almost inevitable at this point. I just hope that doesn't lead to too much bedwetting from the fans who've only ever seen us at the top end of leagues we were too big for.
Adam: We’re heading into the unknown really with new manager John Doolan expected to make plenty of changes. Most of our players are out of contract this summer.
😀 Best part of the day
Nick: The celebrations afterwards were something else. Weirdly though, it didn't feel like it meant as much to me as the previous two promotions. Not sure if that's because I'm all old and dead inside or if it's a sign of just how important those were.
Adam: It was fancy dress day for us so it was a good laugh in the away end with some of the costumes on show. We also had some good banter with County fans in the Railway End.
😡 Worst part of the day
Nick: Some idiot in UT2 kept booing their number 7 under the assumption it was Sean McConville. Plus I stepped on some Lego when I got home on Sunday morning.
Adam: Probably conceding within the first 10 minutes, although our fans continued to try and get behind the team.
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 4-2 victory at home to Accrington Stanley on Saturday 20 April 2024, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…
3.11pm: Get in! Wootton.
3.12pm: About time. 10 minutes. Not good enough.
3.18pm: Equaliser. Never mind!
3.19pm: Hang on, Accrington aren’t meant to do that.
3.48pm: 2-1. Evans.
4.25pm: 3-1. Wootton diving header to round off a wonderful move, including a stunning pass from Powell.
4.40pm: 3-2.
4.41pm: 4-2!
10.14pm: Just got home from a bloody marvellous day out. Would love to have stopped longer, maybe even long enough to see some of the players on the piss, but to be honest I was both pissed and shattered so the train home was the best choice. Cheers, thank you.
10.15pm: What a brilliant afternoon and a fucking awesome season. Great night in the Armoury and top bunch of people from this group. It’s been an absolute pleasure to share this season with you all. If we can dispatch Wrexham next week it will be the icing on the jam on the cake. Can’t wait for next season. Onwards and upwards.
LM Stone Creative strengthens relationship with Stockport Town through sponsorship expansion
In an exciting development for both LM Stone Creative and Stockport Town, the two entities have further solidified their partnership through an expanded sponsorship agreement. As a result, the main stand at the football club's stadium will now proudly bear the company’s name – the LM Stone Creative Stand.
This new sponsorship deal marks a significant milestone for Stockport Town, with Jonothan Gains, the club's general manager, stating that it’s the biggest sponsorship agreement the club has secured since its establishment. The partnership between LM Stone Creative and Stockport Town continues to grow stronger, showcasing the shared commitment to supporting local sport and the community.
The recent unveiling of the LM Stone Creative Stand, captured beautifully by the talented photographers at Paddy Duggan Photography, was met with great enthusiasm from the fans. The photos showcase the incredible new signage and the electrifying atmosphere during the first match played in front of the stand. This historic match saw Stockport Town triumph over Droylsden with a thrilling 1-0 victory, thanks to a late winner in the 95th minute by Dan McLaughlin. The images perfectly capture the jubilation and excitement of the fans as they celebrated this momentous occasion.
It’s worth mentioning that Stockport Town is currently under the guidance of player-manager Paul Turnbull, a legend of Stockport County. Turnbull's experience and leadership on and off the field brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the club. His presence further strengthens the bond between Stockport Town and Stockport County, creating a sense of unity and shared history.
To further demonstrate their dedication to Stockport Town, LM Stone Creative has generously donated a new Silestone - Eternal Serena Quartz bar top for the clubhouse. This bespoke addition, features a custom laser-etched plaque displaying the club's crest. The attention to detail and craftsmanship showcased in the photos exemplify the exceptional quality of LM Stone Creative's work. This gift not only enhances the aesthetics of the clubhouse but also symbolises the deep-rooted support and passion that LM Stone Creative has for the club and its aspirations.
Coinciding with the remarkable achievements of Stockport County, who were crowned champions of League Two, this has been an extraordinary week for Stockport as a whole. The success of both clubs reflects the thriving sporting culture and the unwavering support of the local community.
Looking ahead, Stockport Town, under the leadership of Paul Turnbull, take on Abbey Hey this Saturday in their play-off final at 3pm. As proud sponsors, LM Stone Creative are encouraging everyone to grab their tickets and rally behind the team, supporting them on their journey towards promotion. LM Stone Creative remains the first choice for bespoke stone surfaces, and their continued partnership with Stockport Town exemplifies their commitment to excellence and community engagement.
Together, LM Stone Creative and Stockport Town are making a positive impact, uniting their shared love for sport, community support, and the pursuit of dreams.
Photo of the day
Edgeley Park, Stockport
He’s probably not as clinical in the box as Paddy Madden, but a County legend nonetheless.
Today in SK
🎶 DJ
Manchester’s Guitar, a project which is creating a documentary celebrating the last 50 years of Manchester music, is hosting The Manc Disco at Bask (SK1) tonight. Manc anthems all night long. Free entry. 8pm - 11pm.
🍟 Food and drink
The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £4.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £2, and 3 for £6 on Jägerbombs.
If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a couple of pints.
Pie Meal Deal at The Friary (SK3). Any pie or pudding and chips with peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £7.95. (Greenhalgh’s Pies £1 extra.)
Random County fan of the day #103 – Jon Fitz!
One final thing before you go… if you’d like a spring clean for your car, carpets, house, oven or even your windows, get in touch with our brilliant bunch of sponsors!
🎨 Art & Gifts: Kate O’Brien Art
🧱 Builders Merchant: MKM Manchester South
🧽 Car Valeting: Rub A Dubz Detailing Ltd
🧼 Carpet Cleaning: A Star Clean Ltd
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈 Cat Flaps: That Cat Flap Company Ltd
👶 Child Health: The Sleep Nanny
🏠 Chimney Sweep: Three Shires Chimney Services
🧹 Cleaning: Beespoke Cleaning
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
🔥 Fire Protection: Radial Fire And Security Limited
👟 Fitness: G Thomas Training
🍏 Greengrocers: Waterhouse’s Quality Food
🛁 Grout Refresh & Recolour: GroutGleam Stockport
💇♀️ Hairdressing: C West Hairstylist
💻 IT Services: Bridge Computer Services
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
👨🍳 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🌳 Landscaping: PR Landscapes
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
🧤 Oven Cleaning: That Oven Girl
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
🚑 Personal Injury: Parkers Solicitors Ltd
📸 Photography: Holly Dwyer Photography
🎹 Piano Tutor: Sophie Grace Piano and Keyboard Tuition
🧱 Plastering: DT Plastering Services and Damp Proofing Specialists
🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman
🦶 Podiatry: SK Podiatry
📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing
🤳 Social Media Management: Believe Media
☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd
👨💼 Solicitors: B.J. McKenna & Co
⚽️ Sports Coaching: UK Sports Coaching Ltd
🪨 Stonemason: LM Stone Creative
🪵 Timber Supplies: Portwood Timber Division of Illingworth Ingham (Manchester) Ltd
☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd
⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean
🪟 Window Cleaner: R ‘N’ B Window Cleaning
🧘♀️ Yoga: Greenshoots Yoga
Love to see two businesses side-by-side that are very successful. Big shout out to LM Stone Creative Limited. Massive shout out to Stockport town let’s get the final sorted good luck guys
I am so proud seeing Lm Stone Creative Ltd Sponsoring Stockport town. Christopher Greenbank, the owner and founder of LM Stone Creative, Ltd my first thoughts were that he’s going to work two businesses reaching for the top. Stockport town congratulations on reaching the playoff final.
Christopher Greenbank
LM Stone Creative LTD I could not think of a better relationship moving forward. 2 outstanding companies. Congratulations to both of you.
One very happy LM Stone creative LTD Customer.