County ran outta time in the 2022-23 promotion race, but a year later we’re following Orient into League One

League Two’s last two champions will be meeting in the third tier this season

Jun 17, 2024

Monday 17 June 2024

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

England are up and running in the Euros, with a 1-0 victory against Serbia last night. Not a bad result at all – Spain are the only other team to win their first game and keep a clean sheet so far – but Gareth Southgate continues to get a bit of grief. I feel a bit sorry for the England boss, although I do still think we’ll come up just a little bit short this year. Time will tell.

We’re continuing with our League One season preview today (with another Oasis-themed title), as Mat Roper, editor of the O’s fanzine Pandamonium, offers some Orient opinions.

EURO 2024 – DAY 4

2pm: Romania v Ukraine 🇷🇴🇺🇦

5pm: Belgium v Slovakia 🇧🇪🇸🇰

8pm: Austria v France 🇦🇹🇫🇷

Here’s a list of the best places to watch today’s games…

Bask (SK1). All the action on two 75” screens.

Crown (SK2). Buy a pint of Helles today and you’ll be in with a chance of winning 52 free pints! There’s also a special menu throughout the Euros.

Armoury (SK3).

Reddish Working Men’s Club (SK5). There’s four screens in the games room, a new projector in the lower games room, and a screen in the middle room where families and children can enjoy the match. Check out the Special Offer Wheel which will be offering a variety of great deals before, during and after each game.

Railway (SK6).

Marple Tavern (SK6). Food served at half-time such as burgers, hot dogs, pizza and chips.

Steelworks (SK6). Game shown downstairs (sound off) and upstairs (sound on).

Shady Oak (SK7). Food served during the game from the matchday menu. Pick up a loyalty card to receive a discount on certain drinks. 10% discount on food for NHS card holders today.

Three Tunnes (SK7). Buy a pint of Helles today and you’ll be in with a chance of winning 52 free pints! There’s also a special menu throughout the Euros.

Cross Keys (SK8).

Flute & Firkin (SK12). Call 01625 879181 to book a table, and quote “The Scarf My Father Wore” to receive 10% off your first round of drinks. (Not applicable for walk-ins.)

Friendship Inn (SK13). Five big screen TVs with surround sound, including one outside in the beer garden.

Today’s edition is sponsored by ASAP Clearances and Beespoke Cleaning.

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: 148.94 miles

Total steps so far: 237,462

Total raised so far: £1,881

Total completed streets so far: 304 (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

County hammered Leyton Orient, the League Two champions, 3-0 on their last visit to Brisbane Road (Photo courtesy of Mike Petch)

Last win at our place: Saturday 19 September 2009, League One, 2-1

Last win at their place: Saturday 29 April 2023, League Two, 3-0

Today’s Sky Bet title/promotion odds: Us – 20/1 7/1 Them – 40/1 14/1

Top story in the local news today: “Nearly half of shootings investigated by Met Police go unsolved with victims instead wanting revenge”

I’m sorry to start with a political question, but as Rishi’s chucked a general election slap bang in pre-season, I feel we’ve got to mention it. Who are you voting for? If that’s too personal just give us a flavour of the current political feeling in East London? And which person at your football club do you think would make the best prime minister?

I am lost with politics to be honest. There seems to be very little choice out there and whilst there are a few decent ones, I see numerous MPs out for themselves. I’m not living in East London any more but would be surprised if it's anything other than a Labour victory. Prime minister at our club would have to be secretary Lindsey Martin. Gets the job done EVERY TIME!

Nigel Farage has had cement and a milkshake chucked over him recently. If he was to do a lap of Brisbane Road on a Saturday afternoon, what would Orient fans be most likely to throw at him?

God knows. Some might throw seats, some might throw him money. Might be fun seeing him on the Papa John’s pizza motorbike at half-time delivering to the pizza dugout at the north end of the ground.

If you had to compare the ownership and daily operations of your club to a political party, which would it be?

Probably a mixture of all of them. Sometimes decent risk takers, sometimes safe and boring. Does what it says on the tin, blah blah blah.

On and off the pitch, what do you think your club’s manifesto should say for the next 12 months?

On: time to take a calculated risk and up spending by a few more percent to aim for the top six.

Off: continue to liaise with fans and communicate properly.

Right, that’s enough political stuff. Next question. “We’re all from Stockport, who the fuck are you…?”

“We are the champions, who the fuck are you!” (Only problem is we’re not champions any more and you are!)

Which team do you most want to beat this season?

Stevenage, Wrexham, Rotherham, Charlton and West Ham in the cup.

Which Orient player is most likely to end up in League One’s team of the season?

Dan Agyei or Ethan Galbraith.

County haven’t been to Orient in the league since April 2023. In just one paragraph, sum up everything that’s happened at your place since then.

Nice solid 12 months back in League One. Found our feet and continued to progress. Decent signings forming a young and energetic squad so a thumbs up here.

Orient away. I think of Bob Mills, a tube stop on the way out to Essex, and fans watching the game from those flats in the corner. Do I need to educate myself further, or is that fairly accurate?

Add to that our chairman is Mr Dunkin’ Donuts, the gable in the East Stand was actually in the middle years ago but we bought a further bit of stand from Mitcham and now it looks out of place (but should never change), and that we’re everyone’s second team in London.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Stockport County?

In a nice way, always near the bottom of Division Four (it’s not League Two, it’s Division Four). Growing up in the 80s, when it took us four years to get out of the basement, the bottom four always seemed to be Torquay, Halifax, Hartlepool and County!

Rotherham play at the New York Stadium. NFL star Tom Brady is involved at Birmingham. Wrexham are plastered all over Netflix or Nickelodeon or whatever it is. League One has a bit of an American flavour this season. What’s the most American thing about Orient?

Our board. Nigel Travis (East London born and bred) lives in the States. Other investors include Kent Teague (ex Microsoft), Coley Parry and Richard Emmett, all from the good old US of A.

I’ve been watching Football Cops on Channel 4 recently, featuring Sunderland fans kicking down barriers after the game at Coventry, and loads of little Crewe rapscallions playing up at home to Walsall. On a scale of 1 to 10, how naughty are Orient fans these days, and how safe will our lot be when we make the trip to East London this season?

Ha ha, 1! We have a noisy (but fun) group of yoofs to your left in the South Stand and they'll give you a bit. Like every club we have a couple of people who can look after themselves but the only rowdiness typical at home games is when the lids for the Bovril don't fit the cups.

Who or what needs to be top of Orient’s shopping list before the new season starts in August?

A new goalkeeper.

What’s your early predictions in terms of the promotion and relegation places?

This year is a minefield. Last season I had the big boys (like most) near the top and about four or five other clubs in with a shout of the play-offs. This year I can see at least ten clubs having a shot at the top six outside of the big boys such as Birmingham, Bolton and Huddersfield. Expect a manic final day of the season with 6th-12th place all separated by just two points!

Click on the links below to read the other 2024-25 season previews we’ve published so far.

Crawley

Give ASAP Clearances a call if you’re having a clearout this summer

Some clearouts make you feel sad, such as County’s this summer with numerous title winners leaving the club. (Although I completely get the fact we’re now building a squad to take us to the Championship.)

Other clearouts will make you feel happy, though, such as getting rid of all that clutter from your house, or your garden, or even your office. ASAP Clearances are a fully licensed waste management company dealing in rubbish clearances, as well as removals for any type of property.

If you’ve got anything that needs shifting, call 07733 229957 or email asapclearances@yahoo.com.

Book a spring clean from top to bottom and receive a 10% discount

Look how shiny and spotless that bathroom is. How would you like the same for your bathroom, and all of the other rooms in your house? Now’s a great time to be thinking about a spring clean, and if you book a slot with Vicky at Beespoke Cleaning, you’ll receive a 10% discount, as well as a free gift hamper!

The spring clean includes a full dust, hoover and mop, around skirting boards and windows as well. A deep clean of the bathroom, along with the tiles and grout, is also included in the package, as well as a deep kitchen clean, including splashbacks, cupboard doors, hob & hood and plinth.

Give Vicky a call on 07445 256191 or email info@beespokecleaning.com to check availability.

Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

A blast from the past. (I bloody hated those stupid red dots.)

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. La Chimera (15) at 6.30pm. Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

Treat yourself to lunch at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). One course for £7, two courses for £11. 12pm - 2pm.

🎶 Free jukebox

The Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.

🎸 Live music

Open mic night at Bask (SK1). If you’d like to perform, turn up at 7pm. Minimum three songs.

100 random grounds that County have played at

#40 – Ashton Gate, Bristol City

Last visit: September 2004. A 5-0 defeat in League One. The stadium’s been completely redeveloped since our last visit, now boasting a capacity of 27,000.