(C)ounty v Accrington
For the first time in 57 years, a sold-out 10,000 crowd at Edgeley Park will get to see a Stockport County side lift a Football League championship trophy later today
Saturday 20 April 2024 – CHAMPIONS FORTNIGHT!
NEXT HOME GAME: Accrington – Today, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Wrexham – Saturday 27 April, 3pm
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, 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. Ed Chadwick and Ian Brown join us today, ahead of what’s going to be another very special afternoon at Edgeley Park.
Today’s edition is sponsored by MKM Manchester South and GTG Gary The Gasman. A big thank you to Mark and James, and Gary.
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
Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Paddy Madden’s out for two games with an ingrown toenail…blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham since 1672.
Fortunately, he has a number of fellow County content creators to call upon. Here’s their thoughts, general chit-chat and score predictions, as County look forward to a big day of celebration!
Ed Chadwick, Stockport County Supporters Co-operative
County 3 Accrington 0
Well nobody’s really arsed about today’s game now. So what would you like to talk about?
Can you imagine if David Frost had sat down with Richard Nixon and asked him what he felt like chatting about? What if Martin Bashir had let Princess Di bang on about her tennis backhand for an hour?
I thrive on being asked questions for this website but I'll humour you on this occasion.
I could unburden myself of all my worries and insecurities but I'll spare your readers a guided tour around the Freudian nightmare that is my mind other than to say that the title race has taken such a toll on my psyche that Nigel Clough popped up in a dream the other night. I can't recall any more details but I'm 75% sure it wasn't sexual.
I'll talk about two things. Firstly, let's bask in the glory of Tuesday night a bit longer. First we had the Madden masterclass, then Sarce scored an absolutely superb goal before the slight plot twist that introduced an element of jeopardy. I was absolutely delighted to see Ethan Pye get his first goal too.
But the atmosphere and the scenes afterwards will live longer in the memory than the football for me. Challinor walking over to get the Thompson family's flag was a fantastic touch and then we had a special moment with Hinchliffe. He's had a far shorter professional career than he deserves so he ought to milk every single drop of enjoyment from times like this. Sign him up for two more years please.
As fans, we sounded incredible all evening. It's such a shame we didn't have the whole stand.
Secondly I'm going to take aim at The FA and the Premier League over the cup replays debacle. Wandering into this mess without a consultation really shows contempt not only for teams outside of the top flight cartel, but also for fans and football heritage. It's nothing short of vandalism and if it's not reversed, I hope clubs follow up their statements with a boycott. I certainly will.
We've already had the Autoglass (or whatever it's called now) Trophy undermined by the introduction of the Premier League's under-21 teams. Why can't they field some of those players in FA Cup replays if their prima donnas are so stretched by their European schedules?
I would hate us to have to lift the trophy this evening after anything other than a resounding win. Another hat-trick for Madden sounds greedy but you wouldn't put it past him.
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
County 2 Accrington 0
Well nobody’s really arsed about today’s game now. So what would you like to talk about?
Tuesday was a day to remember for County supporters, especially the 2,000 who travelled to Meadow Lane in Nottingham to support the team in their quest for the League Two title.
They were immense throughout the 90-odd minutes of a game full of tension, excitement, quality goals and incidents, and County rewarded them with a superb performance right out of football’s top drawer. It was fantastic to see County secure the League Two title in such great style at such a historic stadium.
That said, the evening was by no means free of controversy as far as County fans were concerned and the root cause was in the slip shod and frankly disrespectful way County fans were treated.
I do not speak about overzealous or improper stewarding – the stewards had a difficult job to do and from what I could see did it well.
No, my concerns were those of many County supporters namely that whilst they were housed in isolation in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand, they were corralled into roughly half the available stand area – the other 50% was completely unoccupied despite being securely cordoned off well away from home fans.
To add to the problems, Notts County sold a large number of seats that upon arrival County fans found were under the barriers and thus could not be used. Long-time County fan Ian Dooley was one such supporter without a seat and he took it up with the chief steward but in the end had to join the rest of us on a potentially dangerous hunt for a decent view of the game.
Safety should be of paramount importance when clubs host large groups of football supporters. Notts County are a great club but they were way out of order on Tuesday. Our supporters deserved better.
A friendly message from a new sponsor!
Yellow there. We’re MKM Building Supplies Sharston on Altrincham Road.
We’re not your average builders merchant, we’re open to tradies and public too. Our friendly local team are always ready for first class service on first name terms. Oh, and free tea and coffee too.
Building, timber, plumbing, heating, kitchens, bathrooms or landscaping? We’ve got everything including the kitchen sink. The only thing you’ll have to sort is the elbow grease. But we will deliver it locally for free in a big yellow truck.
We’re just around the corner, and the kettle’s on!
Visit mkm.com/branches/manchester-south for further details.
Is it time for a new boiler?
You might have an old boiler in your house that isn’t as efficient as it once was. Perhaps now would be a good time to give GTG Gary The Gasman a call and have it replaced.
Gary has replaced old systems with new A-rated boilers recently for lots of happy customers.
The boilers are all fitted with protective magnetic filters and standard wireless controls or smart controls for better efficiency leaving customers with reliable and well-functioning boilers!
If you’d like a quote for any work, give Gary a call on 07931 416165 or email garythegasman@yahoo.com.
Photo of the day
The Armoury, Shaw Heath
The Armoury is ready for a champions party today!
Today in SK
💿 DJ
Stockport’s biggest party at the weekend is at Bask (SK1), with DJ Gareth Brooks playing till 3am. Last entry 1.30am (although you’ll need to be in a lot earlier than that tonight!).
🍺 Food and drink
If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two.
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.)
🎤 Karaoke
The Nelson Tavern (SK1) with Lee. From 8pm.
🎸 Live music
The Tall Faces at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). British Mod Sounds of the 1960s. 9pm.
Someplace outsida Memphis at The Crown (SK6). 9pm.
Celtic Notes at The Rectory (SK8). 8.30pm.
Random County fan of the day #100 – Nick Madden!
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