Wednesday 13 December 2023
NEXT HOME GAME: Aldershot – Today, 7.45pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Barrow – Tuesday 26 December, 3pm
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and any Aldershot supporters joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Wednesday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Aldershot fan Oliver Brookland thinks we’re heading for extra time tonight. Andrew Barlow, Paul Thompson, Ian Brown and Jon Keighren all think we’ll be safely through to round three. Me? I’m starting to have a bad feeling about this evening. When you’re five games without a win, with the injuries piling up, an FA Cup replay against a non-league team live on the telly feels very bloody bananaskinnerry. It’s got Bolton at Edgeley Park vibes, but we’re the Bolton. I truly hope I’m proved wrong and we get the job done at the second attempt, as I quite fancy a bit of The Hawthorns now.
A huge thank you to Steven Hargreaves and Ben Roach who signed up as paid subscribers yesterday – one for every time County have played at Everton in my lifetime (your lifetime too, unless you’re over 102 years old). I was back at Goodison Park last night watching County’s next generation in the FA Youth Cup – a 4-1 defeat which doesn’t tell the true story of the game – and fell in love with that iconic stadium all over again.
It’s a phenomenal place to watch football, it really is. I had goosebumps last night reliving Alun Armstrong smashing the ball past Neville Southall, and Ian Helliwell’s diving header. With Everton leaving Goodison soon, I have an urge to write an in-depth feature as a tribute, which is obviously going to heavily focus on that memorable 2-2 draw on Sunday 7 January 1996. I’m going to be speaking to former County players who played at Goodison that day, as well as visiting libraries in both Stockport and Liverpool to look at old photos and newspaper clippings. A detailed feature like this can take a few days to put together, which I can only do with the support of paid subscribers. Please join Steven and Ben by clicking on the button below, and you’ll all have a wonderfully nostalgic 90s County piece to enjoy in the next week or so!
Today’s edition is sponsored by Malbern Solar. My thanks to Wayne and Vicki. If you’d like to save money on your energy bills, make sure you book your FREE survey, worth £150. Full details below.
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
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, ahead of the replay that nobody wanted.
Andrew Barlow, Hatters Matters
County 2 Aldershot 1
A Wednesday night in the middle of December. Are you tempted to watch the game on the BBC or will you be at Edgeley Park?
I’m clearly being moved to Santa’s naughty list this year as I will indeed be watching the replay live on the telly and not sitting out in the cold at Edgeley Park. The decision wasn’t entirely in my own hands, though, as I have a young family at home and my eldest has an after school activity every Wednesday so I will be on babysitting duties instead (can you babysit your own kids or is it just classed as being a parent?). It was the same for that memorable FA Cup first round replay against Bolton Wanderers back in November 2021. I had to watch the game on the TV whilst the rest of our fans got to witness that special night live at Edgeley Park. I wasn’t jealous much. Well, maybe a little bit…
Aldershot impressed me in the original tie and we are a little short of numbers in key areas at the moment but I am hoping that home advantage will have some bearing on the result in our favour. I’m going for a 2-1 win to County.
Paul Thompson, Stockport County Supporters Co-operative
County 3 Aldershot 0
How tasty is the West Brom-flavoured carrot for tonight’s winners?
Boing, boing! Or boring, boring (or whatever they sing). The prize in the next round doesn't get my juices flowing even though it should, although what a great opportunity for our players to test themselves against a team chasing promotion to the Premier League. First though, let's take battle with the Shots…and avoid any backfires!
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
County 3 Aldershot 1
County fans seem really divided on this one. Half seem to suggest playing the kids, writing off tonight’s game with all the injuries in order to focus on the Sutton game. The other half are saying go for it because another game without a win and a defeat in front of the TV cameras could be pretty damaging. What's your thoughts?
This is an absolute no-brainer. We should play our strongest available side tonight, and I say that firstly because to argue otherwise would be contra to my earlier offerings on the subject on this forum.
It would also be our best chance of halting this mini slide in form, setting the correct tone ahead of Saturday’s important league game with Sutton.
Is the FA Cup a competition with real value? I think so, yes, albeit a competition shorn of some of its historic attraction by the malign influence of TV companies and FA suits with no appreciation of football history.
The attraction lingers on, though, and to field a weakened side against a team as well prepared and motivated to win the tie as I think Aldershot will be, would invite defeat and the prospect of humiliation via the TV coverage. So, to repeat myself, we go for the strongest available side in my view, and I would be mightily surprised should Dave Challinor do otherwise!
Jon Keighren, Stockport County
County 2 Aldershot 0
What were the conditions like from your vantage point at Morecambe on Saturday?
The wind was just ridiculous, but then it’s like that in Morecambe during August!
You can see why they’ve got a decent home record (just one defeat all season). Looking at the bigger picture, though, County remain in a very strong position, no other teams have capitalised, and we know the manager will strengthen in January. The return of Callum Camps is a big plus, too.
I’m confident about tonight. I think Aldershot may have missed their chance to cause an upset, and I’m going for a 2-0 home win.
Oliver Brookland, Aldershot fan
How confident are you of causing an FA Cup upset at the second bite of the cherry?
I’m confident we can put in a performance, but I don’t think anyone expects to get a result outright. We will travel up more in hope, similar to how we approached the Swindon match in the first round. I can’t predict how it will go, but I’ve got a strong suspicion we’ll see extra time tonight.
Book your FREE survey so you can start saving money on your energy bills
On a pitch black December night in SK3, the floodlights will be burning brightly at Edgeley Park this evening as Aldershot come to town, no doubt adding an extra chunk to County’s winter electricity bill. Fortunately our owner has a bob or two.
With Christmas lights flashing round the clock, ovens cooking turkeys all afternoon, and TVs on day and night, your own electricity bill will probably take a hit over the next couple of weeks. We’ve not got an instant solution for that, but long-term there is something you can do about rising energy costs.
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One last trip to Goodison Park with County (probably)
Photo of the day
City Ground, Nottingham
A Nottingham Forest squad photo from the summer of 1985. Peter Davenport’s on the front row, who went on to make six appearances for County at the end of the 1994-95 season.
Today in SK
🍕 Food and drink
For those on a gluten-free diet, finding a nice portion of fish and chips to tuck into can be quite difficult. But on a Wednesday at Fishers of Cheshire (SK2), gluten-free meals are available. Open till 9.30pm.
Lunch deal at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). One course for £7 or two courses for £11. 12pm till 2pm.
Any pizza and two drinks for £14.95 at Platform 5 (SK8).
The Cheshire Line Tavern (SK8) have recently launched their new winter menu, featuring favourites such as beef stew with dumplings and cottage pie. On a Wednesday, you can enjoy two main courses for £20. Call 0161 428 3352 to book a table or visit cheshirelinetavern.co.uk. Open 12pm - 11pm.
Treat yourself to lunch at Mediterranean Cafe & Bar (SK23). A full range of mains, salads, jacket potatoes, paninis, baguettes and wraps.
❓ Quiz night
Flying Coach (SK7). 9pm. Free entry. Chicken wings for just 25p.
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