County v Blackburn

It was some night the last time we played Rovers in the League Cup, but with Challinor expected to make a load of changes tonight we could well be exiting this season’s competition at the first hurdle

Aug 13, 2024

Tuesday 13 August 2024

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, Blackburn supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Tuesday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

The road to Wembley starts tonight but County could be turning off at the first exit if we end up playing a number of the kids. Although with all the injuries at the moment, and a trip to Blackpool on Saturday, that could be the pragmatic approach this evening. Indeed, our County correspondents aren’t too confident ahead of tonight’s visit from our Championship opponents. Russ Johnson, Nick Lee, Ian Brown and Dave Marchbank offer their predictions.

Today’s edition is sponsored APL Locksmiths. A big thank you to Anthony.

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: 176.31 miles

Total steps so far: 284,130

Total raised so far: £1,981

Total completed streets so far: 399 (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

Russ Johnson, The Scarf Bergara Wore

County 1 Blackburn 1

Half the squad’s injured, and Challinor’s already said we’re playing the kids. Are we gonna get battered tonight?

Quite possibly we're in for a tonking! I didn’t realise we were playing the kids (as Chally has said) until yesterday. That said, Blackburn won't come with their full strength squad so we'll see.

I'll stick with the prediction I gave on a Blackburn YouTube channel: a 1-1 draw then who knows with penalties.

Russ is part of The Scarf Bergara Wore team, hosting live County podcasts every Wednesday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Nick Lee, SK3 TV

County 1 Blackburn 3

It was good bumping into you on Hardcastle Road before the game on Saturday, taking your nephew to his first ever game. Not a bad start to life as a County fan, eh! What did he make of it all?

SK3 TV host Nick Lee with his nephew Finley White

It's a tough one because now he has a 100% record it feels like he should come to every game with me. On the other hand, however, that's a level of pure faff that I just do not want to entertain on a regular basis.

In terms of positives, he enjoyed his Greggs and he enjoyed his Pringles and sweets from the stall behind the Pop Side, and he enjoyed his chips on the way home (I didn't, because he chose to go without vinegar). But crucially, it was the 52nd minute before he started mithering to go home. In all fairness, that's longer than I lasted before asking that question for most of our time in the National League North, so even at the age of six he has more mental fortitude than me.

Nick’s one of the co-hosts of SK3 TV, a new podcast for the 2024-25 season, with live episodes every Monday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Ian Brown, All Things Stockport County

County 2 Blackburn 1

What’s your best ever League Cup memory?

That would have to be 1972 when County took on and beat a crack West Ham United side from Division One packed with stars including World Cup hero Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking and a raft of others.

County wanted this one and set off at a rate of knots putting the Londoners under the cosh from the off. Inside 20 minutes County had the lead as a 30-yard screamer from Malcolm Russell nestled in the visitors’ net to the accompaniment of ecstatic roars from a massive Edgeley Park crowd.

Our delight was short-lived though as the dangerous Clyde Best rode his luck a tad and just squeezed one in beyond the unlucky Alan Ogley.

West Ham must have thought that was the turning point in the match, but it wasn’t. County went ahead again as Hugh Ryden was brought down in the box allowing Tommy Spratt to step up and score nervelessly as the EP crowd went apeshit again in response!

It was 2-1 at half-time, but County came under sustained pressure when the game resumed, the defence superb in response with Alan Ogley playing a blinder twixt the sticks behind them. Despite the pressure continuing non-stop it remained 2-1, but then… calamity… Ray Charter looked to pass back to Ogley and only succeeded in picking Clyde Best out.

He was away and bearing down on goal with Ogley dished, or so I imagined, but when Best unleashed a veritable thunderbolt goalward, County’s greatest ever keeper flung himself upwards in response, somehow getting to it and making possibly the best save of a truly wonderful career.

What a night, what a memory!

As for a score prediction I’m tempted to go reverse psychology again and forecast a Rovers win because Challinor probably isn’t going to send out his first XI is he? If he goes with a strong line-up, I’ll give you County 2 Blackburn 1 – and deny everything thereafter!

Ian follows County home and away, producing detailed match reports every week, along with lots of other great content. Head over to hedgegrower.blogspot.com.

Dave Marchbank, Stockport County Supporters Co-operative

County 1 Blackburn 4

The biggest news we have is our evening with Dave Jones on Wednesday 18 September at Bask. Hosted by club president Steve Bellis, the event starts at 7.30pm, with all profits donated to The Christie in Manchester.

Dave Jones was appointed manager of County in March 1995, taking over from Danny Bergara. In that magical 1996-97 season, Dave led County into the second tier of English football and the semi-finals of the League Cup, having achieved famous victories against Blackburn, West Ham and Southampton before narrowly losing to Middlesbrough over two legs.

Tickets are priced at £5 for Co-op members and £10 for non-members.

In other news, our County 2024-25 season calendars are on sale before each game for £10, with 50% of profits going to St Anne’s Hospice. Each month has a great photo of our fabulous supporters, so buy one and see if you’re included!

We’ve recently submitted an email in support of the redevelopment of Edgeley Park to the council. We suggest you do likewise if you haven’t already done so.

Longer term we’re working on a new and improved website, to ensure it will be fit for purpose and an improvement on what we currently have. This is a sizeable project which involves a considerable amount of work, so currently we do not have a clear timescale for launch.

As for tonight, having listened to Challinor’s post-match interview after the Cambridge game, it seems like we’ll be fielding a young team. Dave acknowledged himself it may be a difficult night, obviously considering the amount of injuries and the importance of league games, and I fully support his position. I rarely predict an opposing win but I’m going 4-1 to Blackburn. However, I would love nothing more than to eat my words and believe me I will be absolutely delighted if this proves to be the case!

Joining the Stockport County Supporters Co-operative costs £12 a year for adults, £3 for those aged 16-25 or £1 for under-16s. Click here for further details.

Today’s other predictions

Hatters Matters: County 0 Blackburn 3 (if it’s the kids playing)

The County Away Day Show: County 1 Blackburn 2

Contact APL Locksmiths to make sure your van is secure

We’ve regularly promoted APL Locksmiths’ services when it comes to your home. But lots of our readers work in the trade, and might benefit from getting in touch to ensure their work vans are safe and secure when they’re done for the day.

APL Locksmiths offer the ultimate transit custom lock package, including high position hooklocks on both the side loading door and rear barn doors plus a driver’s door replock, all on the same high security dimple key. Call 0161 442 4243 or email anthony@apllocksmiths.co.uk for a quote on your van before it’s too late.

Visit apllocksmiths.co.uk for further details.

Photo of the day

Stockport Market Place

County fan Martin O’Connell with Bez from the Happy Mondays. Bez was doing a set at AMP on Saturday night.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Three films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Despicable Me 4 (U) at 3.45pm, The Instigators (15) at 6pm, and Fly Me to the Moon (12A) at 8.15pm. Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8). Plus, discounts on certain lagers between 12pm and 6pm.

If you’re simply in the mood for a couple of pints today, pop along to one of our featured venues such as Bask (SK1), The Nelson Tavern (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Armoury (SK3), Reddish Working Men’s Club (SK5), The Steelworks (SK6), The Shady Oak (SK7) or The Three Tunnes (SK7).

100 random grounds that County have played at

#85 – Ninian Park, Cardiff

Last visit: September 2002. Rob Earnshaw scored for Cardiff after two minutes, Luke Beckett equalised, before Graham Kavanagh scored the Bluebirds’ winner. All before half-time. County never won at Ninian Park. We’ve yet to visit their new place.