County v Blackpool

Plus! A chat with Tom from the It’s Not Orange Podcast

Feb 28, 2025

Friday 28 February 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Blackpool – Saturday 1 March, 3pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Northampton Town – Tuesday 4 March, 7.45pm

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

We’ve got a Blackpool bonanza for you this afternoon, with Seasiders stuff from top to bottom. Nick Lee and Ian Brown share their thoughts ahead of Blackpool’s first trip to Edgeley Park for 20 years, as does Tom from the It’s Not Orange Podcast.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Not Just Travel. A big thank you to Paul and Tracy.

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: 216.74 miles

Total steps so far: 353,516

Total raised so far: £2,270

Total completed streets so far: 474 (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

Nick Lee, SK3 TV

County 3 Blackpool 1

Corey Addai kept three clean sheets in his first three games, played a huge part in the recent win at Wigan, but still gets a huge amount of stick off County fans. Why?

It's weird with Addai. He was thrown in at the start of the season when in the grand scheme of things he should have probably had to wait for his chance. Added to that, he looked shaky at times and that's led to people immediately writing him off. But what's followed is this weird black vs white thing where you have to be either part of the Ben Brigade or the Corey Crew. There seems to be no room for nuance whatsoever. They're both good goalkeepers for this level, but at the same time they both could have done better at times this season.

You can't underestimate the value of communication though, so if he's sat and watched Ben and made a concerted effort to improve that side of his game, we'll be all the better for it. That said, if people weren't still giving him stick they'd only be moaning about something else, so he's been a bit of a lightning rod in that respect.

➡️ 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 1 Blackpool 1

What went so badly wrong at Cambridge last weekend?

County’s demise at the Abbey Stadium was a major surprise and at the same time not so much so. The ingredients were all there. We’ve been there before many times: County in decent form face a team struggling for survival at the foot of the table with a new manager in charge, who thus play out of their skins and start their revival at our expense.

It was a horror story, and not unrelated to the fact that we sorely missed Ethan Pye who cried off just before the start. We learnt quickly just how essential Ethan apparently is to our continued progress in the division. It showed clearly, both goals the result of abject defending. Our back line dithered sufficiently for Josh Stokes to rise and direct an incoming cross home for his first. The second came about as County’s midfield and defence stood off to a man as Stokes fired United’s second goal home unattended.

We just cannot afford to switch off like this, even against so called ‘no hopers’ of the division. In fact, ESPECIALLY against such ill-considered opponents.

With Connolly seeing red, our defensive resources will be tested fully this weekend, and we’ll have to work hard to maintain our challenge for promotion. It’s still doable, and the manager’s record shows that he knows what’s required to achieve this, so we do our part and get behind the team!

➡️ 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.

Saturday’s other predictions

Hatters Matters: County 2 Blackpool 1

The Scarf Bergara Wore: County 3 Blackpool 1

Contact Paul and Tracy Franklin for your next holiday

It’s March tomorrow. Definitely time to start thinking about your summer holiday if you haven’t booked anything just yet. Before you commit to anything, it’s worth getting in touch with Paul and Tracy Franklin as they can price match any trip you’ve found with On The Beach, Tui, EasyJet Holidays or Jet2Holidays.

As a team, Paul and Tracy Franklin are dedicated to delivering for their customers. They recognise that holidays are often the biggest outlay for people and so their top priority is finding them the perfect getaway. Whether you know exactly what you want or are looking for some ideas and inspiration, they can help!

With in excess of 450 suppliers they can find your dream trip. They have a number of key trade partners which allow them to organise anything from city breaks and fly and flops to cruises, weddings, honeymoons and sporting events across every corner of the globe. From high street names such as TUI, Jet2 and Easyjet to bespoke travel arrangements they can meet your requirements. They pride themselves on exceptional, personable service and for peace of mind all bookings are ABTA and ATOL protected.

Using Paul and Tracy as your personal travel consultants means that they can take all the legwork of finding and planning your trips. They can also deal with any bumps in the road should there be any. There are so many variables to a trip and so many places to look most of their customers are so relieved to have someone do that for them! Others are just glad to be able to support a smaller business that delivers a personal touch, as opposed to some of the travel giants out there. Whatever an enquiry looks like they are always keen to get their teeth stuck in, adding value where they can and learning along the way – the world is a big place!

➡️ Visit paulandtracyfranklin.notjusttravel.com for further details.

“It’s the draws that have absolutely shattered us this season”

Blackpool are 5th in the away table this season, above County. But their home form - 10 draws in 15 - might prevent them having a late push for the play-offs, as Tom from the It’s Not Orange Podcast explains.

Hang on a minute, you’re only nine points off the top six. Are you having a sneaky little crack at the play-offs under Steve Bruce?

I think the play-offs might be out of our reach now. However, a win tomorrow and anything is possible. The real definition of a must-win. With other teams all playing each other in the weeks to come, it would open up a big opportunity.

How does it feel to be having a decent season but basically never win at home?

It's frustrating. Last season was the polar opposite, we were excellent at home. It's the draws that have absolutely shattered us this season.

How did it feel seeing 4,000 County fans taking over Bloomfield Road in August, and celebrating an easy 3-0 win.

That win for County was Critchley's last game in charge. It emphasised the end of the road for him the way we capitulated. County were good in the second half but we let them take control.

Tell us about your podcast.

The podcast started a year and a half ago. It’s been fun. I wanted to do something to feel closer to the club as I live a 500-mile round trip away. We've interviewed the likes of Ian Holloway, Gary Bowyer and Keith Southern and it's been amazing.

Have you ever had a £1 burger from that guy on YouTube?

I haven’t!

What are your best and worst memories following the Seasiders?

Best memory was Forest away in the play-offs to reach Wembley, the year we got promoted to the Premier League.

Worst was the protest years. Amazing to come together to get the Oystons out but horrible to miss so many years of football.

Describe your rivalry with Preston North End.

The Preston rivalry is great on game days, made harder now being in separate divisions. We’ve got the bragging rights at Bloomfield Road in recent years and them at their place. It would be great to reignite that game in the coming seasons.

Can Blackpool ever make it back to the Premier League?

Seems a pipe dream under the current ownership and the general direction of the club.

Prediction for tomorrow?

We’ve become very resilient but I think County will potentially nick it. 2-1 home win.

What’s the fan culture like at Blackpool at the moment?

One of passion, following the club home and away. The home form has made the atmosphere worse this season but we love the club and want to see the players fighting hard for the badge.

What’s your thoughts on Stockport County?

Good and honest club, with dedicated fans and a great manager. It’s good to see you back in the Football League smashing it.

PS) I hate Luke Beckett.

➡️ Tom had a chat with County fan and SK3 TV co-host Hannah Brown on his podcast this week. Click here for links.

Photo(s) of the day

Blackpool, Lancashire

Regular readers will know I always share a random photo each day, whether that’s from the past or the present. With Blackpool coming up this weekend, I thought I’d share a snap or two from last August, when County won 3-0 at the seaside in front of 3,911 jubilant away fans. However, upon noticing that I took 55 photos that day - and realising that number very neatly divides by 5 - I’ve decided to share the whole lot over the course of this week! Here’s your final bunch of piccies.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Hard Truths (12A) at 6pm, followed by Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy (15) 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.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Nelson Tavern (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks or a bite to eat.

🎤 Karaoke

The Alexandra (SK3).

🎸 Live music

Soulplay at The Crown Inn (SK6). 9pm.

Random snippets from old County programmes

#5 - County v Blackpool, 20 September 2003

When Blackpool made the trip to SK3 in September 2003, Carlton Palmer had been sacked the day before. Brian Kennedy explained his reasoning behind the dismissal.

You will all be aware as you arrive at Edgeley Park for today’s game against Blackpool that yesterday we parted company with Carlton Palmer. Control of first team affairs has passed to John Hollins who will be supported in his role as caretaker manager by Kevin Richardson, giving our young side an important element of continuity.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my admiration for Carlton as a man - his honesty, integrity and passion are unquestioned. Myself and my board, led by Chief Executive Niels de Vos and Chairman Mike Baker strongly felt that perhaps, as a young manager in his first post, he had taken this team as far as he was able. The County side he has put together are a very young talented side with real potential to grow together into a real force in this division. It is our belief that a change of management style is now key to ensuring that potential is realised and to ensure that County begin to get the results their performances and abilities merit.

We have asked John Hollins to take over as manager but he knows that we intend to scour the marketplace before deciding on a permanent appointment. I would anticipate interviewing a shortlist of candidates, which will include John Hollins, within 4-6 weeks.

Whoever we appoint as the permanent replacement for Carlton, it is absolutely essential that he shares our vision for the club. Namely to build success based on the existing squad, supplemented by strategically important signings and a vibrant youth policy. We believe we have the core of the side who can take County back into the First Division, if not this season then next. The key is to ensure that when we do get there we are equipped to stay there, with players who are as passionate and committed to County as you and I are.

Thank you for your support, and let’s hope today marks the beginning of a new era for County.

Footnote: County lost 3-1 to Blackpool, and were relegated to the fourth tier the following season.