County v Stevenage
The League Two promotion race could throw up a right old ding-dong of a battle against Steve Evans’ lot today… bring it on!
Saturday 18 February 2023
A 2-1 defeat at York in the Conference. A 2-0 loss at Bradford Park Avenue in front of 553 on a Wednesday night in the Conference North. Even a 2-1 win at home to FC United doesn’t exactly stir the imagination.
Being the sexy and charismatic chap that I am, I spend most mornings having a quick look at the excellent Hatters Matters website to see how County have fared on that particular day in history. After 11 years in non-league, there’s often a number of painful memories that quickly come flooding back. As you can see above, today is no exception.
I mention this, because even eight months into our first season back in the Football League, the novelty still hasn’t worn off. Far from it. I’m thoroughly enjoying this season, and thoroughly enjoying the prospect of this afternoon’s top-of-the-table clash. The contrast between all four sides of the ground roaring County towards League One today, and two or three thousand of us rattling around a three-quarters empty Edgeley Park in the sixth tier, is to be enjoyed, lauded and appreciated. That’s why I woke up without an alarm clock at half six this morning with a palpable buzz ahead of today’s game.
There’s only five days to go until ‘The County Comedy Quiz’ at Bask. A huge thank you to everyone who’s bought tickets so far. If anyone else is free on Thursday night, come and join me and Benji for a top night out. We’ve got a cracking quiz. We’ve got great prizes. We’ve got Paul Jones joining us for the evening. We’ve even got a little bit of stand-up comedy as well. All that for a fiver. Click here to join us.
Finally, a big thank you and a very warm welcome to one of our brand new sponsors, Kate O’Brien Art. Kate produces some fantastic County items, as well as lots of other hand-painted distinctive artwork and gifts featuring scenes around Stockport and beyond. Go and check out her website.
Enjoy today’s game, and today’s issue.
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.
There’s some excellent County content providers who do the business for us, though. They often get it spot on as well. Everyone correctly predicted a home win on Tuesday night - with a special mention to Geordie Hatter for his 2-1 - and they’ve all done the same today (apart from the Stevenage fan obviously). Let’s hope they’re right, as three points could take us up to 5th this afternoon, with a chance of moving into the automatic promotion places at Rochdale on Tuesday night…
Jon Keighren, Stockport County
County 1 Stevenage 0
County have won their last three; Stevenage haven’t won in three. Are we taking on League Two’s second placed team at the best possible time?
We’ve definitely got our momentum back and it was good to see us grind out a result on Tuesday. We are learning how to play without Paddy, which gives us a different challenge, but Tanto is certainly a great alternative in the final third and provides a very different option. Stevenage have been in second place for about four months now so they’re probably going to finish there. It’s our toughest test since the turn of the year but I’m optimistic we can build on this good run and nick it 1-0.
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
County 2 Stevenage 1
After winning our last three, and with a winnable game at Rochdale coming up on Tuesday, I actually said I’d be happy with a point today, as that would be fine in terms of the play-off push. But should we seriously start looking at automatic promotion now and going all out for three points?
Most people would say a point against Stevenage is OK, especially against a side sitting relatively comfortably in second place in the league.
But hang on, should we fear their approach like the appearance of the plague wagon? Nah, they have had a decent season so far, but signs of creaking joints and leaking points are beginning to show - indeed three draws and a defeat in their last five games does not hint at invincibility to me.
We should not take them lightly, however. With two defeats from 14 away games, Stevenage know how to pick up points on the road, although eight of those have been draws. It’s a winnable game, but we’ll have to work extremely hard to collect all three points. If we’re serious about automatic promotion, we do rather need to win tomorrow, and if we do, it’s game on.
Challinor proved last season that he knows what is required in these circumstances and the players (at least those who are still around) have shown that they can respond as needed, so there’s no reason for us not to stay positive - aim high and get out of this division.
I think Stevenage will make us work for our reward, but I’ll go for a 2-1 win for County.
County’s all-time record against Stevenage
Lost 2-1 (A) 2003-04, FA Cup 1st round
Lost 3-1 (A) 2010-11, League 2
Drew 2-2 (H) 2010-11, League 2
Lost 2-1 (A) 2022-23, League 2
Jonathan Baker aka Geordie Hatter, The County Away Day Show
County 2 Stevenage 0
The question on everybody’s lips I’m sure… how were your pancakes on Tuesday night? Are you a sweet or savoury man?
The Tuesday night pancakes (or were they possibly crepes, I still don't know the difference) were a roaring success thank you very much; that is if you discount Mrs GH's opener, which suffered from the classic early doors not-quite-hot-enough frying pan syndrome, and consequently split ever so slightly at the crucial flip-point.
My feast for the evening featured both sweet and savoury toppings, with the latter taste range represented more than adequately by a serving of chicken in white sauce (tinned, from the Spar shop). Pushed to choose my Desert Island Shrove Tuesday delicacy, however, I will always struggle to see past the classic combination of Jif lemon and plenty of sugar: a childhood favourite, and for that matter the only pancake accompaniment seemimgly permissable by law in the UK during the 1970s, when the multiple variations on the savoury crepe theme so commonplace in our kitchens nowadays were still regarded as suspiciously and continentally effete, like the deployment of a sweeper system, or a goalkeeper sporting a short-sleeved jersey.
Today the pre-match fare here in SK2 will return to the honest-to-goodness Saturday staple of a peppered steak pie from the bakery beside the Spar shop, possibly accompanied by a packet of Hula Hoops (ready salted). A brisk stride down to EP will follow, where I feel confident that County can subject high-flying Stevenage to 90 minutes of frying-pan-hot discomfort, possibly even featuring a daredevil somersaulting mid-air flip, just for the damn hell of it. And I think we'll win: 2-0.
Nick Lee, The Scarf Bergara Wore
County 2 Stevenage 1
It’s extremely rare for County fans to be on all four sides of EP for a home game, but that’s what’s happening today as we’re massive now. Rank all four stands from best to worst when it comes to your own personal preferences for watching County over the years.
Best: Cheadle End. I mean, it's shit really. But it's our shit. So terribly designed it's untrue but there's still nowhere else I'd rather sit.
2nd: Main Stand. No, hear me out. Very good view of the action without having posts in the way. Although yes, it's probably better to be deaf if you're going to sit in there because otherwise you'll be seething at some of the nonsense you'll overhear.
3rd: Pop Side. See above. Only with more pillars obscuring the view and more kids. Ewww.
4th: Railway End. Bit wet innit? Nuff said.
County to win a hard-fought game 2-1.
Matt Farley, The Stevenage FC Podcast
County 0 Stevenage 1
How do you think you’ll get on in SK3?
I think it’ll be a tough game for us given our recent six consecutive away draws in a row. However, I think we’ll win today and get back on track - a 1-0 win, with us scoring in the last 10 minutes like we’ve done so many times this season.
Upgrade your morning coffee setup
It’s Saturday morning. I’d hazard a guess that a sizeable chunk of our readers will be enjoying today’s edition of The Scarf My Father Wore with a cup of coffee. Take a look at your mug. Now take a look at your coaster. They need upgrading, don’t they? Stop drinking your morning brew from a Sports Direct mug, then placing it down on an ‘I Love Blackpool’ coaster. For just £18, pick up this stunning County mug and coaster set from Stockport artist Kate O’Brien. (Kate’s got loads of other great County/Stockport stuff as well, so check out her website or pop along to her stall in the market.)
Click here for contact details.
Here’s something you should definitely do in February
Buy tickets for The County Comedy Quiz at Bask!
The Scarf My Father Wore editor, Des Junior, absolutely loves a County quiz. He’s alright at compiling County quizzes as well. Rightly or wrongly, he also fancies himself as a bit of a comedian. On that note, The Scarf My Father Wore are delighted to team up with Bask to bring you The Comedy County Quiz. It’s a proper County quiz, with some fantastic prizes on offer, but our aim is to crack you up with some of the questions along the way.
We’ve also got special guest Paul Jones joining us. The former County defender, and Bolton Wanderers legend, will be speaking on the night, as well as handing out the prizes to the winners!
Click here for our full list of things you should definitely do in February!
Today in SK
🎶 There’s live music at the Dog & Partridge (Buxton Road, Great Moor) with Trilogy on from 8pm.
🕺 Once you’ve finished watching Trilogy, head up the A6 to Bask to continue your Saturday night merriment. DJ Gareth Brooks is on till 2am.
On this day in 2006
To get a result today, County will need to show plenty of fight, just like we did on this day back in 2006. The Hatters were 2-0 down at Bristol Rovers before Jim Gannon brought on Adam Le Fondre, and the striker scored twice, including an 88th minute equaliser, to rescue an important point in the battle to stay in the Football League.
As you can probably expect from a YouTube video from 17 years ago, the above clip was filmed on a potato waffle, but it’ll give you a flavour of the scenes in the away end at the Memorial Stadium as County equalised late on. I distinctly remember Peels on Wheels stopping off at a nearby Sainsbury’s for booze after the game, before the coach bounced home all the way to Cobdens. Happy days.
Never mind Google or Yell.com, we’ve got you covered
STOP! That got your attention, didn’t it? Just a quick one… I’d hazard a guess that at some point in February, all of our readers will use Google or Yell.com at some point looking for a particular product or service. But before you do, please have a quick look at our own directory to see if we have what you’re looking for. A number of great businesses support The Scarf My Father Wore, allowing us to publish fresh content every day, so let’s send a few enquiries their way in return.
Click here to have a look at all the businesses in our directory.
Photo of the day
The Cheadle End
We’d like to wish Steve Cash a very happy birthday today. The County fan, dad of Cashy the groundsman, and The Scarf My Father Wore subscriber, will hopefully be celebrating today with “three points and a lot more pints” as he said to our WhatsApp group at 8.18am. He’s in the photo somewhere…