County v Stevenage

Plus! An interview with comedian Fil Milton

Apr 01, 2025

Tuesday 1 April 2025

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.

NEXT HOME GAME: Stevenage – Tonight, 7.45pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Exeter City – Saturday 5 April, 3pm

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

My fishing rod attracted more than one or two little nibbles this morning! However, I can confirm Stockport County’s home game against Stevenage does go ahead as planned this evening. Here’s the pre-match thoughts of Dan Culverwell, Andrew Barlow, Nick Lee, Jonathan Baker and John Giles.

I’ve also had a chat with comedian Fil Milton, who was runner-up at the One Liner World Championships. Fil’s on the line-up for my second Desmond’s Comedy Club night at The Fingerpost on Friday 25 April. The launch night on Friday was fantastic, with loads of County fans in the audience. It would be lovely to see even more of you at my April gig. If you’d like to come along, drop me a message, call/text 07816 111150 or email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com. Tickets are £15, with the show starting at 7.30pm.

Today’s edition is sponsored by DT Plastering Services and Damp Proofing Specialists. A big thank you to David.

Thanks also to Our Mutual Friend who sponsor our Stevenage content on the website.

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: 253.75 miles

Total steps so far: 418,084

Total raised so far: £2,292

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

Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Will Collar’s out for a month with diarrhoea… blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham for a thousand years.

Fortunately, he has a number of fellow County content creators to call upon. Here’s their thoughts, general chit-chat and score predictions, as Stevenage come to town for only the third time. (They’ve never won at EP.)

Dan Culverwell, The Scarf Bergara Wore

County 3 Stevenage 0

I might as well copy and paste your question from Saturday’s preview. With ~~Brad Hills~~ Ethan Pye suspended, what would you do with the defence tonight?

The obvious answer is to slot Brad Hills into Pye’s vacant slot, but the last time this happened was away to Cambridge and that didn’t end well for County on the day.

With the lack of a left-footed defender the options are limited; a back three with Ibby, or perhaps Hills maybe as LCB? But then who plays as a left wing-back, with Rydel out for the season? Maybe we’ll see a back four tonight with Hills and either Horsfall or Connolly.

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

Andrew Barlow, Hatters Matters

County 1 Stevenage 1

As we enter April, are you nervous for the run-in, or would promotion/play-offs simply be a bonus this season?

Nah, I wouldn’t say I’m nervous about the run-in at all, as it’s in our own hands where we’ll finish this season. Although the teams just outside the play-offs all have a game in hand over us, the 7-point gap between ourselves and 7th place is certainly welcome at this stage of the season and all we can do is keep ticking the games off and picking up points along the way.

The only thing we can’t control is if Reading are unable to finish the season and their results are expunged. Of the teams in and around the play-offs this will affect ourselves and Leyton Orient the most as we’ve both done the double over them, whereas the likes of Wrexham, Wycombe, Charlton, Huddersfield and Bolton have all dropped points against them during the course of the season.

County fans in fine voice at Reading back in January, with Dave Challinor’s men completing the double over the Royals

If Reading are able to see out the season then taking maximum points from our remaining home games would certainly put us on course for the play-offs, as four wins from our remaining games at Edgeley Park would leave us with 80 points for the season – enough to secure a place in the play-offs for the past two years.

After gaining promotion last season and with the additions we made to the squad over the summer I expected to finish in the top 10 this season, so if we reach the play-offs then that for me would be classed as a very successful campaign. Like the 2022-23 season, I think we would perhaps benefit from staying down another season, but I guess the owner of the club and the manager and players may have different aspirations and want to reach the Championship as quick as possible.

Looking ahead to tonight’s game, I believe Stevenage will present a decent challenge, and we’ll need to elevate our performance to match it. A special mention must go to Saturday’s opponents Burton Albion, who were unfortunate not to leave Edgeley Park with something to show for their efforts. There have been very few occasions this season where I have walked away from a home game feeling that way.

I always expect to win our league games at home but I have a feeling we may drop points in this one so my prediction is a 1-1 draw. As ever I hope I’m wrong and this proves to be another game ticked off with another win on board.

➡️ Andrew runs Hatters Matters, a comprehensive guide to the history of Stockport County with more facts and figures than you can shake a stick at. Visit hattersmatters.co.uk to have a butcher’s.

Nick Lee, SK3 TV

County 2 Stevenage 0

It’s April Fools’ Day. What’s the most foolish thing you’ve ever done?

I once offered to buy Shane MacGowan a drink. In London. And then when the barmaid advised me not to, I doubled down.

I also once discovered I'd developed tits whilst recording a frothy lighthearted County podcast.

➡️ 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.

Jonathan Baker, The County Away Day Show

County 2 Stevenage 1

Tonight is County’s first home game since the Greek Street roundabout closure. How's that going to affect your plans this evening / your life?

Well I’m relatively hopeful I’ll still be able to negotiate my way around the junction, given that my pedestrian route to the ground via Shaw Heath involves only a brief flirtation with the famed roundabout, coming off at the first exit into the wide open spaces of Mercian Way. The journey home may be slightly more compromised, given that it does occasionally involve a short diversion into The Armoury, which even in normal times I’m not sure is most optimally approached via a clockwise or opposite direction – a deliberation not made any easier by the way I more often than not find myself kettled in among a gaggle of away supporters, who, having heroically heeded Mr Boxshall’s call to “leave the stadium in the opposite direction from the one you came in” are now attempting, without any tannoy-based assistance whatsoever, to make their way to the train station.

I still think I’ll just about manage the return route, though - so my highway-overhaul-based worries are more of a Saturday morning Away Day Show nature. After all, what am I now going to call the section in the middle of the show where the guest gets to choose their Edgeley Roundabout Island Disc? I’ve toyed with a temporary re-naming after various of the borough’s alternative doughnut-shaped junctions, but neither “Portwood” or “The Big Complicated One by Decathlon” are really speaking to me, so I think I’m going to leave the name exactly the same, and also petition the relevant authorities to erect a plaque upon the renovated intersection in honour of the venerated 10am slot on the show. Just a small one will do.

Prediction: I’m feeling we will improve upon Saturday’s performance, while registering the exact same scoreline.

➡️ Jonathan, aka Geordie Hatter, hosts The County Away Day Show on selected Saturday mornings during the season, when the Hatters are on the road. All episodes can be found at the-geordie-hatter.mixlr.com.

John Giles, Stockport County Supporters Co-operative

County 2 Stevenage 1

A £7m loss for County in the latest figures. What’s the reaction from the Co-op?

The Stockport County Supporters Co-operative would like to congratulate the club for the on-field success in the 2023-24 season, achieving promotion to League One for the first time since 2008. Ever since the arrival of Mark Stott in January 2020, we have seen investment on and off the field and a dramatic transformation in the fortunes of the club, including the return of our valued Football League status.

We would like to place on record our thanks to Mark Stott for his ongoing commitment to Stockport County and welcome the conversion of all outstanding loans to equity during the year, significantly reducing the club’s overall debt.

Ensuring the financial sustainability of Stockport County Football Club is of paramount importance to the Supporters Co-operative and whilst income streams have increased from £8.6m to £9.2m, operating costs have increased, resulting in group operating losses increasing from £4.7m to £7.0m to 30th June 2024.

As a result, the Co-op will request arranging an open forum or a meeting with the club, so we can gain a better understanding of the club’s objectives, business strategy and provide an opportunity for supporters to ask questions or raise any concerns to the management team at the club.

➡️ 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.

Time for a spruce up at home?

DT Plastering Services and Damp Proofing Specialists are a reputable company offering specialist plastering and damp proofing services covering Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

If you’re looking to have a spruce up ahead of the summer, now’s a good time to think about external render repairs and render painting, with the photo above showing a fine transformation on a recent client’s house.

➡️ Visit dtplasteringanddampproofing.com for further details.

10 Questions with Fil Milton!

Fil Milton, runner-up at the One Liner World Championships, will be on the bill at The Fingerpost on Friday 25 April for the next Desmond’s Comedy Club night. Here’s a quick Q&A.

1) Thanks for joining us Fil. Do you realise you’ve spelled your first name wrong?

Yep. Fil (or indeed, Phil, depending on your proclivities) is the name that most comedians choose when naming themselves. It was much better than my given name of Megatron.

2) You were runner-up at the One Liner World Championships. What made you decide to be a one-liner comedian?

There's an economy of language that I think everyone should employ in their lives. Less words, say more. This goes double for Reform voters.

3) What’s been your favourite comedy gig so far?

I once went to see Spencer Jones in Edinburgh and before the show, a man displaced his kneecap so it was on the side of his leg. The show was cancelled. Best £18 I ever spent.

4) And the worst?

I'd have to say that it would be any show with four white guys complaining about dating apps. THAT'S MY SCHTICK!

5) Who’s your comedy hero?

The big ones, obviously: Bugs Bunny, the girl from Educating Yorkshire who shaved off her eyebrows, and HAL9000.

6) Best thing about being a comedian?

Seeing all those faces in the audience laughing at my jokes and thinking to myself, "Yeah, I am flipping great... you should be grateful I'm even here, peons!"

7) Worst thing about being a comedian?

Herpes.

8) What’s your thoughts on the town of Stockport?

I have been to Stockport once before, on Halloween... driving in, I accidentally hit a traffic cone... which is terrible costume for a child.

9) Where will you be travelling from for the gig in Stockport, how will you be getting there, and what snacks do you reckon you’ll be eating on the journey?

My location is a state secret, but let's just say, I'll be using our coveted motorway system. I don't tend to eat before a gig as the starvation helps focus the mind, but afterwards... Kit Kat Chunky.

10) And finally, obviously I do these little interviews to sell tickets for the shows. Why should people come and see you at The Fingerpost in April?

They shouldn't come to see me. They should come to see all live comedy. Every day. Never go anywhere else. Your life will depend on it.

➡️ Come and see Fil (and me!) at the end of this month. Drop me a message, call/text 07816 111150 or email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.

Photo of the day

Nene Park, Irthlingborough

John Hardiker in action during County’s 2-2 draw at Rushden & Diamonds in September 2003. Stuart Barlow scored both goals for John Hollins’ men.

Today in SK

🥃 Food and drink

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £5.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £1.50, and 3 for £7 on Jägerbombs. Also, double up for £2 on premium spirits.

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8).

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (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.

⁉️ Quiz night

The Steelworks (SK6). 7.30pm. £1 per person.

Random snippets from old County programmes

#34 - County v Chesterfield, 4 October 2003

Steve Bellis opened his programme notes with a few words on Carlton Palmer, following his Edgeley Park exit.

An awful lot has happened since my last scribings and it has meant difficult times at Edgeley Park. We have parted company with Carlton and whilst the dismissal of managers is pretty commonplace in football, it still comes as a shock to the staff at the club.

Whatever your opinion of Carlton’s managerial ability, you could not possibly argue with his enthusiasm, his honesty and his direct approach. He was a true gentleman in all his dealings with the staff at the club and we wish him well for the future.