Crystal Palace v County

The Hatters travel to a Premier League ground in the FA Cup for the first time since 2007

Jan 12, 2025

Sunday 12 January 2024

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

Ian Brown and Jonathan Baker join us today ahead of County’s FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace – our first trip to top flight opposition in the competition since our 4-1 defeat at Watford back in January 2007.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Greenshoots Yoga. A big thank you to Claire.

Thanks also to Eastern Cuisine who sponsor our Crystal Palace 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: 192.73 miles

Total steps so far: 311,804

Total raised so far: £2,192

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 County take on Palace for the first time since our final season in Division One back in 2001-02.

Ian Brown, All Things Stockport County

Crystal Palace 1 County 2

Is there any chance of a cup upset at Selhurst Park this afternoon?

Yes, of course. There’s every chance!

Palace are a side packed with class players, several of whom are currently in or around the England setup, so very much a side to be taken seriously. All the pundits will favour a Palace win, and that’s to be expected due to the perceived gulf in class twixt the two teams. But we’ve faced Premier League sides in the past at their place in cup competitions and got results.

It has helped, of course, that some of those opponents were struggling in the Premier League, and that state of affairs appertains with Palace, so County can start by hanging their hat on that one! But I hope that Dave Challinor has shown the team the stack of videos on classics such as Everton in 95-96, and the raft of tremendous performances home and away the season after in the League Cup.

As far as I’m aware there’s no video of Liverpool v County in 64-65, but despite Liverpool’s prevailing record in the UK’s top division and in Europe, and County languishing at the foot of Division Four, Trevor Porteous’ men were very unlucky not to come away with more than a replay after a splendid day out on Merseyside. No replays this season, but if we approach it correctly a place in the next round will be ours.

Palace are already lining up their excuses… injuries… sickness… let’s add humiliation to that list with a performance that will make the travelling County supporters proud. Believe!

➡️ 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.

Jonathan Baker, The County Away Day Show

Crystal Palace 1 County 2

How are you finding life after Louie Barry? And will Edgeley Park ever be the same again?

Mostly I’m just pleased the star loanee speculation is over with and that now we can get on with the serious business of a series of Sombre but Heartfelt Family Announcements, sorry I mean a dual assault on the twin footballing objectives of a promotion push and a cup run.

As for this afternoon, I’ve spent the entire time since the draw was made harbouring what are let’s face it probably realistic expectations of a comfortable home victory, but have woken up on matchday afflicted by a mood of borderline insane optimism, most likely the result of an overnight infection of Cup Fever. I heartily predict we will prevail, in 90 minutes, and by the odd goal in three.

➡️ 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.

Today’s other predictions

County Supporters Co-operative: Crystal Palace 3 County 1

Hatters Matters: Crystal Palace 4 County 1

SK3 TV: Crystal Palace 2 County 2

The Scarf Bergara Wore: Crystal Palace 1 County 1

A few words from Claire Ash ahead of her next parent and child yoga session

I’m Claire Ash, founder of Greenshoots Yoga – yoga and mindfulness for children and families. Currently I’m employed in a part-time pastoral role by a primary school in Trafford. I teach yoga, EFT (tapping) and mindfulness to individual pupils and small groups of children.

The objectives for the groups and individuals vary. For example, sometimes it’s used to help pupils feel more emotionally regulated, grounded and calm. Other times it’s taught to help strengthen muscle tone and balance. Often the pupils view the session as an opportunity to talk, expressing any worries or anxieties.

With over 18 years experience as a primary school teacher I have found myself evolve into a new therapy type role. Moving away from teaching the core curriculum subjects and focusing more on empowering children and young people with the tools to help regulate their nervous system.

Yoga and mindfulness can help us all observe our chaotic minds, seeing our thoughts as something abstract and connecting back with our breath and true sense of self. I love sharing this with children and families.

The most amazing part of what I do is seeing how the children respond and use these tools to help in their school and home lives. Of course another bonus is that myself and my boys use these techniques to help navigate our own stress levels.

As I work in school two and a half days a week, I have Wednesdays and Fridays free for private sessions, such as one-to-ones with children to help them with anxiety, weak muscle tone etc.

I’m also available on these days to do staff training or wellbeing days in schools. For example, at the end of January I’m giving some training to staff in a local nursery to help them embed yoga and mindfulness into their curriculum for the early year pupils.

I also run very popular parent and child yoga sessions in Heaton Moor, every half term. These are at St Paul’s Church Hall on Fridays (every six weeks) from 5pm till 6pm. Anyone can come who cares for their child or grandchild. It’s a very gentle yoga introduction, usually with stretching, breath work, yoga flows, partner work and a soothing visualisation.

The next one is on Friday 17 January. This session will be for parents/carers and children over nine and will be £18. As well as yoga we will be discussing affirmations and visualising goals, hopes and dreams for 2025!

➡️ To book your place for this coming Friday, email claire@greenshootsyoga.co.uk.

Photo of the day

Manchester airport

There’s over 3,000 County fans travelling to London today by road or rail. But there’s a handful taking to the skies. Here’s Steve Cree & Co at Manchester airport early this morning ahead of their flight!

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Three films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Wicked (PG) at 1.30pm, We Live In Time (15) at 5pm, and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (12A) at 7.30pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍽 Food and drink

Enjoy a delicious Sunday roast at The Crown (SK2) or The Three Tunnes (SK7) with homemade Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings. Served till 6pm.

Enjoy a pint or two at Heaton Hops (SK4), CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024 for Stockport and South Manchester.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as AMP (SK1), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Cross Keys (SK8) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks.