Des Junior’s Great Big Review of 2023: Part 11 – November
Plus! 37 photos from County’s final game of the year
Saturday 30 December 2023
NEXT HOME GAME: Mansfield – Monday 1 January, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Notts County – Saturday 20 January, 3pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
We’ll take a look at the Bradford game tomorrow, although there’s 37 photos from my trip to West Yorkshire last night for you to peruse today.
Saturday’s main feature is the penultimate article from my Great Big Review of 2023. It’s November today, as County equal Luton’s record winning run in League Two.
Today’s edition is sponsored by GTG Gary The Gasman. You might be in need of heating or plumbing services, especially at this time of year. Gary’s a former British Gas engineer with 38 years experience, providing quality work at an affordable price. You can reach him on 07931 416165 or email garythegasman@yahoo.com.
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: 46.68 miles
Total steps so far: 83,302
Total raised so far: £1,037
Total completed streets so far: 24 (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
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Saturday 4: Worksop (H) 5-1
Saturday 11: Swindon (A) 4-2
Tuesday 14: Bolton (H) 0-2
Saturday 18: Colchester (H) 2-0
Saturday 25: Newport (A) 1-2
Tuesday 28: Salford (H) 0-0
On the morning of the Worksop game, I went for a pleasant stroll around Edgeley.
As I walked past the Stockport Spiritualist Church, I said a prayer for County to avoid slipping on an FA Cup banana skin later that day. The Tigers of the Northern Premier League, three divisions below County, did enjoy a big moment with a Cheadle End equaliser, but four goals from Wootton and one from Bailey took us safely through to round two.
Worksop fan Rich Wilson enjoyed his trip to SK3: “The sheer following we had was incredible. I did still think it would be a step too far, however the occasion was incredible seeing so many Worksop fans shoulder to shoulder making noise and in good spirits. Loved the ground too. Great stadium.”
“Job well done,” said Sandy McGregor. Off the pitch, however, there was a slight grievance. “Narked at not being allowed into the Pop Side. Only had one gate open at each end of the Main Stand. The playing side of the club took the match seriously. The fans took the game seriously. What about the people who run the stadium? A home crowd of over 4,500 and we put our fans in two sides of the ground.”
The following weekend, County won again. Swindon fan Alex Taylor wasn’t a happy chappy…
…but John K Bilsbury was pleased to see County’s victory in Wiltshire, summing the game up with the following: “Our overall quality and strength in depth told in the end.”
Oliver Beaumont rather enjoyed his afternoon at the County Ground as well!
For the first time since August, County suffered a defeat, with Bolton winning 2-0 at Edgeley Park in the EFL Trophy. Both sides had already qualified for the first knockout ground; Bolton topped the group.
Dave Philbin shared his verdict: “Lots of positives and a few negatives. I saw Jordan Smith in pre-season and thought I knew why he hadn't played a competitive game for so long. You can see how far he’s come in a short time working with Nick Colgan and he was without doubt our man of the match. On the other side of the coin, Cody Johnson had a lot of fan pressure put on him after being recalled from Rochdale and it showed. Let him go and get minutes lower down because there's a player in there. Feel Richardson showed he has a lot to offer, but if you're playing the second half as left wing-back you have to at least try and use your left foot! Excited by what Camps will bring in the next few months after his perfectly executed scuff on Saturday.”
History was made at Edgeley Park four days later, as goals from Wootton and Camps secured a 2-0 win against Colchester – our 12th consecutive League Two victory, equalling Luton’s record set in 2002.
“The first half was frustrating and scrappy at times,” said John K Bilsbury. “We seemed to have the best of it but that would have counted for nought if we hadn’t got the first goal late on. Dave Challinor, who has sometimes been accused of lacking a Plan B, saw what was required and had us looking much better in the second half.”
Unfortunately, we couldn’t claim the winning record outright, going down 2-1 at Newport the following weekend.
“It was really lacklustre,” said Dan Levy. “Very little effort, second to everything, and we were ponderous in our transitions from defence to attack. We missed Sarce and/or Camps. Another really disappointing performance from Powell – he’s fine when he has the ball but wanders around aimlessly the rest of the time.”
The month ended with Salford visiting SK3 for the first time since the play-offs. No such drama this time, the game finishing 0-0.
Hannah Brown shared her thoughts with us (from her sofa): “Well given my absence from Edgeley Park due to feeling horrific and not wanting to take down Yellow Block, the atmosphere on the sofa was electric. Me and Paddy McPugface Madden made the most of it until he got bored of all the time-wasting.”
October ended with County five points clear at the top of League Two. November, too.
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A wet and windy end to 2023 in West Yorkshire
Today in SK
🎶 DJ
Bask (SK1) have recently been granted an extended license, which means you can now party until 3am on a Saturday night! Last entry 1.30am.
🍟 Food and drink
Lite bite meal deal at The Friary (SK3). Cod or haddock, served with chips, and a side of peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £9.95. 11.30am - 6.30pm.
🎤 Karaoke
Lee at The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 8pm - 1am.
🎵 Live music
The Harper Brothers at The Crown Inn (SK6). 9pm.
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