Doncaster, Wimbledon, Colchester, CREWE, let’s have a catch-up with you
Sad news to share with you today… that chippy next to Gresty Road has closed down
Friday 14 July 2023
NEXT HOME GAME: Huddersfield – Saturday 22 July, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Altrincham – Saturday 15 July, 3pm
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and any Crewe supporters joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Friday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
With County facing a couple of local derbies at Altrincham and Chester over the next few days, I thought we’d stay in the north-west for today’s latest preview feature, so it’s all aboard the choo-choo to Crewe. We’re joined by James Tait, season ticket holder at Gresty Road and panellist on The Railwaymen podcast.
Finally, today’s edition is sponsored by A E Thomas & Co. Big thank you to Scott, and if you need your windows cleaning, there’s further details below.
Enjoy today’s issue.
Des Junior
Their place: Tuesday 24 October 2023, 7.45pm
Our place: Tuesday 13 February 2024, 7.45pm
Last win at their place: Tuesday 1 September 2009, Johnstone’s Paint Trophy first round, 4-1
Last win at our place: Monday 26 December 2022, League Two, 2-0
Today’s Sky Bet title/promotion/relegation odds: Us – 6/1 11/8 50/1 Them – 66/1 11/1 11/2
Are you glad County lost the play-off final, or would you rather be playing Carlisle this season?
Going into the play-off final I felt fairly conflicted regarding the result. From a selfish perspective, if County had gone up, I’d suggest it would have given Crewe a far greater chance of success this coming season. County’s signing of one-time Crewe wonder boy Nick Powell proves this point very simply; there is no chance that either Crewe or Carlisle could afford Powell’s wages on a three-year contract, given the risk involved with his precarious injury record.
On the other hand, Carlisle were one of the best footballing sides we saw last season, so I felt like they deserved their return to League One, although losing this trip from the calendar is a major blow as it’s been one of my favourite away days in recent times.
Ultimately, from the outside looking in, it felt like another promotion would have come too soon for County, but we’re all expecting you to be right up there once again this season. As I’m sure many Crewe fans are, I’m still traumatised by our performance at Edgeley Park on Boxing Day last season, so the thought of returning brings on a feeling of dread.
In terms of your summer transfer business, where have Crewe been shopping?
At the time of writing, we’ve done most of our business at Lidl (largely an assorted mixture from their magnificent but humble bakery section). Like most sides in League Two, we’ve picked up a couple of released/out-of-contract players from other clubs (Crawley’s captain Jack Powell and winger Shilow Tracey from Cambridge), as well as right-back Ryan Cooney from relegated Morecambe and Harvey Davies, a highly-rated young goalkeeper on loan from Liverpool. I would expect we’re still in the market for a centre-back and another winger, given we have recently lost centre-back Rod McDonald to Harrogate (who was one of our best players last season) and Dan Agyei to Leyton Orient (who was our top scorer last season).
Some of our best business this summer could be having the likes of Chris Long, Courtney Baker-Richardson and Charlie Colkett fit for the start of the season, and then keeping them fit. All three were out of action for large chunks of last season but if they can stay fit they will be major assets.
As ever with Crewe, we also have a number of exciting youth prospects blooming from the academy, of which a number of them should feature as key players this season.
With the current energy crisis, the government have ordered all Football League clubs to switch off one thing that uses power for the whole season. What are you choosing?
In this scenario the PA system is a goner. From my seat in the Main Stand, I can barely hear a word, so if the PA system was lost this would be a blessing in disguise.
Which team do you most want to beat this season?
Torn between Wrexham and Salford on this, both for similar reasons. I think it has to be Wrexham, given we are semi-local rivals and the huge financial backing at their disposal. It would be delightful to halt their ascent.
County haven't played MK Dons since 2009-10, so we're a little out of the loop. What's your current thoughts when it comes to MK Dons away – boycott the game, happy to attend, or reluctantly go without spending any other money on food, drink, programmes etc?
This fixture is one of the least excitable of the season for me. I personally don’t jump to attend the game, and it’s not somewhere we travel well, but if I were to go (reluctantly), I would be looking to spend nothing more than necessary.
The Conservative party are in disarray at the moment. They've contacted your club and asked your chairman and manager to join them, to bring some new ideas to the table. Which roles would they be most suited to?
Charles Grant for prime minister. When you listen to him it’s difficult not to think he is in fact an established politician, so this role would be perfect for him. Although would I vote for him in a general election? No.
Lee Bell could be minister of state for employment. Given his rapid rise to management at Crewe, I can’t think of anyone better to take charge of the labour market, unemployment and in-work progression.
There's a huge game at Gresty Road this season. You're 1-0 up with 15 minutes to go when Just Stop Oil protestors invade the pitch and get the game abandoned. How are Crewe fans reacting?
It’s not something we’re proud of, but we do appear to have a high proportion of troglodytes in our following at the moment. I’d therefore expect our fans in the Gresty Road End to jump at the chance of forcefully removing the protestors to a chorus of boos and perverted intermitted clapping from the large Main Stand. The only thing we can be sure of is that the stewards will not move from their posts.
Newport County, Notts County, Stockport County. Snog one, marry one, avoid one.
I’d snog Stockport, but hopefully only a brief encounter. In the nicest possible way, please get promoted so you are out of our way.
I’d marry Notts County. One of my favourite away days and a club I, as many others do, have much respect for. Let’s tie the knot.
Avoid Newport. The long distance would never last. I’m out.
Ryan Reynolds gets in touch and says he wants you to take him on a Hollywood-style night out when Wrexham visit. He wants the nicest meal in town, followed by the swankiest bar, and then the best hotel. What are your recommendations?
Fasten your seatbelts, readers. We’ll start with a swanky meal at Crewe’s famous fish and chip shop, Benny’s, although we’ll have to visit the one across town as the one on Gresty Road next to the ground has just closed down. I’d also recommend Passage to India, Fatu’s Kitchen, Swish Lounge and Corfu the Greek Souvlaki to any visiting supporters (all of which are in the vicinity of the train station and the ground).
We’ll then walk down to craft ale and artisan gin house Ebenezer’s for a few beverages before crashing at the delightful Crewe Arms Hotel.
There's a quote saying "Stockport Isn't Shit" which has taken off around our town, with the words proudly displayed in bars and on various bags and t-shirts. What quote would you use to promote Crewe to people who think it's not that fashionable?
Quite simply, this…
Which Crewe player is most likely to end up in League Two's team of the season?
If kept fit, Chris Long will be up there in terms of leading scorers and may be knocking on the door of the team of the season, but I’ll go for academy graduate, Joel Tabiner. He’s a classy left-footed midfield architect with a determined nature and an eye for a defence-splitting pass. Last season was his first full campaign as a pro and he chipped in with two goals. I’d expect this to be vastly improved upon this time around and Tabiner to be one of the best midfielders in the league.
Early predictions for 2023-24?
Wrexham to win it. Sadly, I fear that with the funds and experienced Football League players at their disposal, they’ll continue to ride their wave straight into League One.
I think you’ve got another fine season ahead, and might crawl over the line into the top three. Possibly with Salford. After a few years of disappointing league finishes, this season they look to have a smaller squad but it’s full of quality.
Play-offs, I’d definitely go with Notts County. The Langstaff/McGoldrick pairing has to be one of the most frightening in League Two. These two alone could fire Notts into the play-offs and beyond. Colchester and Gillingham could be up there as well, having recruited quite heavily. And I’ll say Crewe too. You have to back your own team, right?
Newport for the drop, as they seem to have lost all their key players in the summer and I’d suggest not the easiest club to sell to perspective transfer targets. And Crawley are so far overdue a relegation it’s scary. The fact that their captain Jack Powell has upped his family from down south to move up north and sign for Crewe speaks volumes.
Click on the links below to read the previous 2023-24 previews we’ve published so far.
Crawley / Grimsby / Mansfield / Newport / Swindon / Tranmere / Wimbledon
Give those windows of yours a clean
There’s exciting things happening in Stockport at the moment isn’t there? County favourites for promotion to League One, parties at Bask every weekend, millions being spent on the town centre redevelopment. You want to be able to (metaphorically) see all these things clearly out of your windows don’t you? Step forward, A E Thomas & Co, one of the leading independent window cleaning companies covering Stockport and the north-west. Take a look at your windows right now. Are they a bit grubby? Get in touch with Scott and he’ll have them looking shinier than County’s new kits.
Photo of the day
On this day 24 years ago, The Mirror dedicated their entire front page to Man United’s decision to withdraw from the FA Cup that season, with expert opinion from those well-known football pundits Caprice and Darren Day.
As a First Division club, County entered the competition in round three, and could have faced a club who’d lost their second round tie. With United’s exit, The FA placed all 20 losing teams from round two into a draw, and Darlington were the “lucky losers” – handed a juicy trip to Villa Park having lost at Gillingham.
For the record, County’s 1999-2000 FA Cup campaign ended abruptly, losing 3-2 at Grimsby, even though Andy Kilner’s men had been 2-1 up with a minute to go.
Today in SK
🎶 DJ
Nelson Tavern (SK1) have their resident DJ playing on a Friday night, with Dicko (Ian Dickinson) on from 8pm till 1am.
DJ Robin (plus karaoke) at The Dog and Partridge (SK2).
🍟 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 - 7.30pm.
Friday Fiesta at TRUNK (SK7). Live music from Leon Meya starting at 7.30pm. Great company, tasty tapas and flowing drinks – what more could you want? Call 0161 222 9260 to book a table, and mention “The Scarf My Father Wore” to receive a 15% discount off the normal tapas menu.
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