Don’t look back at Millmoor, it’s New York now

We’ve been to Rotherham’s new place in the cup, but this season will be our first trip to the New York Stadium in the league

Jun 18, 2024

Tuesday 18 June 2024

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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Rotherham supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Tuesday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore. (If you’re only just joining us today, for no reason at all, I’m somehow trying to use Oasis songs for every single one of our League One season previews!)

Matt from New York Talk joins us today, with Rotherham back in League One, and signing a shedload of players under Steve Evans.

EURO 2024 – DAY 5

5pm: Turkey v Georgia 🇹🇷🇬🇪

8pm: Portugal v Czech Republic 🇵🇹🇨🇿

Here’s a list of the best places to watch today’s games…

Bask (SK1). All the action on two 75” screens.

Crown (SK2). Buy a pint of Helles today and you’ll be in with a chance of winning 52 free pints! There’s also a special menu throughout the Euros.

Armoury (SK3).

Reddish Working Men’s Club (SK5). There’s four screens in the games room, a new projector in the lower games room, and a screen in the middle room where families and children can enjoy the match. Check out the Special Offer Wheel which will be offering a variety of great deals before, during and after each game.

Railway (SK6).

Marple Tavern (SK6). Food served at half-time such as burgers, hot dogs, pizza and chips.

Steelworks (SK6). Game shown downstairs (sound off) and upstairs (sound on).

Shady Oak (SK7). Food served during the game from the matchday menu. Pick up a loyalty card to receive a discount on certain drinks. 10% discount on food for NHS card holders today.

Three Tunnes (SK7). Buy a pint of Helles today and you’ll be in with a chance of winning 52 free pints! There’s also a special menu throughout the Euros.

Cross Keys (SK8).

Flute & Firkin (SK12). Call 01625 879181 to book a table, and quote “The Scarf My Father Wore” to receive 10% off your first round of drinks. (Not applicable for walk-ins.)

Friendship Inn (SK13). Five big screen TVs with surround sound, including one outside in the beer garden.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Colourtone and SAW Contracts. A big thank you to both Paul and Steve.

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: 148.94 miles

Total steps so far: 237,462

Total raised so far: £1,881

Total completed streets so far: 304 (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

Last win at our place: Saturday 8 October 1994, Division Two, 1-0

Last win at their place: Tuesday 12 February 2008, League Two, 4-1

Today’s Sky Bet title/promotion odds: Us – 20/1 7/1 Them – 9/1 3/1

Top story in the local news today: “Police shut Rotherham car park over murder”

I’m sorry to start with a political question, but as Rishi’s chucked a general election slap bang in pre-season, I feel we’ve got to mention it. Who are you voting for? If that’s too personal just give us a flavour of the current political feeling in Rotherham? And which person at your football club do you think would make the best prime minister?

Personally, my voting choice can move around with the policies and how the campaigns are run. Much like Rotherham United last season though, it’s probably time for a change. The constituencies in Rotherham (I think we have three) have generally always been a Labour stronghold. One moved to Conversative last time around, but I fully expect it to turn back red with how the polls are looking.

The best PM from our place would be Hakeem Odoffin. He’s big enough for people not to want to mess around with him, but is such a nice bloke people would definitely give him their vote.

Nigel Farage has had cement and a milkshake chucked over him recently. If he was to do a lap of the New York Stadium on a Saturday afternoon, what would Rotherham fans be most likely to throw at him?

Baring in mind the Brexit vote was two-thirds in favour in the referendum, it’s unlikely he’d get any projectiles at Rotherham. Having said that, I have seen a Pukka Pie or two thrown, most famously the sauve Gianluca Vialli being on the wrong end of one as Watford manager back at Millmoor.

If you had to compare the ownership and daily operations of your club to a political party, which would it be?

A lot of what happens behind the scenes at Rotherham is kept quiet. Not in a secretive way, more “we’ll just get on with things”. That’s all well and good until you finish bottom with 27 points, when one or two questions will come up. We’re probably a bit like the Lib Dems: boring, not often causing any real issues, and no one knows what we’d be like if we ended up with real success.

On and off the pitch, what do you think your club’s manifesto should say for the next 12 months?

Stability, stability and more stability. Three managers last season and a huge turnover of players. I’d like to see more of a view for the long term rather than just the season ahead, but I’m not sure how likely that is with Steve Evans around.

Right, that’s enough political stuff. Next question. “We’re all from Stockport, who the fuck are you…?”

We’re Rotherham United and all we do is make our fans stressed; whether it’s at the top or bottom of the league we always have something to worry about. At least its not boring.

Which team do you most want to beat this season?

Probably Barnsley. They’re our only South Yorkshire rivals this season. Not really a hatred kind of derby, but it’s always nice to beat a neighbour.

Also Bolton. I don’t mind their fans but I have an irrational dislike of Ian Evatt. (Or maybe it isn’t irrational…)

Which Rotherham player is most likely to end up in League One’s team of the season?

Right now I’d probably say Hakeem Odoffin. A giant of a player who can drive us from midfield. Hits a ball harder than anyone I have seen as well. He was signed by Paul Warne for a few hundred thousand but only started once I think. When Matt Taylor came in he became a focal point and is now one of our most popular players. We’ve already signed eight players and are likely to need a good few more so this answer could change.

County haven’t been to Rotherham in the league since January 2011. In just one paragraph, sum up everything that’s happened at your place since then.

Erm… we moved to a new stadium back home to Rotherham, five promotions (two of which were play-off finals), one Papa John’s Trophy win and three relegations. Since 2012 we’ve finished in the top six or bottom six every season – just call us agents of chaos.

Rotherham away. I think of locals with funny accents, a club that constantly yo-yos between the second and third tiers, and a shiny new stadium. Do I need to educate myself further, or is that fairly accurate?

No, that’s about right. We know what we are and that sums us up. We’d all love some more time in the Championship, but we’re (mostly) a realistic fanbase and kind of accept our budget and limitations.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Stockport County?

I remember a classic at Millmoor in 2001-02. We won 3-2, with four goals coming in the last 13 minutes, before our keeper saved a penalty in injury time. I always enjoyed playing against County when we used to meet on a regular basis.

I’ve been watching Football Cops on Channel 4 recently, featuring Sunderland fans kicking down barriers after the game at Coventry, and loads of little Crewe rapscallions playing up at home to Walsall. On a scale of 1 to 10, how naughty are Rotherham fans these days, and how safe will our lot be when we make the trip to South Yorkshire this season?

Thankfully we rarely have any issues. We went through a spell after Covid when we had a few problems – one fan threw an object at the lino and another ran on and hit an Accrington player – but they were isolated incidents. As you might have experienced in the FA Cup a few years ago, the New York Stadium is a good place to watch a decent game of football.

Who or what needs to be top of Rotherham’s shopping list before the new season starts in August?

Lots of players. We needed at least 15 and have signed eight so far. It’s good we have Steve Evans around because that man loves making signings. It makes it exciting but even less certain where we think we’ll finish next season.

What’s your early predictions in terms of the promotion and relegation places?

I expect us to challenge at the top end, but that all depends on signings and if we can keep the few good players we have. Anything outside the top six would probably be seen as a failure.

Click on the links below to read the other 2024-25 season previews we’ve published so far.

Crawley / Leyton Orient

Give your car a lick of paint

Granted, Stockport used to be a little rough around the edges. But the town’s getting a good old lick of paint these days, with fancy new offices, apartments, bars and restaurants springing up. You can’t be driving up and down the A6 in a tatty car with chipped paintwork, so give your car a nice lick of paint too. Colourtone is your go-to company for that. They’ve been servicing the automotive and industrial markets in Cheshire and Greater Manchester for decades, and carry an extensive range of car paint and industrial paints.

Visit colourtone.com for further details.

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Visit sawcontractsltd.co.uk for further details.

Photo of the day

Somewhere in Germany

You’ll always find a sizeable contingent of County fans following England whenever they play abroad. Here’s a few Cheadle Enders enjoying a pint at this year’s Euros.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. The Fall Guy (12A) at 5.45pm, followed by Civil War (15) at 8.15pm. Click here for tickets.

🍟 Food and drink

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £4.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £2, and 3 for £6 on Jägerbombs.

If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a couple of pints.

10% discount on food at The Shady Oak (SK7) for NHS card holders.

100 random grounds that County have played at

#41 – Baseball Ground, Derby

Last visit: FA Cup third round day in January 1993. After away victories at York and Macclesfield, Danny Bergara’s men were on the road once again in round three, with a trip to Derby County of the First Division.

12 of our previous 13 trips to the Baseball Ground had ended in defeat, and unfortunately this one would have the same outcome. Agonisingly, however, we should have had a replay. Brian McCord equalised in the last minute, but Derby still forced a winner, with Dave Miller’s own goal sealing a place in the fourth round for the Rams.

Derby were promoted to the Championship on the final day of last season, so we’ll have to wait a little longer for our first ever trip to Pride Park.