Drenched on Didsbury Road

Des Junior’s reward for breaking through the 100 mile barrier is a soaking in Heaton Norris

Mar 05, 2024

Tuesday 5 March 2024

NEXT HOME GAME: Newport – Saturday 9 March, 3pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Salford – Thursday 14 March, 8pm

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.

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

Producing the website on a daily basis, I quite enjoy sharing snippets from my personal life with you. Here’s a couple of Tuesday titbits.

1) I was back on stage at Hot Water Comedy Club in Liverpool last night, for the second time. First time, I was that nervous, I took my notepad on stage with me as a security blanket. Last night, I felt confident enough to leave the notepad backstage, and enjoyed a wonderful five minutes with the audience, who even clapped along to my song taking the piss out of Liverpool.

2) I’m going on tour! Not as a comedian, but as chief midweek away day correspondent for The Scarf My Father Wore. Me and Cashy the groundsman enjoyed an overnight trip to Gillingham last month (despite the 0-0). And we’re doing the same for Crawley a week on Monday! I’ve just booked a twin room at Barrington Lodge. Stay tuned to find out how that compares with our last accommodation at the bright pink King Charles Hotel in Kent. If you missed our Gillingham away day tales, click here.

A bigger piece of news from myself is that I’ve now walked over 100 miles as part of my schlep across Stockport. That’s today’s main feature, as I escort you through last week’s stroll in Heaton Moor, Heaton Mersey and Heaton Norris. Sorry, Heaton Chapel. You’ll be getting a lot more of my attention soon.

Our first live event of 2024 is taking place next month. ‘Flynny at the Finger’ – an evening with County legend Mike Flynn – is at The Fingerpost on Wednesday 17 April. Start time 7.30pm. Over half the tickets have already been sold. If you’d like to join us, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com. Tickets are £10 (or £5 for paid subscribers plus anyone who’s written an article for The Scarf My Father Wore). That includes a full colour souvenir programme, and even a little bit of stand-up comedy!

Today’s edition is sponsored by Colourtone. As always, a big thank you to Paul.

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: 113.33 miles

Total steps so far: 184,956

Total raised so far: £1,631

Total completed streets so far: 202 (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

It’s the end of February. Today’s the seventh day of my walk. It’s also the day I’ll break through the 100 mile barrier. Now, I thought I was starting to get pretty fit walking such lengthy distances on the streets of Stockport. But before I know it, on this particular stroll, I find myself in March, then May, and even June, and I’ve only managed to cover a tiny sliver of Heaton Norris. At this rate, I won’t see the finishing line until I’m 103.

That’s a shit joke (I hope the three photos above are appearing on your device or it won’t even make any sense) to go with the shit weather. In fact, it starts pissing it down at exactly the same time I find myself exploring those calendar-sounding streets off Elm Tree Drive, which is off Crescent Park, which is off Didsbury Road, which is where this photo is taken shortly after. In a bus stop.

I’m already drenched by this point after a sudden downpour; also, I’ve already brought you to the end of my day. After snapping this soggy selfie, I cross the road to the bus stop on the other side, where I catch a 197 into Manchester. I’m dropped off outside The Thirsty Scholar next to Oxford Road station, where I’m planning to do five minutes of stand-up comedy at their weekly open mic night, but I’m so cold and wet, and so desperate to get into bed with a film and an Easter egg, I walk to Piccadilly instead, before catching a train home to Chester.

Roughly ten hours earlier, my day starts on Shaw Road in Heaton Moor, but it’s that early there isn’t really anything interesting to share with you. It’s only just after 8am. That Hair Place isn’t cutting any hair, The Barber Shop isn’t doing any barbering, Stomping Ground Coffee isn’t even open for a coffee. And it’s certainly too early for a tandoori at Heatons Tandoori.

By the time I return to Shaw Road, however, where I stop for an orange juice at Cássidys, I do have an interesting nugget of news to share, as my walk takes me past the 100 mile barrier – the first major milestone in my quest to walk down every street (both sides!) in Stockport. I celebrate with a slight change of scenery, diverting from the pavements to the park. Heaton Moor Park, to be precise, where I take an arty farty photo of a football pitch, which is probably in a much better state than Colchester’s was at the weekend.

I’m at Cássidys for an hour and a half, not just for the aforementioned orange juice, but it’s a chance to do a bit of work whilst listening to tune after tune after tune, including an absolute belter I don’t think I’ve ever heard before which I fall in love with instantly: “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band.

A handful of streets later, I stop again, this time at The Moor Top. It’s a similar break to my one at Cássidys, simply replacing the orange juice with a tomato soup and tune after tune after tune with nonsense after nonsense after nonsense from a Man United fan at the next table, who I swear could be Terry Christian if I closed my eyes.

The United fan is 61 years old and celebrating his birthday with his elderly parents (I love people watching… and listening). He’s as Manc as they come, but lives in the Midlands now, and hasn’t been in this particular establishment since 1981, when he lived round the corner and used to bring a girl on dates here. He actually seems fairly sound (probably in small doses), but annoys me when he starts talking football with his dad, and says how boring it was watching United in the 90s when they used to win everything, turning up to Old Trafford knowing they’d win. I hope Everton stuff them 5-0 this Saturday.

My soup arrives – with two spoons and no knife, so my knob of butter gets an unexpected spooning, onto my bread. Nonsense Nonsense Nonsense is still chewing his parents’ ears off, this time about stag parties. “Michael went to Benidorm for four nights,” he reveals, but the exclamatory tone and delivery of that statement makes it sound like Michael’s stag do was a fortnight on the moon. Nonsense Nonsense Nonsense’s dad (whose own stag do was a few pints in his local in Fallowfield) is amazed at this revelation, and is actually quite taken aback by the fact some people travel abroad for their last night of freedom. “Oh, you’d be amazed Dad, they all go to Kraków or bloody Lithuania these days!”

As for the soup, this is my third Heatons lunchtime venue on the walk so far, but it’s the bronze medal for The Moor Top I’m afraid. (Silver for The Nursery Inn; gold for The Elizabethan.) Regular The Scarf My Father Wore readers will know how passionate and enthusiastic I am about Stockport, and wherever possible I’m always positive about the town, but my lunch today is so watery I can’t help share the fact it reminds me of the Cup-a-Soup-in-a-bowl served by Denise in the 2008 Christmas Day episode of The Royle Family.

In The Moor Top’s defence, my tomato water is very tasty, and the pub’s only been open for five days following a major refurbishment. There’s always a few teething problems when a new place opens up. The pub looks great, the staff are extremely courteous and friendly, and various plates of food being brought to tables around me look and smell delicious. Pop in yourself next time you’re in Heaton Moor.

After lunch, I’m back pounding the streets once again, where I encounter a hippopotamus and two elephants in Heaton Moor, and a giant owl in Heaton Norris.

It then pisses it down. Which we’ve already been through. I’ll try and come up with a more creative ending for you next time, when I’m not sat shivering in a bus stop on Didsbury Road like a drowned rat.

If you’re able to spare a few quid, please click here to make a donation to Mentell through my JustGiving page.

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5 questions with Paul from Colourtone

What was the funniest moment with your business in February?

A customer wanted a freebie, so we sent him a box full of stupid things!

What’s your plans for the business this month?

To keep busy as we always are, especially from March onwards.

What would you like to promote to our readers in March?

Now’s a good time to get your car looking great again. Get in touch with us for a touch-up or a polish.

As it’s Easter at the end of this month, what’s your favourite chocolate?

Cadbury’s Buttons egg. Still love them from being a kid.

Have you booked your summer holiday yet?

Yes, going to Paxos in Greece for the millionth time as I absolutely adore the place.

Visit colourtone.com for further details.

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Photo of the day

A bar in Manchester

One of the editor’s best mates is celebrating a rather special birthday today. A great big happy 40th to Vinnie Wright!

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Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Dune: Part II (12A) at 7pm. 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. Open from 3pm.

There’s a new craft stout at The Dog & Partridge (SK2) this month. Euphoria is a 4.5% ABV dark, easy drinking kegged stout with a subtle punch of coffee, chocolate and a deep, rich malt flavour.

Fish Meal Deal at The Friary (SK3). Lite bite fish and chips with peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £9.75. Open till 7.30pm.

Treat yourself to a delicious scone at All Things Nice (SK6), freshly baked each morning with love. Open till 4pm.

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