Exeter v County

Our first trip to St James Park (the one in Devon) since February 2010

Apr 05, 2025

Saturday 5 April 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Rotherham United – Saturday 12 April, 3pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Exeter City – Today, 3pm

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

I’m all the way down in Devon this weekend. If you don’t believe me, here I am!

I’m here for two nights, so plenty more photos to come (of Exeter, rather than me). First, though, it’s time for our preview. Jonathan Baker, Ian Brown and Dan Culverwell share their thoughts ahead of County’s long trip to St James Park.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Guerrilla Chicken Spirits. A big thank you to Paul. If you’re stocking up on booze any time soon, get yourself 10% off by using the code Scarf10.

Thanks also to Pro-Tech Print who sponsor our Exeter City 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: 253.75 miles

Total steps so far: 418,084

Total raised so far: £2,292

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

Jonathan Baker, The County Away Day Show

Exeter 2 County 1

I'm in Exeter for two nights this weekend. What's your favourite weekend away in the UK?

My favourite weekend away in the UK is anywhere at all by the seaside, but if I had to pick one spot it would probably be Trearddur Bay in Anglesey. A lovely fresh feel to the place, with great big expanses of sand alongside hidden little rockpool-covered coves – and it seems to have its own actual colour of sky that you don’t get anywhere else.

I can’t think of anywhere better to enjoy fish and chips while watching the tide come in (or go out), and there’s a couple of basic but perfectly-serviceable campsites just on the edge of the village where we have spent many, many happy weekends as a family (and just the odd one where it rained constantly for 48 hours and we had to eat our fish and chips in the tent, but we don’t talk, or think, about those. In our minds the sky over Trearddur Bay is always that singular clear blue/green).

Looking forward to this weekend’s excursion for the County family. I’m hoping it will be a happy one, but this does not feel like an ideal time to visit the in-form Grecians, who may fancy their chances on the back of just one defeat in the last eight, leading to that eye-catching win at Barnsley last time out. I think we might just fall short.

➡️ 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.

Ian Brown, All Things Stockport County

Exeter 0 County 3

The Fingerpost Flyer passengers will be enjoying a commemorative brew on their way to Devon this morning, in memory of Lou Spalding. What’s your favourite hot beverage, favourite biscuit, and how do you think Lou would react to everyone raising a cuppa to him today?

A tribute to Lou Spalding

The Scarf My Father Wore

Apr 2

Read full story

I’m not sure what a nationwide poll would reveal as far as the UK’s favourite hot drink is concerned, but I suspect that a “nation of tea drinkers” now has a greater appreciation for the import from across the pond - coffee - than it did say in the 1940s.

Tea drinking has been part of British life for yonks but, like many things of value, its origins are firmly rooted in ancient China, where, if you believe popular legend, Emperor Shennong in 2737 BC accidentally discovered the drink when tea leaves fell into his boiling water.

I commend the Emperor for his inadvertent contribution to our culture, as I know tea (always without milk and sugar) is a fine refreshing drink.

There’s always a but though, isn’t there? And here it is: I much prefer coffee. An altogether less sophisticated brew - cruder if you will - it’s a bludgeon to tea’s rapier, but with milk added and sugar absent my early morning cup of coffee gives me the start I need for the day ahead!

As for biscuits, it’s McVitie’s dark chocolate digestives. Ideal with a late evening coffee.

The Flyer will be celebrating Lou’s life and part of his legacy today when we enact our Commemorative Brew on the coach down to Devon in tribute. Lou’s brews were always welcome on long journeys, and I’m sure he would have quietly enjoyed this small acknowledgement of his major contribution to County culture.

➡️ 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.

Dan Culverwell, The Scarf Bergara Wore

Exeter 1 County 3

Wrexham dropped points at struggling Cambridge on Tuesday night, but they’re still seven ahead of us. Should we stop torturing ourselves, accept we’re probably not going to get top two, and start sorting out our payday loans for the play-offs?

As I said on Wednesday’s podcast, County are the fourth horse in a two-horse race for that second spot, and as it’s the Grand National today let’s not end there.

We’re now at that stage of the season where we’ve crossed Melling Road for the final time having already jumped 40 obstacles during the race. We’re now on that run to the finishing post with only six (or maybe nine) fences remaining to determine who will be cheered in the winner’s circle.

We may not be able to win the race outright but there are still places to be won and lost, and although the big money is paid out for finishing first or second, we need to be on the bridle to capitalise on any of the riders in front of us making a costly mistake in the run-in which could still be a photo finish.

Predicting the score for today is a Bravemansgame. I feel I’m a Kandoo Kid but no Senior Chief when comparing to prediction Monbeg Genius Andrew Barlow and Nick Rockett Lee and this has truly left me in Stumptown. I’m going for a 3-1 County win with a half-time score of 1-1 and I ain’t bluffing like in Three Card Brag.

Anyway that’s enough puns from me. I hope you Appreciate It, and with that I’ll get my Duffle Coat, pick up my Twig, and head off to Coko Beach.

If you want my Grand National NAP – look out for the grey horse!

➡️ Dan is part of The Scarf Bergara Wore team, hosting live County podcasts every Wednesday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Today’s other predictions

County Supporters Co-operative: Exeter 1 County 2

Hatters Matters: Exeter 0 County 2

SK3 TV: Exeter 1 County 3

5 questions with Paul from Guerrilla Chicken Spirits

What was the best moment with your business in March?

Sponsoring the Wycombe v Wrexham match was a great experience, and we got some great reactions to our Deadpool skit (check out our socials!). My favourite moment of the month, however, would be celebrating Gideon Kodua’s stoppage-time winner at Rotherham. I received so many “you’re on TV” messages very quickly! It was so special to be able to share that with two of my lads on a night out in South Yorkshire.

What’s your plans for the business in April?

Keep putting in the hard yards with various markets and shows.

What would you like to promote The Scarf My Father Wore readers this month?

Our 10% discount for The Scarf My Father Wore readers is still running. Use the code Scarf10 at checkout.

I’m in Exeter for two nights this weekend. What’s your favourite place in the UK for a weekend away?

Tough one. I’m a bit of a homebird, I like my four walls to be fair. Favourite weekend away is in the garden! We did enjoy Carlisle away last season for the weekend. I’ve been there a few times for football and Annandale Distillery. I like Carlisle. Exeter was a good craic too a couple of times.

I’ve got Tony Burgess headlining my next Desmond’s Comedy Club at the end of this month, who played the brother of Johnny Vegas in the BBC sitcom Ideal. What’s your favourite sitcom of all time?

I just love Early Doors. An unsung classic with an amazing cast. “No, he was in a Ford Escort!”

➡️ Visit guerrilla-chicken.com to see the full range of drinks and gifts, and don’t forget to use the code Scarf10 for a 10% discount!

Photo of the day

Edgeley, Stockport

The Edgeley Con Club Coaches crew are in fancy dress today. Gonna be a lively away end in Devon!

Today in SK

🍺 Food and drink

All pints £2.50 at The Cross Keys (SK8) from 6pm till 9pm.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks and a bite to eat.