Fishponds

Mike Wilson examines the size of the County fish and the various ponds it’s been swimming in

May 01, 2024

Wednesday 1 May 2024 – CHAMPIONS FORTNIGHT!

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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to CHAMPIONS FORTNIGHT on The Scarf My Father Wore.

It’s not every day Stockport County win a Football League title – in fact, the last time it happened was 57 years ago – so we’re shouting our success from the rooftops, with 14 champion-flavoured articles over 14 days. Something a little bit different for you today. County’s latest title success is taking them into a rather bigger pond next season, alongside at least six clubs who have featured in the Premier League. That’ll become seven if Blackburn, Wednesday or Birmingham go down this Saturday, and eight if both Bolton and Barnsley fail to win the play-offs. Mike Wilson has penned an article for us looking at fishes and ponds.

Today’s edition is sponsored by SAW Contracts Ltd. A big thank you to Steve. Give him a call on 07801 490294 or email sawcontracts@gmail.com if you’re looking for a qualified joiner in the Stockport area.

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: 136.36 miles

Total steps so far: 217,174

Total raised so far: £1,666

Total completed streets so far: 271 (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

The only photo I could think of to accompany this article was this one, from the King Charles Hotel, where me and Cashy the groundsman stayed after the 0-0 at Gillingham this season!

Think back 10 years ago. 2013-14. National League North. County finished 14th out of 22. We were a big fish in a very small pond, playing against Colwyn Bay, Vauxhall Motors, North Ferriby and, ironically, Barrow. Lots of obscure country towns where a home gate of 500 was normal, but a visit from County could easily double that. Very popular with visiting club chairmen and local pub landlords. Although part time, we probably were the biggest fish in the pond.

Skip forward a couple of years. Some of the opponents from 2013-14 have drifted away, but Salford City, AFC Fylde, Darlington, Alty and FCUM are all there. Is this our new, natural level? An 8th place finish, so looking better.

To 2018-19 and County are champions. No other clubs in that division that have been in the Football League in recent times. We are still the biggest fish.

So into the National League we go. Plenty of former FL teams, so not the only big fish in the pond. Torquay, Hartlepool, Notts County, Chesterfield, Wrexham and others, all quite capable of matching the financial muscle and crowd support of County. A play-off finish, but do we need a new manager?

Then the following year, up we go again, with a return to the Football League. No more part-time teams to boss around. Plenty of well-run sizable opponents such as Orient, Bradford and Swindon. Plenty that have been much higher in the Football League. However, plenty that are going nowhere. Play-offs and a final that Carlisle must wonder if it was worth winning by now.

So what next? League One next season. How big are the fish? Sure Huddersfield and maybe Birmingham or Wednesday are the big fish, but are County much different in terms of size / ground / finances / support to Exeter, Wycombe, Lincoln, Shrewsbury? Certainly not yet a small fish in a big pond. This is probably where I like to think County fit best. Not that many local derbies this time, so the Welsh Team along with Blackpool, Wiggin and Shrewsbury it is. Still, a nice change from Tamworth and Gainsborough Trinity, eh? How will we go? We have a solid squad and a competent manager, and a shrewd and ambitious owner. Yep, pretty happy with the immediate future.

All of this leads to the question: how big a fish is big enough? Up the ground capacity to around 15,000 and pull in an average crowd of 12,000 and we start to move into a higher circle. Bolton, Barnsley, Rotherham and a handful of others that should dominate a league featuring Mansfield, Cambridge and Burton. Yes, we can fit in here. Can we become sustainable in the division above, where there are a smattering of ex-Premier League teams battling to get back? Perhaps not yet. Some damn big fish in that pond.

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Photo of the day

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly… 😉

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Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Civil War (15) at 2.30pm and 5.30pm, followed by Monkey Man (18) at 8pm. 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. 12pm - 11pm.

If you find yourself in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two. 3pm - 10pm.

Treat yourself to lunch at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). One course for £7, two courses for £11. 12pm - 2pm.

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100 random grounds that County have played at

#5 – Oakwell, Barnsley

Last visit: You have to go back to 1923-24 for our last goalless draw at Barnsley. There’s usually quite a few goals when the Hatters take to the field at Oakwell, and our most recent visit was no different. The Tykes were 3-0 up just after half-time during our League One fixture in December 2004, but goals from Warren Feeney, Stuart Barlow and Rickie Lambert rescued an unlikely point for the rock bottom Hatters.

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