Getting to bed at half four in the morning, an evening with Halloumi Tom, and a night in a pink hotel with Cashy the groundsman… it’s Gillingham away!

A trio of tales from a midweek trip to Kent

Thursday 29 February 2024

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

NEXT AWAY GAME: Colchester – Saturday 2 March, 3pm

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, Gillingham supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Thursday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

County are off to Essex on Saturday, but today we’re heading back to Kent as John Edgerton, Bob Carey and Des Junior share their travelling tales from last week’s Tuesday night trip to Gillingham.

Our ‘Flynny at the Finger’ event is selling well at the moment – an evening with County legend Mike Flynn at The Fingerpost on Wednesday 17 April. Start time 7.30pm. If you’d like to join us, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com. Tickets are only £5 or £10.

Today’s edition is sponsored by SAW Contracts Ltd. A big thank you to Steve. Give him a call on 0161 285 0307 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: 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

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🎶 “We go to all the away matches, by bus, by train, by car….. And we get so pissed before the game, we don’t know where we are!” 🎶

A lyric from a classic County song gave Des Junior a little bit of inspiration for this regular feature – why have one away day review when you can have three! So when County are playing away from home, The Scarf My Father Wore will be sending three intrepid reporters out into the unknown to share their tales from motorways and train stations across the country.

Even though it meant he only got an hour and fifteen minutes of sleep for work the next day, John Edgerton jumped on Crofter Coaches for the midweek trip to Kent. Bob Carey volunteered to be our train correspondent for this one, as he only lives in Essex. And Des Junior enjoyed a pleasant trip down south in the passenger seat of Cashy the groundsman’s car.

⏰ Up

John: 6.45am. Usual time for the school run, so no lie-in before the long day ahead.

Bob: It was a Tuesday and a (part) work day, so 6.30am.

Des: We decided to set off around 10am, so I set my alarm for 8am to get over to Stockport in time.

🍳 Breakfast

John: Sausage and hash brown butty.

Bob: Not sure anyone would be bothered as I didn’t leave home until 2.45pm. I had a bloody good lunch though. Homemade (by me) Sri Lankan Tamarind Prawn Curry with rice. Bloody amazing even if I say so myself.

Des: A bottle of Huel in the car.

⬅️ Before

John: A mate came round for breakfast, who was also going to Gillingham. Few games of darts at home before going to the Crofter for a couple of pints before the coach.

Bob: Worked at home until 2.45pm and fitted in lunch and play time with my dogs Ernie and Max.

Des: Nowt.

👕 Clobber

John: County top and jeans.

Bob: Jeans, Trojan Records T-shirt, Dr Marten black boots and my big stormproof jacket as I got pissed on last season. Not literally.

Des: Usual shite.

🛫 Outbound

John: Not too bad. Everyone was in high spirits and the beers were flowing.

Bob: Quick. I live in Essex but still on the tube. Swift journey on the Central Line to Stratford International and then a fast train to Gillingham.

Des: Me and Cashy always have fun on the motorways, listening to everything from Robbie Williams and Simply Red to classic County commentary. All mixed in with some very nerdy County quiz questions. Stopped off once during the journey so Cashy could grab a coffee and I could get a stupid photo in a tiny car directly outside the ladies’ toilets.

🍺 Pre-match

John: Didn’t really have much time to do anything apart from a quick pint in the ground.

Bob: In the Fleur De Lis pub before 5pm. Met up with Des Junior and Cashy, then Halloumi Tom, Cobblers Craig, Kent Lee, Buxton Tom, Irish Glenn, Gillingham Surnita and Norfolk Ross. I have made up all these crap sounding nicknames apart from Halloumi Tom. Vegetarian who reckons that the tea in Siv’s is the hottest tea he has ever experienced. True story. We also got chatting to Gillingham local Geoff who supports County because his dad went to uni in Manchester in the 70s and made the right choice when it came to football. No bitter available so Moretti only. Very expensive but, being polite, a very basic pub. When Des and Cashy said where they were staying in Gillingham, Surnita responded “oh no” and Geoff looked very worried for their wellbeing. Nice.

Des: Pretty much wot Bob said. (After me and Cashy had checked in at the King Charles Hotel, pissing ourselves as we drove into the car park as it reminded us of the Villa Bella from Only Fools & Horses.)

🏙 Destination

John: Haven’t got much to say on the matter. I’ve been to Gillingham this season and last season but on both occasions I didn’t really see anything apart from the ground.

Bob: I don’t want to be rude. Not great between the station and the ground but found the people friendly and I do like Priestfield. A normal working class town and area.

Des: You realise the North/South divide isn’t as big as people make out when you visit a place like Gillingham. (Only messing, Gills fans. It was alright.)

🏟 Visitors

John: We were in the seats this season, a bit like Gillingham’s Pop Side. View was good. I like Priestfield, but it could be a lot better without that “temporary” stand behind the goal.

Bob: Obviously the open air scaffolding away end is shit. This was closed off and we sat in the small covered area. Pies ran out before kick-off but not bothered as I got mine.

Des: Gutted we weren’t behind the goal, but it was alright on the side, and it probably made for a better atmosphere all of us sat closer together.

1️⃣ First

John: Sang, sang, sang and was in disbelief how we hadn’t scored.

Bob: As well as cheering on the lads I ate my spicy (some sort of) meat pie and Mars bar courtesy of Kent Lee. Lee is actually from Essex but is a right Kent of a man now.

Des: Waited for County to score, which was surely coming any minute.

🍿 Interval

John: The usual beer, and a good sausage roll.

Bob: Discussed our First Yellow Card pot. £1 each. Buxton Tom was closest at 19 minutes and won £9. Amazing I know. Half the participants failed to pay up so I retained the contributions to the First Goal pot. This took me back to doing similar at Brentford v County years and years ago when Chris Williams scored that scorcher from outside the penalty area. £5 a ticket that day so 10 of us Cockney tossers went!

Des: Mooch, chat and photos.

2️⃣ Second

John: Pretty much same as the first half, ending with the thought: “How have we not won that game?”

Bob: Mainly groaned as we just didn’t look like scoring. No impact subs at the moment and other than all the possession we didn’t really look like we were going to take all three points. I forced a Yorkie down my gullet too. Yes, I am a fat bastard. Had to track down Gillingham Geoff too as he had dropped his bank card in the pub. Luckily I had forced him to give me his phone number so I could contact him and return it. I didn’t use it. Honest.

Des: Waited for Gillingham to score, which was surely coming any minute (after we’d battered them first half).

⚫️ Us

John: For the small number of us, I think we made a bit of noise. Spoke to a few Gillingham fans straight after the game and they said we were loud and stuck by our team.

Bob: Loud and proud as ever. Good turnout for a Tuesday night. Supported County well despite the frustration of seeing so much possession without any real cutting edge.

Des: I’d estimated about 250 on the way down, so I was pleasantly surprised to see 378 of us. Cracking turnout for a Tuesday night, and everyone got right behind the team just three days after that 4-0 at Tranmere.

🔵 Them

John: Were there any at the game? Didn’t sound like it!

Bob: Very quiet but I’ve never met a Gills fan I didn’t like. To be fair their team was crap. Glad they saved up their decent football for Wrexham.

Des: Yeah, they were pretty quiet. To be fair their team was crap. And I’m also glad they beat Wrexham.

🍻 Post-match

John: Straight on the coach.

Bob: Straight back home as my last train was before 10.30pm. Me and Halloumi Tom were the only ones going that way. He’s a Watford fan but has been up for two County weekenders and several away games over the last few seasons. I told him for the 10th time about us playing Watford away in Division One when we lost 4-2 but it felt like a win as we scored twice in injury time. Celebrated for hours in the Watford Wetherspoons with another great set of fans, the Hornets.

Des: Walked back to the hotel, via Burger King.

🛬 Inbound

John: Hell. It took forever due to some roads being closed.

Bob: Quick. Ready for bed. Just bored Halloumi Tom but it gave my wife some respite.

Des: Journey home wasn’t till the following day. Took a bit longer with the rain pissing down.

➡️ After

John: Walked home after arriving in a cold and wet Edgeley at 3.50am.

Bob: I’m sure I ate something. No idea what. I doubt it was fruit and/or veg. Let the dogs out for a wee.

Des: Got back to Stockport on Wednesday afternoon. Stuck around to do a comedy gig in Manchester.

🛏 Bed

John: About 4.30am. Set my alarm for 5.45 to get up for work. How I got through that next day is beyond me.

Bob: About 1am.

Des: I feel like I’m sticking two fingers up at John (and anyone else who made that trip on the coach) but 11pm. Cashy next to me for company (separate beds), Hot Fuzz on the telly and a lovely takeaway from Burger King. Simple pleasures.

💷 Cost

John: Coach £30. Ticket £22. Food and drink £20. Total £72.

Bob: I reckon about £75. Travel not that cheap even though I am darn sarf. Beers were £5-6 in the pub and I bought a few.

Des: About £100 in total, which isn’t bad at all for a midweek overnight trip to the other end of the country.

🏅 Rating

John: A bloody long way to go on a Tuesday night. On a coach. 7/10.

Bob: Seems odd but it was an 8. Got to see a load of friends and colleagues I rarely get to see so a great few hours in the pub. County tried hard but just not our day. County fans great as ever away from home. I like Priestfield. Proper ground, proper club, proper fans.

Des: I love Bob so I’m gonna copy him. 8/10. Also, an overnight County trip with my best mate is always enjoyable. Just a bit frustrating not to nick a deserved winner.

So there you have it folks, three tales from Gillingham away, and it’s a joint victory for… THE TRAIN AND THE CAR!

There’s another long trek for County fans this Saturday: Colchester away. You going? If you’d be happy to answer a few questions about your away day, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.

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Photo of the day

The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool

A bonkers gig in Liverpool yesterday. Signed up for a talent show where you perform 1-2 minutes of material before being interviewed on stage by the hosts, which last night included Dan Nightingale (in the cap) of Have A Word podcast fame. I was shitting myself a little bit having to go on straight after BBC New Comedy Awards finalist William Thompson (in the True Religion jumper), who absolutely smashed it, but my song about Liverpool (and the surrounding areas) got a few big laughs. The £100 prize on the night was deservedly won by a comedian playing a colourblind snooker player from Chorley, which had me in absolute stitches backstage.

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Today in SK

🍺 Food and drink

If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two. Open till 11pm.

Enjoy a delicious meal at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). You’ll also receive 20% off your bill. Just mention the February discount at the till when paying!

🎶 Free jukebox

The Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.

🎤 Karaoke

Enigma (SK1). 8pm.

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Random County fan of the day #59 – Jack Wright!

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One final thing before you go… if you’re looking for a birthday present this month, how about a painting, or a cake, or a bottle of gin, or anything else from our fantastic sponsors!

🎨 Art & Gifts: Kate O’Brien Art

💈 Barber: STUDIO26 Haircare

🪟 Blinds & Shutters: Bauhaus Blinds & Shutters

📚 Bookkeeping: Eleven Accounts Services Ltd

🍰 Cake Maker: Claire Green Bespoke Cakes and Catering

🧽 Car Valeting: Rub A Dubz Detailing Ltd

🧼 Carpet Cleaning: Pro Clean Carpet Services

🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd

🐈‍⬛ Cat Sitting: The Crazy Cat Ladies Cheshire

📓 Celebrant: Elliot Dodd – Independent Celebrant

👶 Child Health: The Sleep Nanny

🤹‍♀️ Children’s Entertainment: Stockport Hero Hire

🧹 Cleaning: Beespoke Cleaning

🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd

🦮 Dog Training: Paws High Peak Dog Training

🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring

💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill

🔥 Fire Protection: Radial Fire And Security Limited

🍸 Gin: Hatters Gin

🛁 Grout Refresh & Recolour: GroutGleam Stockport

💇‍♀️ Hairdressing: C West Hairstylist

🛠 Home Improvements: Menzies Develop & Build

💻 IT Services: Bridge Computer Services

🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd

👨‍🍳 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances

🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd

🚐 Minibus Hire: Westfield Minibuses

🧤 Oven Cleaning: That Oven Girl

🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators

🚑 Personal Injury: Parkers Solicitors Ltd

🧱 Plasterer: Tate Plastering Services

🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman

📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing

🛖 Roofing: ADM Roofing Services Ltd

☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd

👨‍💼 Solicitors: B.J. McKenna & Co

⚽️ Sports Coaching: UK Sports Coaching Ltd

🖊 Tattooist: Heatons Tattoo Club

🪵 Timber Supplies: Portwood Timber Division of Illingworth Ingham (Manchester) Ltd

☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd

👨‍💻 Web Design: SITEZO

⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean

🪟 Window Cleaner: R ‘N’ B Window Cleaning

🏋️‍♀️ Women’s Fitness: Sophie Pavey Fitness

🧘‍♀️ Yoga: Greenshoots Yoga