Monday 12 February 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Crewe – Tuesday 13 February, 7.45pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Tranmere – Saturday 17 February, 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, Grimsby supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Monday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Tony Butcher from Cod Almighty joins us once again for his take on Saturday’s match, with Chris Spicer giving us his view from the away end.
Today’s edition is sponsored by BGM Decorators and Hatters Gin. A big thank you to both Ben and Sacha.
If you’re thinking of having any decorating work done over the coming weeks or months, give Ben a call on 07816 589989 or email bgm.decorators@yahoo.co.uk.
And if you’re running out of gin at home at the moment, head to hattersdistillery.com to get stocked up. Enter the code SCARF and you’ll receive a 15% discount off your order at checkout!
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: 83.07 miles
Total steps so far: 142,594
Total raised so far: £1,352
Total completed streets so far: 123 (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
✍️ Saturday’s match in one word
Tony: I’m sorry, the categorisation does not fit the occasion. This wasn’t a match, it was a contractual obligation. Your words would be “routine” or “professional”. Our words, well, you wouldn’t find them in the bible, that’s for sure. How about “normal”?
Chris: Frustrating. (I thought it could have been another dominant result, after being 3-0 up, but we sat back too much. Also the injury to Akil Wright, which didn’t look too good as he walked past us.)
🤔 Pre-match thoughts
Tony: Logic and proportion says we’re going to lose, so as long as Town put up a fight and perform adequately then we’d be reasonably undiscontent, or at least not more discontent than usual.
Chris: Expected a County win, but not a first half as easy as that, as Grimsby have been a tough side to beat in the past.
🧐 Post-match thoughts
Tony: Expect nothing and you get nothing. There was nothing much to extract from this dissolution that we haven’t seen before, just with different players making different errors in different parts of the pitch.
Chris: Pleased with the win and other results. Hoping Wright’s injury is just a knock and nothing serious.
⚫️ Verdict on Grimsby
Tony: They knew what to do, they couldn’t do it, and they were allowed to faff about with the ball for the last hour. This is how we play, this is how we lose. This is our life under Dr Mesmer, watching monkeys stare at a typewriter. This is just how it is every time we walk through the gates at Blundell Park.
Chris: They’re lucky there’s a few teams worse off or they could be looking at a return to the National League. Second half they picked up but possibly as County sat back a bit.
🔵 Verdict on County
Tony: Well, there’s the benefit of listening to teacher and doing your homework. Bigger, faster, stronger, better. Everywhere, in head and foot, and head and shoulders above anything we’ve seen in this dreary division. They knew what to do, they did it, and they didn’t need to do anything more for the last hour.
Chris: Some quick well worked moves and patient build-up. We look like a team who can achieve, but panicked a bit towards the end which was concerning.
🚣♀️ Top Mariner
Tony: The Denver Boot. Sorry Denver Hume, the only one of ours that would get a sniff of a contract in Hatterland. We’ve finally found a full-back who can defend properly. You see, this is how far we’ve fallen – we crave and laud mere adequacy now.
Chris: Thought Rose worked hard without much support.
🎩 Top Hatter
Tony: It’s hard to pick anyone out in particular, it was a cohesive collective that done it. Olaofe scared our centre-backs witless. But then again, who doesn’t?
Chris: Hard to pick one player but Sarcevic probably edged it.
👂 Atmosphere
Tony: Dreadful, just drowning in emotional incontinence between the long, long silences where all we could see was our own feet.
Chris: We had a mix of County fans around us. I was impressed with the level of noise continually throughout the game.
🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season
Tony: That Fruits of the Forest and Sutton carry on regardless. We only have eyes for two other games at the moment. Yes, we are relying upon the kindness of strangers.
Chris: I’d expect us to finish top two now, preferably as champions.
😀 Best part of the day
Tony: It’s always amusing to see that Wrexham have lost, especially in the last minute. I dunno, lovely chips at Choc-O-Latte? I pulled a couple of cracking guesses out of the bag in The Guardian weekend quiz.
Chris: Having three generations of our family in attendance for my youngest one’s first game, topped off by all the staff at Grimsby being helpful and friendly.
😡 Worst part of the day
Tony: It’s a toss-up between the moment that we saw Cartwright look up and decide to pass straight to Sarcevic, or about three seconds later realising that the fog had lifted and wouldn’t return to save our bacon.
Chris: Not being able to get food before the game after walking down dog shit covered paths all round the ground.
The British Library receives a copy of every single book published in the UK. In the same fashion, Des Junior believes a detailed record of every County game should be preserved for the history books. So here’s the full story of our 3-1 victory at Grimsby Town on Saturday 10 February 2024, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…
3.10pm: Get in! Sarcevic. Lovely assist from the Grimsby keeper.
3.15pm: Tanto makes it 2-0! What an unbelievable pass from Powell.
3.29pm: 3-0. Debut goal for Cass. The natives sound disgruntled on the commentary!
4.15pm: 3-1. We’ve not woken up this half yet.
4.57pm: Crewe and Mansfield were always likely to win. Wrexham losing is a bonus. As is a County win at Grimsby.
5.00pm: Big, big if, but if we beat Crewe on Tuesday we’ll have one foot in League One.
5.27pm: Review of Grimsby as a day out? How was the fish and chips compared with The Friary, most importantly?
5.37pm: Very good. Went for a walk along the seafront. Then lunch in the world's biggest fish and chip restaurant (Papa's at the end of the pier). I had skate and chips – very tasty, nice for a change from cod or haddock. Then the kids had ice cream and I got a waffle (no doughnuts), then a go in the arcades and the 2p machines, then off to the match.
First half great, helped by comical Grimsby. Second half a bit less comfy as Grimsby scored and piled on a bit, but it petered out in the end. Then a brisk walk back along the now very much tide-in seafront, dodging the spray and arriving just in time to buy a drink from the vending machine before jumping on the train.
Two bad points. Grimsby scoring. And the stewards confiscating my water on the way in, even if I took the lid off, as "it might have been tampered with".
9/10. Would repeat.
1.36am: We’re top of the league.
BGM Decorators are currently taking bookings for external work from April onwards
BGM Decorators is a family business that has been in the trade since 1988. They’ve been built on hard work, honesty, and a high quality service that has consistently enhanced their reputation. They provide a painting and decorating service on a domestic and commercial basis across Stockport, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, as well as offering tenant turnover services and working alongside estate agencies and private landlords.
Now’s the time of year when you might be starting to think about having the outside of your home painted. BGM Decorators are currently taking bookings from April onwards. Get in touch to discuss further.
Call 07816 589989 or email bgm.decorators@yahoo.co.uk.
Enjoy a 15% discount from Hatters Gin!
Hatters Gin began life in September 2018 with the distillery, where they spent a few months refining their recipe. Launching in March 2019 with one London Dry Gin, they went on to win bronze at the 2020 International Wine and Sprits Competition, before claiming silver at the 2021 London Spirits Competition.
Sacha took a break for a year (just fulfilling online orders), following the birth of her second child, before starting back up in October 2023. “I’m not trying to get away from my 17-month-old and 3-year-old… honest!” she told me.
Sacha’s moved to dedicated premises in a secret location in Stockport, just a 10-minute walk from where it all started in Edgeley. There’s exciting things planned for 2024, including a brand new flavour, a Ruby Red Raspberry Gin. When you add a mixer, the pink usually disappears, but with this new Raspberry Gin, the nice pink colour remains. Oh, and it tastes amazing! Fresh and fruity!
Sacha’s got a delicious range of gins, and now’s the best time to sample them for yourself, as she’s kindly offering The Scarf My Father Wore readers a 15% discount. Simply enter the code SCARF at checkout. Also, if you purchase a large bottle of gin, enter the code FREEGLASS to receive a free glass.
Visit hattersdistillery.com to grab your bottle of gin!
Photo of the day
Ewood Park, Blackburn
What an unbelievable night this was, when County dumped Premier League side Blackburn Rovers out of the League Cup in 1996-97. I’ll be chatting about this game, and loads more, with the man himself at The Fingerpost in Offerton on Wednesday 17 April. 7.30pm start time.
Tickets are £5 for The Scarf My Father Wore paid subscribers (plus anyone who’s written an article for us), and £10 for everyone else. That includes a full colour souvenir programme as a keepsake, which I’m sure Flynny won’t mind signing for you on the night!
If you’d like to come along, email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.
Today in SK
🎬 Cinema
Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Migration (U) at 1pm and 3.30pm, followed by All Of Us Strangers (15) at 6pm. Click here for tickets.
🍽 Food and drink
Enjoy a delicious meal at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). You’ll also receive 20% off your bill. Just mention the discount at the till when paying!
🎶 Free jukebox
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.
Random County fan of the day #43 – Chris Knowler!
One final thing before you go… if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift 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
🧱 Plasterer: Tate Plastering Services
🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman
📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing
🛖 Roofing: ADM Roofing Services Ltd
☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd
⚽️ 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