“I remember rooting for County in many a big cup game against Premier League teams and always trying to buy Alun Armstrong on Championship Manager”
Ahead of the biggest game of the season so far, we take a trip down memory lane with Steve and Paul from The Orient Outlook Podcast
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and I’m sure one or two Orient fans having a nosey before Saturday, a very warm welcome to Thursday’s edition of The Scarf My Father Wore. In terms of the form table in League Two, it’s 1st v 2nd at Edgeley Park at the weekend, so understandably that’s going to be our main focus over the next few days, starting with a cracking chat with Steve and Paul from The Orient Outlook Podcast.
On a more serious note, many readers will have heard the devastating news over the last few days regarding a lifelong County fan whose wife has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. A fundraising event, to raise money for ongoing treatment as well as supporting a young family, has been organised for Saturday 4 February at Our Lady’s in Stockport and I make no apologies for giving the night a daily plug until all tickets are sold out. Contact details are in the image below.
(108 tickets sold, 52 remaining)
Today’s edition is sponsored by Bask, which is the place to be for all of the big games at this year’s World Cup, which kicks off on Sunday. Thanks to Benji and all the team at Bask for their continued support.
Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter before the end of November. We’ve got over £1,000 worth of fantastic prizes to give away in our ‘12 Days of County Christmas’ feature, starting on 1 December, but only subscribers will receive them!
Des Junior
What’s your thoughts on Stockport County?
Steve: As a 42-year-old I remember rooting for County in many a big cup game against Premier League teams (gotta love an Iain Dowie own goal) and always trying to buy Alun Armstrong on Championship Manager. It was sad to see the club tumble through the football pyramid but it’s great to see you back in the EFL. Getting out of the National League is some achievement, especially with Wrexham breathing down your necks, and I don’t think any football fan will begrudge Stockport County being back where they belong.
Paul: I see County as a club with a strong loyal following. The fact you have had attendances bigger than most League Two and many League One clubs tells you about the potential you have. Like us, promoted from the National League with a point to prove and looking to move up the pyramid as quickly as possible.
You're nine points clear of Bradford in 4th. Should we buy you a guide to League One for Christmas or is that a bit premature?
Steve: You never know what’s going to happen in football and I think Leyton Orient fans know that better than anyone, but as it stands we are certainly having a season to remember. To have only lost 2 games from the opening 18 is a fantastic achievement from Richie Wellens and his team; with the best defence in the league and one of the most potent attacks it’s been very un Orient like. Let’s take it one game at a time, see what happens, and hopefully come the end of the season we’ll be celebrating promotion.
Paul: Would love to say order several thousand copies of that guide but as we all know, the league is a marathon not a sprint. And until it's mathematically confirmed, we aren't getting ahead of ourselves. We're definitely enjoying being top for all but one week of the season too!
Played 10. Won 9. Drew 1. That’s some start to the season you had. Did your manager have your lads training with Bear Grylls or Ant Middleton over the summer?
Steve: Ha! I was optimistic in pre-season and thought we’d be up around the play-offs, but didn’t see that start coming at all. We actually got somewhat lucky in a few of the matches, including the season opener at home to Grimsby, but with the quality the club have brought in this summer, paired with the impact Richie Wellens had since arriving earlier this year, we’ve set off all guns blazing. We’ve also seen some insane goals from right-back Tom James and Paul Smyth - who must be one of the shouts for League Two Player of the Season as it stands - in addition to some brilliant performances from keeper Lawrence Vigouroux.
Paul: As a matter of fact, yes we did, how did you guess? In all seriousness, this season is the culmination of a good manager with a technically gifted squad who have been together for a whole season already, and there wasn't a turnover of players in the summer. Plus we added some superb quality like Moncur and El-Mizouni. We have the right characters who are coachable, have a point to prove for various reasons and want to win badly.
Since then, it’s 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. That’s a bit wobbly, but it’s not the wobbliest of wobbles is it?
Steve: Nah, it’s fine, and to be honest after winning 9 of the first 10 games it allows you to have a bit of a ‘wobble’, but if winning 50% of games constitutes that then all day long we will take it. You can sense morale and confidence in the team is high, so nothing to overly react to, and let’s face it, at League Two level you are never going to get a team of invincibles.
Paul: Everyone has a wobble don't they? 2 losses in 18 isn't bad when you look at the bigger picture. The fact we had our wobble and are still top tells you a bit about the quality of this league, but not taking anything away from us as we'd built up a healthy lead and goal difference. We had a couple of injuries and suspensions to key players too. But it's not derailed the Orient Express!
What’s the away fan culture like at Orient? How many usually go away, and how many will you bring to SK3?
Steve: The O’s have always travelled in decent numbers and this weekend will be no different. We’ve sold out local away ends and seen many fans make long journeys despite insane train prices and strikes, but fans still find a way of getting there. The fact we’ve not played at Edgeley Park in quite a few years and the fact that Stockport are one of the biggest clubs in the league probably makes this one more appealing than most other away fixtures. I’d imagine we’ll take somewhere between 600-900.
Paul: We have a strong number of fans who go to all away games and there are different groups of mates who travel. I suspect there will be 400-500 away fans. Maybe a few more.
Since winning the National League in 2018-19, you’ve finished 17th, 11th and 13th in League Two. What’s so different about this season?
Steve: I think the first two seasons back in League Two the club was in a state of shock and grieving over Justin Edinburgh, which is completely understandable. The start of last season under Kenny Jackett felt like a new chapter, but unfortunately that didn’t work out, although the appointment of Richie Wellens has invigorated the club, who let’s not forget in February were in a relegation battle, so his impact can’t be underestimated, and the same for Justin Edinburgh as well.
Paul: As previously mentioned, this squad have been together for over a season now and there wasn't a big turnover of players in the summer. Having a settled squad helps massively in my opinion. The first season was about readjusting to life back in the Football League and the second season was a vast improvement on our first one. The fact we finished 13th last season turned out to be something of a miracle as pre-season expectations were promotion as we'd appointed the hugely experienced Kenny Jackett.
Best and worst moments following Orient?
Steve: Worst moment was during the darkest days of the previous ownership, where it looked like Leyton Orient could cease to exist. Best moment for me was two years later when the final whistle went against Braintree, a most uneventful game which finished 0-0, but confirmed us as National League champions after two difficult years there. It felt like the club had come full circle. And being able to hang out with the squad and management at the ground felt somewhat dreamlike.
Paul: Best: promotion in 2006; most of the 2013-14 season including the play-off semi-final second leg; the takeover by Nigel Travis, Kent Teague and the board we have; promotion back to the Football League.
Worst: Losing the play-off final at Wembley despite taking a 2-0 lead in the first half; being taken over by a lunatic who wanted to sign the players and pick the team. And ran the club into the ground.
What’s it like being a lower league fan in the capital? How difficult is it for the club to compete for supporters? We’ve got United and City on our doorstep but you’ve got seven Premier League teams in the capital.
Steve: It’s a blessing and a curse isn’t it…
West Ham on our doorstep, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Brentford, Palace, QPR, Millwall, Charlton, the choices for London clubs are endless. We have a very proactive board who are trying to get bums on seats and have come up with several initiatives to get games sold out, such as Kids For A Quid, Football For A Fiver and Half Price Tickets. The World Cup will see increased attendances due to these initiatives and then it’s all about converting those visitors into supporters through the performances and atmosphere at the club.
Paul: I love it. When people ask me who I support it’s always a good conversation as most expect me to say a Prem club. The three main clubs whose fans we're surrounded by are Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham - who are also our immediate neighbours having moved a couple of miles away in the Olympic Park. In a city of about 10m people we're not affected by all Prem clubs thankfully. There is a view that we're a lot of people's second club or a club who people look out for. We punch well above our weight for publicity which has been helped hugely by England captain Harry Kane sponsoring our front of shirts. It's definitely raised our profile in the footballing world.
Best Orient XI from players you have seen?
Steve: Vigouroux, James, Beckles, Happe, Hunt, El-Mizouni, Pratley, Moncur, Archibald, Smyth, Kelman.
Paul: That's a proper tough question! Eldin Yakupovic, Moses Odubajo, Matt Lockwood, John Mackie, Tamika Mkandawire, Dean Cox, Paul Smyth, Stephen Dawson, Romain Vincelot, Carl Griffiths, Kevin Lisbie.
Prediction for Saturday’s game of the day in League Two?
Steve: Think this one will be a score draw, so 2-2.
Paul: I’m usually wrong with these but I'm going 2-0 Orient.
Book a table at Bask for England’s World Cup games
Whether it’s tucking into a tasty treat from Ate Days A Week alongside a Stockport Gin before the game, or dancing to the tunes of DJ Gareth Brooks after it, many County fans have already enjoyed the splendid matchday experience created by the team at Bask. And now you can do the same for England’s World Cup games as well (plus all the other belters like Tunisia v Australia if you fancy it). Table reservations are now being made, which is certainly well worth doing, to follow all the action from Qatar on Bask’s brand new 75” screens. Email hello@thisisbask.co.uk to book.
Stockport photo of the day
Edgeley Park, Friday 28 February 1975
16-year-old Steve Massey comes off the bench to score the winner for County in a 2-1 victory over Darlington in Division Four. Steve’s back in Stockport to launch his autobiography Where’s My Towel? at Edgeley Park on Saturday, signing copies before and after the game in the 1883 Suite. Stay tuned for loads more from Steve, as well as an extract from the book, over the next couple of days.
The only Christmas gift guide you need this year
38 sleeps to go! The Scarf My Father Wore have curated a beautiful Christmas gift guide this year, from independent businesses across the UK. Check the guide each day, with new items constantly added, before our festive giveaway starts on 1 December. And don’t forget, you have to be a subscriber to take home one of our superb prizes!
Today in SK
🎭 André and Madeleine have been in love for over fifty years, their life together filled with the everyday pleasures and mysteries of an enduring marriage. Suddenly this life begins to unravel, and a loving relationship is faced with the inevitability of change. On a weekend when their daughters visit, something feels unusual. A bunch of flowers arrives, but who sent them? A woman from the past turns up, but who is she? And why does André feel like he isn’t there at all? The Height of the Storm is a deeply moving play that takes us to the edge of what it is to love. Stockport Garrick Theatre, 7.30pm. Tickets £10.