“It was a genuine football horror show”
There’s only one place to start as we chat to Rich Pullen from The Loathed Strangers Podcast
Wednesday 8 November 2023
NEXT HOME GAME: Bolton – Tuesday 14 November, 7.30pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Swindon – Saturday 11 November, 3pm
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and any Swindon supporters joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Wednesday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Swindon were in the automatic promotion places at the end of September, having remained unbeaten during their opening nine games, which equalled a club record. Since then, however, they’ve lost seven from nine in all competitions, including last night’s 3-1 defeat at Colchester. Having dropped from 3rd to 10th, we attempt to get to the bottom of what’s happening at the County Ground with Rich Pullen, host of The Loathed Strangers Podcast.
Today’s edition is sponsored by Colourtone. As always, a big thank you to Paul.
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: 46.68 miles
Total steps so far: 83,302
Total raised so far: £915
Total completed streets so far: 24 (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
I can’t think of an opening question to ask you. Erm, the weather? What you had for tea last night maybe? Hang on… I’ve got it! Swindon Town 4 Aldershot Town 7. What the fuck?
That was my little boy’s first ever Swindon game.
Where do I start? 1-0 after 30 seconds. 3-0 after 9 minutes. 7-0 after 58 minutes.
It was a genuine football horror show by Swindon and had Aldershot not opted to rest their front three from the hour mark then we’d have conceded a few more, they simply destroyed us.
It was as comprehensive and complete an attacking display that you will ever see, and they deserve a lot of credit. To be honest, it’s a travesty that Swindon scoring four consolation goals took some gloss off their victory but for anyone who witnessed the match it was a 7-0 performance that deserved a result closer to that.
“I need to get to January and freshen this up. There’s some players here who need to move on.” Michael Flynn’s post-match interview. Who do you think he’s referring to?
We don’t actually have many players so he can only be referring to one or two.
Tyrese Shade is the only first team player who I don’t think Flynn rates. They’ve worked together previously at Walsall and he hasn’t been very complimentary to Shade across several press conferences over the last few months.
Flynn signed Brooklyn Genesini late in the summer transfer window, who featured a few times but hasn’t made a meaningful contribution to the first team in terms of League Two minutes since August. Town had a nine-player bench against Aldershot that included 5 YTS players and he didn’t get a game (3 YTS players did). Damning.
On-loan player Benn Ward has spent most of his time injured so I expect we’ll be keen on cutting that deal short.
Other than that, I expect contract-expiring players to be sold if the price is right. It’s always difficult to know definitively who are out of contract but I’d expect interest for Remeao Hutton, Saidou Khan and George McEachran and then the annual coin toss as to whether our performing loan players are recalled (Dan Kemp and Jake Young).
Who’s been your best player so far this season?
Dan Kemp, on loan from MK Dons, by a country mile.
What’s the state of the club off the pitch at the moment?
The usual choppy seas. Rumours and reports of unpaid wages and bills left, right and centre. The owner is trying to deny it but almost everything we do feels cheap and reactionary. This largely weary fanbase are slowly but surely refusing to buy it anymore (again).
Why do you bother supporting Swindon?
The drama of following Swindon Town is quite addictive. I’ve seen Swindon play in the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two in my 33 years and I think I’ve experienced most things that a fan can experience.
The current rumour mill churn of fresh financial issues and general mismanagement already has me feeling quite jaded and exhausted but I’ve had plenty of legitimate opportunities to sack it all in and I didn’t then and I won’t now… or later. Football fandom defies logic.
Does your Premier League period feel like a medieval fairytale?
A little bit. I was only 10 when we were in the Premier League and I’m very proud and protective of the season. Yes, we lost most weeks and conceded the record breaking 100 goals but I saw Swindon Town in the Premier League.
Had Town kept Glenn Hoddle, Colin Calderwood and David Mitchell and not tried salvaging the campaign by signing last hoorah players like Terry Fenwick, Brian Kilcline, Lawrie Sanchez and Frank McAvennie then we might have been a bit more competitive? We will never know.
Best and worst memories as a Swindon fan?
Watching Glenn Hoddle play in a Swindon Town shirt, for a Swindon Town side in the Premier League. However, and it might be a cop-out answer, my favourite memories are any of the ‘good’ seasons. Even if they, ultimately, result in failure. Seasons where week-in/week-out it’s a privilege to follow that team. That happiness and optimism in the car, train, pub or terrace that you don’t see during mediocrity.
Congratulations to Aldershot for entering the worst memories shortlist but that will leave over time – I’m still irked that Town essentially relegated themselves by selling Jan Fjortoft in 1995! Oh, and Steve McMahon selling Shaun Taylor to Bristol City for a pittance ached the soul.
The administration threatened seasons of the late 90s, early 2000s are probably the worst memories. Pre-smart phones you could go the whole day without an update so rushing home to see if your club still existed isn’t a fun memory.
How does it feel to see Oxford in the League One automatic promotion places currently?
We are only one division away yet currently a million miles behind Oxford. Nothing is permanent in football so I’m sure we’ll be competing with them again within the next few, erm, decades.
How annoying is it that every article about Swindon mentions the Magic Roundabout?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a Swindonian mention the Magic Roundabout. It puts Swindon on the map, I suppose.
What’s your thoughts on Stockport County – A) the team B) the manager C) the fans?
A) Bittersweet that we won’t see Louie Barry at the County Ground. The recent article by Simon Wilson left many of us outsiders quite envious.
B) Probably not a million miles away from the next offer in his managerial career. Sadly, he’ll always be the long-throw merchant to me.
C) Looks like you’re having a great old time after years in the wilderness. Fair play.
Best and worst memories from previous games against County?
Best memory is Matt Heywood’s goal against County at the CG in 2004-05. Lovely finish by an old school centre-back.
Worst is the game Wayne Hennessey broke the clean sheet record. Town rolled out the red carpet and didn’t give him a single moment of danger.
Prediction for Saturday?
2-1 to County.
What sort of atmosphere can we expect?
Pockets of support with a sprinkling of apathy if things aren’t going our way. Don’t think it’ll be hostile or toxic though.
Give your car a lick of paint
Granted, Stockport used to be a little rough around the edges. But the town’s getting a good old lick of paint these days, with fancy new offices, apartments, bars and restaurants springing up. You can’t be driving up and down the A6 in a tatty car with chipped paintwork, so give your car a nice lick of paint too. Colourtone is your go-to company for that. They’ve been servicing the automotive and industrial markets in Cheshire and Greater Manchester for decades, and carry an extensive range of car paint and industrial paints.
Visit colourtone.com for further details.
Photo of the day
Edgeley Park, Stockport
Birmingham’s Peter Ndlovu feels the full force of Flynny at EP in 1998-99. County won 1-0 thanks to an early Brett Angell goal.
Today in SK
🍟 Food and drink
Fancy a few midweek drinks tonight? The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including a Doubles Bar for just £4.50, a comprehensive range of shots for £2, and 3 for £6 on Jägerbombs.
For those on a gluten-free diet, finding a nice portion of fish and chips to tuck into can be quite difficult. But on a Wednesday at Fishers of Cheshire (SK2), gluten-free meals are available. Open till 9.30pm.
Lunch deal at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). One course for £7 or two courses for £11. 12pm till 2pm.
Lite bite meal deal at The Friary (SK3). Cod or haddock, served with chips, and a side of peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £9.95. 11.30am - 7.30pm.
Wine Wednesday at TRUNK (SK7) from 5pm. 50% off all bottles of wine from 7pm. Call 0161 222 9260 to book a table, and mention “The Scarf My Father Wore” to receive a 15% discount off the normal tapas menu.
❓ Quiz night
Baskmaster at Bask (SK1). Prizes include ARLU Rum, a £30 bar tab and gig tickets. 7.30pm. Tickets £3.
The Scarf My Father Wore works closely with venues on a daily basis to bring you the most comprehensive guide to all of the best offers and events taking place across the whole SK region. Click on the links below for full details of everything taking place in your area over the next few weeks.
SK1 / SK2 / SK3 / SK4 / SK5 / SK6 / SK7 / SK8 / SK9 / SK10 / SK11 / SK12 / SK13 / SK14 / SK15 / SK16 / SK17 / SK22 / SK23
We’ve got everything from Art & Gifts to Yoga
We might not have found a psychic from Poynton or a dominatrix from Davenport just yet, but we’ve pretty much got you covered for all other products and services you might need across Cheshire and Greater Manchester. Just take a look at this little lot…
Art & Gifts - Builder - Carpets & Flooring - Cleaning - Coach Hire - Coatings - Dog Walking - Financial Services - Fire Protection - Football Prints - Gardening - Glazier - Ironing - IT Services - Kitchen Appliances - Locksmith - Osteopath - Painter & Decorator - Party & Event Services - Personal Trainer - Physiotherapist - Plasterer - Plumber - Recruitment - Removals - Security Equipment - Shoe Repairs - Sports Coaching - Timber Supplies - Tutor - Vintage Clothing - Web Design - Window Cleaner - Women’s Fitness - Workwear - Yoga
On a serious note, our sponsors help us to keep The Scarf My Father Wore completely free of charge for everyone (rather than paying for a subscription, like most Substack websites) so if you do enjoy our daily offerings, please support them whenever you can. Make a mental note to yourself that whenever you need a cleaner, or a plumber, or a solicitor (or if you are looking for a dominatrix, send me a private message as I know a cracking lady in Heaton Moor…), check out our own directory before you head over to Google or Yell.com. Loads of the businesses we work with are County fans, and we’ve often got great offers for our readers as well.
Click here to have a look at all the businesses in our directory.
Celebrate Christmas with Almond Family Pubs
Christmas is a time for celebrating, relaxing and getting together with friends and family. A time when you can forget about that diet and indulge in the nicer things in life; roast dinners, sweet treats and festive tipples… mulled wine anyone?! Where better to indulge than a Great British Pub?
Stockport boasts four of the best in the area, all run by the Almond family and their dedicated teams. The award winning pubs are well-loved in their communities for serving incredible food, well poured quality drinks and always with a friendly and professional smile.
Their Christmas offering is no different, they have conjured up a mouthwatering menu, to be enjoyed throughout the festive season. Monday to Saturday throughout December, guests can choose to dine from their Festive Fayre Menu, which includes the star of the show, their Great British Roast. At three of the pubs this is served from their famous carvery and all include succulent roast meats, the biggest pigs in blankets you’ve ever seen, seasonal vegetables cooked to perfection, a selection of rich gravies and a gigantic Yorkshire pudding! Non-roast lovers can opt for one of the other tempting mains, which include a slow roasted lamb shank, butternut squash, rosemary and goat’s cheese pizza, grilled salmon with a maple and mustard sauce or a stilton and cranberry beef burger.
The two-course menu, priced at a pocket friendly £20 per person, includes a choice of three desserts; traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, chocolate and coconut tart and white chocolate & lemon cheesecake. Of course, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without crackers to pull and terrible jokes to crack! Plus, every guest who dines from the festive menu will be able to receive a £5 voucher to spend in the new year! The pubs themselves are beautifully decorated and even more so once the Christmas fairies have sprinkled their cheer! Expect garlands galore, sure to get you in the mood for the big day.
Each of the four pubs in the family has its own personality.
The Puss in Boots is a modern pub in the suburb of Offerton, the largest of the four, it’s loved by families being finalists in the Great British Pub Awards, best pub for families.
The Spread Eagle in Romiley, with its comfy armchairs and low ceilings, is the perfect spot for a cosy meal with family.
The Jolly Sailor in Davenport has an impressive interior with high ceilings, a roaring log burner and a spacious orangery.
The Fletchers Arms in Denton has recently re-opened after an extensive refurb which relocated the bar to create a striking backdrop to the now more spacious bar lounge and nods to the history of Stockport and surrounding areas.
Throughout December all of the pubs will be delighting guests with entertainment. Enjoy a quiz night catch up with friends every Thursday or really get into the celebration mood with live music. The Puss in Boots and Jolly Sailor are also planning their New Year’s Eve parties, with a DJ, buffet and lots of good spirit!
Honest open opinions from our Swindon pal. What a rollercoaster with Premier League back in the day and big names to the 4-7 capitulation and Colchester loss.
County will need to maintain high standards and the ruthless streak against a wounded Swindon.