Leyton Orient v County

A huge game in the capital as Dave Challinor's men face League One's team of the moment

Feb 01, 2025

Saturday 1 February 2025

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

Jonathan Baker, Dan Culverwell and Nick Lee join us today, ahead of County’s trip to East London.

Today’s edition is sponsored by SAW Contracts Ltd and BGM Decorators. A big thank you to Steve and Ben.

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: 192.73 miles

Total steps so far: 311,804

Total raised so far: £2,268

Total completed streets so far: 474 (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

Jonathan Baker, The County Away Day Show

Leyton Orient 2 County 1

What’s your attitude to promotion this season? (I thought I’d ask you your own question from the poll for today’s show!)

I think that on balance (out of four multiple-choice options which occur to me) my heart says “I could take it or leave it”, while my head says “better wait another year”. Ultimately I consider that an additional season in League One will give the club hierarchy the chance to bolster the squad in preparation for a respectable showing at second-tier level, while also sorting out the thorny off-field issue of the pies. Here’s to a promotion party in May 2026! (And mine’s a steak and kidney by the way, with extra mushy peas and gravy, in an indestructible cardboard container. This I am very sure of.)

Prediction for today: Never an easy place to go to. And they’re unbeaten in 11. I think we’ll give them a game. But… Leyton Orient 2 County 1

➡️ Jonathan, aka Geordie Hatter, hosts The County Away Day Show on selected Saturday mornings during the season, when the Hatters are on the road. All episodes can be found at the-geordie-hatter.mixlr.com.

Dan Culverwell, The Scarf Bergara Wore

Leyton Orient 1 County 2

The transfer window’s coming to an end. Would there be any last minute bits and pieces on your County shopping list?

I feel players coming into the building have to fit a criteria of “Do they make us better?” We’ve seen too many of our second XI not pushing players in front of them in the pecking order for that starting spot. So for me unless they’re better than what we already have then we don’t need bodies just for the sake of it. With the recent addition of Hamilton, I think this squad is currently good enough to finish in the top eight, and with players returning all the time from injury we’re getting stronger. Yes, some will say that we’re only one injury away from a crisis, but most clubs are like that.

I think getting through this window with only Barry leaving us from the first team is a massive positive as I was sure that the performances of Pye, Bate and Wootton this season would have attracted interest from clubs in higher divisions.

➡️ Dan is part of The Scarf Bergara Wore team, hosting live County podcasts every Wednesday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Nick Lee, SK3 TV

Leyton Orient 2 County 3

The Apprentice returned to BBC One on Thursday night. If you had to pitch a County-related business idea to Lord Sugar, what would you go for?

I'd offer rope-free bungee jumps off the viaduct for anyone who can't recognise a clear joke from a County-adjacent social media account. Attendances would definitely take a hit but other than that I can't see any drawbacks to the plan.

➡️ Nick’s one of the co-hosts of SK3 TV, a new podcast for the 2024-25 season, with live episodes every Monday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Today’s other prediction

Hatters Matters: Leyton Orient 1 County 1

Do you need bespoke woodwork or joinery services in the Stockport area?

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➡️ Visit sawcontractsltd.co.uk for further details.

Leave the painting and decorating to the professionals

Don’t be like this random stranger Des Junior found on the internet. He thought he could decorate his living room himself. But now look at him, sat forlorn on his floor covered in a tin of Dulux. His wife’s left him, and his evenings are now occupied by microwave meals and old repeats of The Sweeney. You know what he should have done, don’t you? He should have called BGM Decorators.

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.

➡️ Give Ben a call on 07816 589989 or email bgm.decorators@yahoo.co.uk.

Photo of the day

Somewhere on a train between Sheffield and London

We published this photo of a Carling-swigging County shirt-wearing Chris Beaumont (taken by his son Oliver) on the morning of County’s last trip to Leyton Orient in April 2023. We won 3-0. Let’s hope it brings similar luck today!

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Three films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Wicked (PG) at 11.15am, A Complete Unknown (15) at 2.30pm and 8.30pm, and Better Man (15) at 5.30pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

All pints £2.50 at The Cross Keys (SK8) from 6pm till 9pm.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks or a bite to eat.