An Ed and an Ed; a County and a County. If you’re still a little bit hungover this Sunday morning, then perhaps go back to bed and catch up on our reaction from yesterday’s game at Rodney Parade later on, with a coffee and a bacon butty. However, if you feel you’re cerebral enough to differentiate between County Ed (the Newport bloke, surname Bridges, from 1912 Exiles who commendably typed up his thoughts on his side’s defeat by 7.48pm, which he probably didn’t really want to do on a Saturday night) and County Edward (the Stockport bloke, surname Keane, who commendably typed up his thoughts by 7.08pm on the train home from south Wales) then read on.
Your Sunday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore is brought to you in association with Bask. Once again, a big thank you to Benji and all the team.
We’ve got some cracking content to bring you this week: some great build-up to Saturday’s mouthwatering clash with the League Two leaders Leyton Orient; enjoyable away day tales from Newport by bus, by train and by car; the first in a new feature of groundhopping nerdiness from yours truly following my trip to the Deva Stadium yesterday; and last but certainly not least, an exclusive interview with acclaimed football writer Daniel Gray, following the release of his superb new book, The Silence of the Stands.
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Cheers, thank you.
Des Junior
Yesterday’s match in one word:
Ed - Frustrating.
Edward - Nail-biting.
Pre-match thoughts:
Ed - I went into it optimistic – we’d only lost once under Graham Coughlan, and that was to Leicester in the Sugary Drinks Cup. I expected to see two mid-table sides going toe-to-toe, and that’s what we got.
Edward - Heard they'd improved since their new manager but was confident we could/would get a win.
Post-match thoughts:
Ed - I can’t decide whether Newport were poor or just unlucky. Our play in the second half was very average and a little desperate, but I felt that we ought to have managed a draw on the balance of play. But it was that sort of game – it was mostly evenly-matched, the quality wasn’t great, but both teams had a fair few mistakes in them and it was a matter of who’d be made to pay for it the most.
Edward - We possibly should have won by more. We were the dominant side overall, first half a bit sloppy and lackadaisical but really upped it second half. Good win in trying circumstances - they tried to mess our game by overwatering the pitch and roughing us up, and the bizarre handball/whistle incident aside, the ref gave us nothing. That’s a big, big win to come from behind in such circumstances.
Verdict on Newport:
Ed - Can I sleep on it and let you know?! It might be one of those games where a bit of perspective is needed. Ultimately, we just need to get to 40-45 points so we can all stop having kittens every time we drop points and can take stock. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that our defence needs serious work next summer, and hopefully the manager is also prioritising a few additions in January so that we can pull ourselves up to mid-table and relax a bit.
Edward - Crap. They were rubbish, very enthusiastic and pushing, but rubbish. Especially the goalie with his ‘wacky inflatable arms’ impression for our equaliser.
Verdict on County:
Ed - I thought you looked markedly similar to Newport in many ways. Not too showy, players knew their jobs and largely did them but there were occasional moments of madness or poor decisions. Having pulled yourselves back into it, you capitalised on our nerves and panic to find the winner and close the game out.
Edward - As above really. A bit lacking first half, but stepped it up in the second and deserved the win.
Top Exile:
Ed - Not sure anyone covered themselves in glory. Big Mickey Demetriou was probably the pick of the bunch, but after a game like that they all need to have a long hard look at themselves.
Edward - From them, no one, they were rubbish. It really was a tallest dwarf competition.
Top Hatter:
Ed - Paddy Madden is exactly the sort of fourth division striker we love to hate – ruthless, irritating, complete shithouse and is guaranteed to show that bit of quality when it counts. He really got under our skin this afternoon.
Edward - Madden. All over the pitch and got the winner.
Atmosphere:
Ed - Decent turnout, I thought, from both sets of fans. Fair play, your fans made a great noise and looked to be enjoying themselves. Big old police presence in town before the game – sadly, Gwent’s finest can’t resist a big old overtime payday so any half-decent away following seems to elicit police overkill.
Edward - I was on the side, which was pretty decent. I'm a loudmouth gobshite at games so I like to make a loud atmosphere - but not as good as the folks behind the goal (although their atmosphere could've been even more ace if they'd been in the bit with the roof). Atmosphere was broken at times by constantly having to put hands up to foreheads to shield out the blazing sun coming over the home stand opposite.
Hopes for the rest of the season:
Ed - Mid-table respectability is the target, and most of us are optimistic that we’ll secure that, especially if we strengthen well during the transfer window. That aside, we’re still in the FA Cup and have a winnable tie in the next round so a cup run would give us some happier memories of what isn’t likely to be a classic season. We’re also still in the pizza scab trophy, but who the hell really cares?
Edward - Promotion. Hopefully automatic. Some say the automatic spots are beyond us but with three spots up for grabs, only five points between 3rd and 7th, and so many games left, if you think we can make the play-offs surely it's only logical to think we can make the top three? No one's that consistent barring maybe Orient. Not sure we'll have quite enough to chase down Orient though - chasing down a 17-point lead in the National League North is one thing, doing it in League Two would be astonishing.
The British Library receives a copy of every 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 2-1 victory at Newport County on Saturday 12 November 2022, as told from Des Junior’s three County-related WhatsApp groups…
9.55am: The train’s packed with Sheffield United fans on their way to Cardiff. At least I got a seat and told them I don’t like Wednesday. There’s also loads of Barnsley going to Shrewsbury. It’s like sardines on this train.
2.07pm: Strong team, that. We should be going for three points and that looks set up to go for it.
2.29pm: CITY LOL!
2.40pm: Bloody hilarious wasn’t it!
2.41pm: 90 + 8!
3.49pm: 1-0 down. Bit of quality and strength from Bogle. Wandered through our defence and laid it on a plate for Lewis. Nearly through again straight after as well.
4.00pm: Really frustrating game, this. Reminiscent of Harrogate and Colchester in terms of the opposition's attacking intent and ability but we've regressed to their level. More sloppy and slow as the half went on. Reckon the players will get a rocket from Challinor at half-time. Three points still up for grabs for us.
4.19pm: Get in, County.
4.21pm: Superb try.
4.22pm: Oh my giddy aunt, it’s all happening.
4.41pm: What a cross from the genius from Wales. Up to 12th as things stand. Come on boys…
4.47pm: Have Newport really got a player called Priestley Farquharson?
4.48pm: Get into the Tory bastard…
4.53pm: Going up aren’t we?
4.56pm: Steady on, Des. Wait until the game’s finished. We are better than most teams in this league though.
5.22pm: Great result. Sounds like it was thoroughly deserved.
7.02pm: We were better than even money today. Complete banker. As is us finishing top seven this season.
10.58pm: 10.58 and I’m home. What the fuck?
11.02pm: 11.02 and I’m home. What the fuck?
11.03pm: This is a sign of how pissed I am and where we are. Got in, red button to check on our league position, and automatically went to the Conference! How far we have come as a club and no other wonderful set of fans deserves it more than we do for our continued loyal following.
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
Seashell Trust, Cheadle Hulme
As you can see from this photo sent in by one of our subscribers Mark Fletcher (Mark’s daughter Betsy is in goal), County Ladies Under-9s enjoyed their 5-2 victory over Marple Athletic yesterday, making it five wins from six. Well done girls!
Today in SK
🎶 There’s live music at the Bakers Vaults from 4pm with Lil Jim, a dynamic and exciting one-man band, seamlessly tying the roots of traditional music with modern hooks and arrangements. Free entry.
What a great report! Interesting to get the perspectives of the two competing Counties, sounds like we (ie the County of Cheshire) edged it for a narrowly deserved three points, but were made to battle all the way. May I also take this opportunity to sincerely wish Gwent's Finest the very best of fortune in the pre-Christmas spending of their hard-earned overtime bonuses. May I suggest for the newly-minted constabulary the Cwmbran Indoor Arcade, just twelve miles distant from central Newport; I have it on the highest authority (ie that of Goldie Lookin' Chain) that this amenity boasts an enviable range of prime High Street outlets, and simply cannot be rivalled for the convenience of its parking facilities. Thank you.