Notts County P-P County

Santa Claus enjoyed the last County derby in December, but unfortunately Jack Frost has buggered up the return fixture today

The Scarf My Father Wore

Jan 20, 2024

Saturday 20 January 2024

NEXT HOME GAME: Harrogate – Saturday 3 February, 3pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Doncaster – Saturday 27 January, 3pm

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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and any Magpies joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore. Two thirds of people in our Twitter poll last night didn’t think the game would go ahead, and unfortunately they’ve been proved right, as the pitch has just failed its morning inspection.

I’ll share the thoughts of Paul Thompson, Ian Brown and Jonathan Baker with you this morning anyway, because to be quite honest with you, dear readers, I haven’t got anything else ready to go!

Life after Luke with a couple of (Notts) County fans

The Scarf My Father Wore

January 19, 2024

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Today’s edition is sponsored by The Mortgage Mill and Rub A Dubz Detailing. A big thank you to both James and Grant.

Also, a big thank you to Crafty Crow, who sponsor our Notts County content on the website. I’ve actually been in there before. It’s a cracking city centre bar right opposite Nottingham Castle. If any of our readers still find themselves in Nottingham this weekend, pop in for a pint or two!

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: £1,037

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

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Father Christmas was a special guest at County’s 2-1 victory over Notts County last month

Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Paddy Madden’s out for two games with an ingrown toenail…blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham since 1672.

Fortunately, he has a number of fellow County content creators to call upon. Here’s their pointless thoughts, pointless general chit-chat and pointless score predictions, for a game that isn’t even taking place.

Paul Thompson, Stockport County Supporters Co-operative

Notts County P-P County

What are your best and worst memories from the County derby?

From a personal perspective my best memory is placing a bet on Mike Flynn to score first at Meadow Lane in 1996-97! I seem to recall the odds were 33/1 and even though I only bet a quid it was still a decent win as you felt richer with £33 in your pocket in 1997 than you would today.

For my worst memory we only have to go back to October 2021. I’m sure the majority know the game I’m talking about. The demise of Mr Rusk shortly afterwards was the only silver lining from that defeat. (Sorry Simon, if you’re reading this, or is it Steve…?!)

As for my score prediction, my bet on Micky Flynn shows I’m not adverse to taking an outside punt. So I’m going for an unusual P-P today as my dad tells me the Mansfield game has already been called off and my spies just down the road in Nottingham tell me the weather is pretty bad.

Ian Brown, hedgegrower

Notts County 1 County 4

How do you think the regulars on the Fingerpost Flyer would react if Robin Hood stopped the coach today just before arriving in Nottingham and insisted you all handed your possessions over?

Well Des, first of all I would wish him the best of luck – he might need it!

Straight away he would be wading in the brown stuff as he would be unlikely to get beyond seat 1 where Lou would be personally affronted at the thought that someone would board the Flyer having not gone through our online advanced booking procedure beforehand.

Then, before showing the mythical bandit to the coach door, Lou would confirm to him how he should have gone about booking on the Flyer, which is…

1) To book your seat, text Lou on 07896 536757.

2) Lou will acknowledge receipt of your request.

3) You should then visit fingerpost-travel.sumupstore.com and pay for your booking online. A receipt will follow, and thus you are booked on.

Hopefully our would-be travelling companion would have learned a valuable lesson. Meanwhile Lou would have headed off down the bus to sort out the first goal competition.

As for today’s game, I see County winning 4-1.

Jonathan Baker aka Geordie Hatter, The County Away Day Show

Notts County 1 County 1

Give us your top three songs with a Nottinghamshire theme.

1) “Tied Up in Nottz” by Sleaford Mods

Well it had to be, did it not? I'm reliably informed that Sleaford is actually situated within the county of Lincolnshire, but such a mere geographical quirk has not prevented this lyrically-enraged post-punk pairing from becoming firmly associated among the pop-picking public with the city of Robin Hood. The unmistakably Notts vowels of lead man/self-appointed people's poet Jason Williamson would have a lot to do with that, and nowhere is it put to finer expression than in this early number. The video features our boys moodily traversing the East Midlands city on the top deck of a bus, which is where the common ground between Sleaford Mods and Cliff Richard begins and ends.

2) “Lightning Bolt” by Jake Bugg

Ridiculously I hadn't really heard of this bloke till two days ago, probably because I spend too much time listening to old and slightly scratched 7 inches by long-forgotten provincial janglepop combos. It turns out he's both fantastically famous and an avid supporter of Notts County, which means he simply must figure. I'm actually very impressed by his Dylan-esque tones.

3) “It's So True” by Fat Tulips

Dismissed by many even during their brief late-80s pomp as a poor man's Talulah Gosh and by the present day largely forgotten, this jangly-fringed girl-boy four-piece retain a place in my ageing indiepopster heart, and I've got a battered 7 inch vinyl of their standout EP “Four Songs For Simon” to prove it. So wilfully obscure is this selection that it's not even on Spotify, so you're just going to have to imagine it, or come round my house for a special audience. In the meantime, one of their lesser tracks features in the playlist and I'm sure will put its very best foot forward.

Click here to enjoy Geordie Hatter’s Nottinghamshire playlist!

5 questions with James Morrell from The Mortgage Mill

What’s been your favourite moment with the business in 2023?

The launch of our commercial arm is now what separates us from almost all mortgage brokers. Brokers are either traditional mortgage brokers or commercial brokers, there aren’t any we know of that offer both. We’ve opened our will service, plus fleet insurance, which means clients can have one point of contact for almost anything they will ever need for financing.

What’s your plans for the business in 2024?

The business is now set up to be a one-stop shop for specialist financial services. Products are available elsewhere, but specialist financial advice isn’t. A general mortgage adviser probably won’t have knowledge of the specialist market like we do, and they almost certainly won’t offer you any other products you will need with the house buying process, so you’ll need to look elsewhere for your home insurance, life insurance, income protection etc. This is where we excel: life insurance for diabetics; income protection for self-employed people; mortgages for people with poor (even really bad) credit or unusual income streams, or criminal convictions. I don’t know of another firm that is offering what we do anywhere else in the industry. A high street bank will do it, but they will only offer their own products. And only if you qualify.

What was the best present you received on Christmas Day?

I’ve long given up on expecting good presents for Christmas. I give good presents, and I excelled this year. A pal did buy me a nice bottle of whisky, and I got some slippers from the kids, and a back scratcher, which I’m more than happy with.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions going into 2024?

No. I’ve already given up smoking, so continuing to give up feels like a resolution every year.

What would you like to promote to our readers in January?

We have a referral offer which has always been open to everyone, but I’ll offer a free mortgage review for The Scarf My Father Wore readers. They can contact us and ask us anything about their current mortgage and what their options are. This sounds like effort but it will be very quick and to the point, in plain English, and bespoke to you and your circumstances – not “off-the-shelf” advice you’ll get from Citeh fan Martin Lewis. If they then want to use us for a mortgage we will give a 25% discount on our standard mortgage fee. (Other fees might not be standard depending on case to case specifics, but will still receive a discount, even if it’s a difficult specialist case.)

Any referrals to us will receive a £50 Amazon voucher should a referral take a financial product with us.

For your free mortgage review, give James a call on 01422 366366 or 07843 803128, or email james@themortgagemill.co.uk.

5 questions with Grant Evans from Rub A Dubz Detailing

What’s been your favourite moment with the business in 2023?

All of it really! I’ve loved building up the business, meeting lots of lovely customers who have now become friends.

What’s your plans for the business in 2024?

To continue to grow the business and offer affordable valeting for everyone.

What was the best present you received on Christmas Day?

My little 3-year-old daughter’s face.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions going into 2024?

To make the business better and help others.

What would you like to promote to our readers in January?

We’re an affordable car valeting and detailing business and we’ll come out to visit you with our own power and water on board.

If you’d like to book your car in for a valet give Grant a call on 07786 729166 or email rubadubzdetailingltd@gmail.com.

Photo of the day

A house in Hyde

On the day of the Bradford game – County’s final game of 2023 – I spoke to a number of County fans, asking them about their highlights of the year.

John King’s hot tub is pretty decent, which you can see in the background with the covers on. And we can exclusively reveal he’s recently added another feature to his back garden: a County gnome! (I might even treat you to a picture of me with the gnome next time I’m in the hot tub…)

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Four films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (PG) at 10.45am, Wonka (PG) at 1pm, One Life (12A) at 3.30pm, and Priscilla (15) at 6pm. Click here for tickets.

💿 DJ

Bask (SK1) have recently been granted an extended license, which means you can now party until 3am on a Saturday night! Last entry 1.30am.

🍺 Food and drink

Whether you like it hot or cold, head down to Coffee Block (SK1) to get your matcha fix. 8am - 5.30pm.

10% off all drinks at Enigma (SK1). 12pm - 12am.

Ignore the “beer police” and support your local pub in January. If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a drink or two. 12pm - 11pm.

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 - 6.30pm.

Treat yourself to lunch at Mediterranean Cafe & Bar (SK23). A full range of mains, salads, jacket potatoes, paninis, baguettes and wraps.

🎤 Karaoke

Lee at The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 8pm - 1am.

🎵 Live music

Soulplay at The Crown Inn (SK6). 9pm.

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