Richard Landon’s testimonial
Another trip down memory lane as we go back to County’s final pre-season friendly before the 2014-15 season
Tuesday 6 February 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Crewe – Tuesday 13 February, 7.45pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Grimsby – Saturday 10 February, 3pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Tuesday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
It’s another trip down memory lane today as we head back to 2014, and Richard Landon’s testimonial game against Macclesfield Town at Edgeley Park.
Today’s edition is sponsored by Kingsway Carpets. As always, a big thank you to Neil. There’s currently huge discounts on carpets and flooring in their New Year sale. Call 0161 225 7294 or email info@kingsway-carpets.co.uk.
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: 63.04 miles
Total steps so far: 109,900
Total raised so far: £1,087
Total completed streets so far: 75 (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
The following article was written in August 2014, after County beat Macclesfield Town 3-2 in their final pre-season friendly.
My mum used to fancy Richard Landon. It was August 1995 when she briefly met him. I’d been taken to Weston-super-Mare for a few days during the school holidays. As luck would have it, on the Saturday, County were playing 18 miles down the road at Bristol City. Having already spent an entire day watching her son run round one of those indoor adventure play centres, my mum now had to spend part of her holiday visiting Ashton Gate. We did get free tickets for the game, however, as Richard kindly offered us his complimentary pair for the away end. As I was only ten at the time, I don’t know if my mum told me she found Landon attractive on this particular day, although she has at some point during the nineteen years that have passed since then. County lost 1-0 by the way, for which my mum got the blame as we’d picked up seven points from three games, without conceding a goal, prior to that.
A little anecdote to kick off this latest article. Anecdotes are good I reckon, although perhaps ones that don’t involve your mother. County fans have followed their team around the country for years to create memories and have their own anecdotes to share. That’s why any supporters reminiscing about days gone by will be just as likely to mention things that have happened off the pitch rather than on it. Because the football, for large parts of our history, has been, to be frank, utter pants. And there’s the perfect link to lead into County’s current pre-season campaign.
I don’t mean to be unfair to Alan Lord or his players. In fact, we’ve looked alright the last few weeks. It’s just that pre-season has been bloody boring at times. Northwich was dull. Nantwich was dull. Buxton was dull. Those three games were on a par with being forced to watch Channel 5 for an entire evening. The Mike Flynn night was fantastic, although the football itself wasn’t the greatest spectacle with a bunch of youngsters running rings round a load of forty-somethings. And fifty-somethings. And at one point, a sixty-something. Has anyone actually checked Paul Jones is OK?
That’s the thing with friendlies, though. They aren’t meant to be entertaining. Substitutions take place every five minutes to give everyone in the squad time on the pitch, to get fitness levels up, and the results genuinely don’t matter. Apart from when we stuffed a George Weah ‘inspired’ Manchester City side 4-1. That result mattered. After sitting through four games of football so far, three of which provided no real action on the pitch, I’m struggling to find any enthusiasm for today’s game. With less than an hour to go until kick-off, I’m still sat on the sofa watching Home Alone 2. Although there’s far worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon than seeing Macaulay Culkin getting up to mischief in New York.
After having to get some change on Castle Street, for the car park behind The Prince Albert, it’s ten past three when I get to the ground. I feel slightly guilty at being late for Richard Landon’s testimonial, although the first person I see on Hardcastle Road is Richard Landon himself, stood in the players’ entrance about to welcome a few of his friends or family who also appear to have been watching Home Alone 2 when they should have been getting ready. “Come on Des!” shouts Richard, in his jovial manner we’ve all become accustomed to in recent years. “Where’s your mum?” (He didn’t really shout that bit. That was added for comic effect.)
Two things occur to me as I sit on the front row of the main part of the Main Stand, on one of the seats not defaced by bird shit. I love the black kit we’re wearing today. And I’m slightly disappointed at the sight of an empty Edgeley Park, with only 934 people in attendance as it’s later confirmed. It’s Landon I feel for, hoping he’s not too disheartened by the crowd. But I’m hoping he’s a ‘cup half full’ type of fella and realises that at a time when loads of people are on holiday, and sitting through a County pre-season friendly after the last couple of years falls more under the chore category than pleasure, and the fact that many people have financial concerns at the moment, nearly a thousand people have turned up and paid a tenner through the turnstiles for his deserved afternoon of recognition.
I’ve missed the start of the first half, but County have played quite well apparently. Although twenty minutes into the game, the first entry into my notepad is a Macclesfield goal. A deep cross into the area looks like it will be comfortably dealt with, but Jordan Fagbola fluffs a clearance straight to Paul Lewis, whose curling cross is headed over Danny Hurst and into the net by Malachi Lavelle-Moore. “How many times did Fagbola not control the ball in the box last season,” rants one Main Stander. The lead lasts only twelve minutes, though. A cross from the right is met by Kristian Dennis at the far post who heads the ball high into the air, which Rhys Taylor can only get his fingertips to before the ball ends up in the back of the net. The goal appears to be in slow motion, but a half-hearted cheer a week later confirms it is the equaliser.
There’s not much else to report on during the first half of this friendly, if you can call it that, as there’s a few tasty tackles flying in. Pre-season games aren’t always glorified training sessions – Matty Mainwaring will testify to that after breaking his leg against Grimsby this time five years ago – and with just a week until the new season, mixed with the added spice of a few County old boys in the Macc team, there’s a few overenthusiastic challenges to put it politely. The Main Stand aren’t happy. “No need for that Turnbull,” is the response to one late tackle. Whilst another from Andy Halls gets a response of “that’s the most physical you’ve ever been on this ground”.
County attack the Cheadle End in the second half and from my seat towards the front of the Main Stand, I have the perfect view of two decent goals. Ten minutes after the break, I’m directly in line with Jamie Milligan who curls a lovely free-kick into the area which is headed home by Richie Baker. That’s the Baker who used to play for Bury and who nobody recognises as he only signed this morning apparently. It’s a face I’m hoping will become a lot more familiar. Ten minutes later, he scores his second and County’s third. Again, I’m in the perfect position to see Baker hit a tremendous right foot shot from outside the area which ends up in the top corner.
With around a quarter of an hour remaining, Macc pull a goal back, although I’m buggered if I know what’s happened. From where I’m sat my view of the Railway End isn’t the best, and it appears another goal has been scored in slow motion today. It looks like Ian Ormson has made a good double save, but apparently his second stop hasn’t kept the ball out and Joe Mwasile is awarded a goal by a flagging linesman. It’s only a consolation, however, as County claim a fourth win from seven pre-season games. This one’s against a team from a higher division, and although the result might not be significant – all the high street bookies have Macc to be involved in a relegation scrap – the performance has been a good one. Should we be confident a week before the season starts with a visit from last season’s play-off semi finalists? Perhaps quietly.
My last report from Edgeley Park saw the final word go to Mike Flynn. I think it’s only fair I pay Richard Landon that same courtesy. After arriving at Edgeley Park in the summer of 1995 from Plymouth, Richard didn’t get too many chances in the first team and only made a handful of appearances in County blue. Or white, mainly, as it was during that Everton season. But his service to County and the job he’s done for the club in recent years has been tremendous. The words ‘kit’ and ‘man’ take barely a second to type, but they encompass all manner of different jobs, which Richard has always done professionally, to earn an enormous amount of respect and appreciation. It’s clear to see why Richard is held in such high regard by so many different people connected to the club, from the staff, to the players, to the fans. Even my mum used to like him.
Kingsway Carpets’ biggest ever sale!
Kingsway Carpets’ biggest ever sale started last month. There’s massive discounts on all carpets, underlay, luxury vinyl tiles, and sheet vinyls for February installations.
They offer a free measuring service, and guarantee to beat any quote from the big names in the flooring industry, even with their offer of free fitting.
Visit kingsway-carpets.co.uk for further details.
Photo of the day
Somewhere in Crewe
This popped up on my Facebook memories today. Eight years ago, County’s fans team played in Crewe on one of the worst pitches I’ve ever experienced. A mudbath in certain places, and literally underwater in others! We won 2-0 thanks to a brace from Jack Wright.
Today in SK
🍺 Food and drink
The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £4.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £2, and 3 for £6 on Jägerbombs.
🎱 Free pool
The George & Dragon (SK7). 6pm - 9pm.
Random County fan of the day #37 – Merv!
One final thing before you go… if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift this month, how about a painting, or a cake, or a bottle of gin, or anything else from our fantastic sponsors!
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