“Rivalry or not, Wrexham v County is always fun either way!”
One final chat with that lot from across the border before they leave us for pastures new
Sunday 18 May 2025
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Wrexham supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Sunday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Neutral football fans will probably be gutted to see County v Wrexham off the fixture list next season. It must be one of the easiest games in world football to make a few quid on when you’re filling out your betting slip in Ladbrokes on a Saturday afternoon. The last seven meetings have all ended in victory for the home side. Most recently, Wrexham’s controversial 1-0 win at the Racecourse in March dealt County’s automatic promotion hopes a huge blow, with Phil Parkinson’s men going on to clinch promotion on the penultimate weekend of the season. The Wrexham bandwagon rolls into Leicester and Southampton in the Championship next season, but before they depart, here’s one last chat with Gaz from Chips for a Quid.
As you can see from the photos above, I was at Edgeley Park for the visit of Wrexham in November (I’m not in that photo by the way, before anyone reports me to the RSPCA). I was also in North Wales in March for another miserable afternoon at the Racecourse, as our automatic promotion hopes realistically came to an end. In fact, for the first time in my life, I’ve been to every single County game this season – all 56 of them! I’ve written a book about my adventures this season. If you’d like to support the publication by having your name printed in the book (along with a signed copy and a ticket to the book launch) drop me an email.
Today’s edition is sponsored by SDS Aerials. A big thank you to Dylan.
Thanks also to Andy from Rough Hands Tap for sponsoring our Wrexham content on the website.
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: 253.75 miles
Total steps so far: 418,084
Total raised so far: £2,312
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
Best moment of 2024-25?
Still hard to believe we've done B2B2B. What a time to be a Wrexham fan. This really is our golden age.
There are a few brilliant memories we'll take from our quick pitstop in League One: walloping Shrewsbury at home (which was very fun); winning some big six-pointers at Huddersfield and Wycombe; the numerous last-gasp goals from Big Fletch that sent everyone bananas.
But the best of the best was Charlton. It was as close to a perfect performance as I can remember and it sent us up with a bang. An unforgettable day.
Worst moment of 2024-25?
I'd say Shrewsbury away, but don't really want to give them the satisfaction, so we'll go with the defeat to Stevenage at home.
It seemed like things were getting a bit wobbly for us around that time. When Big Arthur – who is normally as safe as houses – started throwing the ball into the net, we began to fear that promotion might be a bridge too far.
We needn't have worried, though. It all turned out alright in the end…
Funniest moment of 2024-25?
There are two standouts for me.
The first is from the game at St Andrew's, when Paul Mullin tumbled to the ground with Alex Cochrane and thought about taking a big bite out of his leg, only for common sense to prevail at the very last moment and pull away. Dread to think what he must be like at the dentist.
The second is from our final home game of the season, when Charlton manager Nathan Jones attempted to rattle our cages in the days leading up to the game by calling us a "circus". A huge chorus of "football in a circus" rang around Y Cae Ras all afternoon as we battered Jones' team 3-0. That song is probably still playing in his head right now. He's only got himself to blame.
Reform have been making a lot of noise recently. Based on this season, what’s in most need of reform at Wrexham, on or off the pitch?
Tricky one. There is a general feeling that this current crop of players – as well as they have performed as a unit – will be out of their depth in the Championship. There may be an overhaul, but that will have to involve finding some buyers, as most of our squad are under contract until 2026.
A few have already gone. And I think we might see Jacob Mendy, Will Boyle, Ollie Palmer, George Evans and Luke Bolton also depart in the summer. It'll be interesting to see how many of those I got right come August.
As for new signings, the first rumour is Tom Cairney. If that's true we really are planning to go for it again…
Four Four Two had you down to finish 11th, EFL pundit Gabriel Sutton thought you’d finish 15th, while the Opta supercomputer predicted you’d be 20th. You finished 2nd. Discuss.
Sutton was right about one thing: “They’ll likely have fewer games in which they can perform at a modest 6 or 7/10 between both boxes, and still win by several goals." And that was true. When we performed at a modest 6 or 7/10, we won by just one goal instead.
I said at the start of the season I'd be happy with anything above 10th in League One – that's the highest I've ever seen us finish. I never imagined making the automatic slots. Racking up 92 points is remarkable.
It was rarely ever simple or easy this season, but what an achievement.
Louie Barry’s stunning strike gave County all three points at EP (Photo courtesy of Mike Petch)
County 1 Wrexham 0 in November. Wrexham 1 County 0 in March. Thoughts?
Feel like a long time ago those games, don't they? We've both had some huge matches since then.
On reflection, I think the result was probably fair on each occasion. The second was almost ruined by the shocking officials, but thankfully the big calls went our way that day.
It's a shame you didn't come up with us. Rivalry or not, Wrexham v County is always fun either way!
Best and worst away days of 2024-25?
Going to Bolton was a reminder of just how far we'd come: getting to play in a stadium like that against a big club (and matching them) was so refreshing after more than a decade of standing on frozen steps in glorified parks, getting beaten by teams who would've been happy to be paid in pints from the club bar.
The best away performance and most important win for me was Blackpool. We turned up and really went for it. A cracking way to end a sunny Bank Holiday at the seaside.
Lincoln on the last day was also a belting party. I'm not sure many of us knew what the score was when the final whistle blew.
The worst? Edgeley Park wasn't great in terms of the result. It never is. But this one I will actually give to Shrewsbury. It's a crap ground miles out from town so it's always a slog, but what made this game particularly grim is that we saved our worst performance of the season for derby day. Again, though, none of it mattered in the end.
Which Wrexham player is most deserving of his couple of weeks on the beach this summer?
I don't think Ollie Rathbone has stopped running for a single second this season and he's probably sprinting around the Las Vegas strip as we speak during the squad holiday.
He has been brilliant all year. What a signing.
And finally, apologies for darkening the mood, but you’ve only got 30 seconds to live. Putin’s pressed the red button and we’re all about to die. You can have one last moment of pleasure, watching a single Wrexham goal from this season. What you sticking on?
Sam Smith's volley in front of the Tech End to make it 2-0 against Charlton.
It was a magnificent goal and as soon as it hit the net, we had one foot in the Championship.
The place absolutely exploded. Remember when you came to Y Cae Ras and we won 3-0? It sounded a bit like that…!
➡️ Any Wrexham fans joining us today? As stated above, I’ve written a book having watched every County game home and away this season. There’s obviously two big chapters on Wrexham included (home and away). Also, as I celebrated my 40th birthday this season, I’ve written about my four decades as a County fan as well, which I’m hoping will be an enjoyable read for anyone who supports a lower league club. There’s memories of beating four Premier League clubs as County reached the Coca-Cola Cup semi-finals in 1996-97, the club’s rise from the National League North to the brink of the Championship over the last few years, and the tale of a trip to Blackpool 20 years ago when me and my mates had a run-in with armed police after a day on the ale…
If you’d like to support the book, click on the link below to become a paid subscriber and I’ll post you a signed copy with your name printed inside once it’s published.
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Photo of the day
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
I’m hearing there’s some HUGE team news coming from the Race…
Actually, better not do that again. I caused a social media meltdown last time.
5 questions with Andy from Rough Hands Tap
What was the best moment with your business in April?
Well, let’s face it, Saturday 26 April will go down in history for Wrexham AFC, winning back to back to back promotions. The atmosphere ahead of any home game is always upbeat and exciting but this one was special. With a late kick-off the butterflies were fluttering having just watched Leyton Orient beat Wycombe which meant the historical moment was ours to lose. The whole town rumbled as the whistle was blown. And what a party! The whole town centre partied and drank us all dry. It’s been an incredible season.
What’s your plans for the business in May?
We’re going into summer on a high following a brilliant football season and Focus Wales, which is an international multi venue music festival that brings 20,000 people to the town.
What would you like to promote to The Scarf My Father Wore readers this month?
Always a warm welcome with delicious craft beer, coffee, or a refreshing handmade lemonade (you can make it alcoholic by adding a spirit).
County were aiming to reach Wembley for the seventh time this month, but unfortunately we’ve just missed out. How many times have you been, either for sport or music or anything else?
Never been. I'd love to see Wrexham make the FA Cup final and experience the stadium alive with passionate Wrexham fans.
I’ve got Eddie Fortune headlining my next Desmond’s Comedy Club at the end of this month. If you won a fortune on the lottery, what would you spent it on?
Shares in Wrexham AFC. I think that would be a good investment.
➡️ For more information on Wrexham’s newest craft beer bar, visit roughhands.co.uk.
Today in SK
🍴 Food and drink
Enjoy a delicious Sunday roast at The Crown (SK2) or The Three Tunnes (SK7) with homemade Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings. 12pm - 6pm.
A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Cross Keys (SK8), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks and a bite to eat.
🎱 Free pool
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 8pm - 11pm.
🎸 Live music
Andy Burns and Colin Walker at The Steelworks (SK6). 3.30pm.
A huge thank you to the following businesses supporting The Scarf My Father Wore in May
🪟 Blinds & Shutters: Bauhaus Blinds and Shutters
♨️ Boiler Repair & Servicing: Gas Care UK (NW)
🧱 Builder: CE Building Services
🫧 Carpet Cleaning: Freshio
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈 Cat Flaps: That Cat Flap Company Ltd
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
🔌 Electrician: Hey Electrics
🏠 Estate Agent: The Agency UK
🫧 Exterior Cleaning: Impact Pro Clean
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
💐 Florist: The Flower House
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
🔌 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🪴 Landscaping: Impact Gardens & Driveways
📮 Leaflet Distribution: Wolf Distribution
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
💪 Male Weight Loss: MAN v FAT
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
📸 Photographer: Adam Edwards Photography
🥧 Pies: Eric Twigg Foods
🧱 Plastering: DT Plastering Services and Damp Proofing Specialists
👨💼 Solicitors: B.J. McKenna & Co / Parkers Solicitors Ltd
🍹 Spirits: Guerrilla Chicken Spirits
🪨 Stonemason: LM Stone Creative
🚕 Taxi Hire: Lynx Taxis
☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd
📺 TV Aerials: SDS Aerials
🧰 Vehicle Repairs: C J Motors Stockport
It might be over league wise for now but you never know could get a cup tie with our Welsh friends , if you didn’t have a bit of rivalry it would be boring , good luck in championship .👍
Was it you that walked from Stockport to Wrexham