Salford v County
It’s been a fantastic week so far with Mansfield, Wrexham and MK Dons slipping up, but we’ve got to make it count with three points in front of the Sky cameras tonight
Thursday 14 March 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: MK Dons – Saturday 23 March, 5.15pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Salford – Today, 8pm
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, Salford supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Thursday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Mansfield lost at Tranmere. MK Dons lost at Grimsby. Wrexham dropped points at home to Harrogate. I know Crewe got a late winner at home to Sutton, but Tuesday couldn’t have gone much better for County. A point is all we need to climb back up to second tonight, but all three would put us level with leaders Mansfield, and with a game in hand. I bloody love games like this at the end of the season. Come on County! Ian Brown joins us today ahead of the short trip to Moor Lane.
Our first live event of 2024 is taking place next month. ‘Flynny at the Finger’ – an evening with County legend Mike Flynn – is at The Fingerpost on Wednesday 17 April. Start time 7.30pm. Over half the tickets have already been sold. If you’d like to join us, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com. Tickets are £10 (or £5 for paid subscribers plus anyone who’s written an article for The Scarf My Father Wore). That includes a full colour souvenir programme, and even a little bit of stand-up comedy!
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: 136.36 miles
Total steps so far: 217,174
Total raised so far: £1,641
Total completed streets so far: 271 (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
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 thoughts, general chit-chat and score predictions, as County look to go level on points with leaders Mansfield this evening.
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
Salford 1 County 2
Sky have switched this one to a Thursday night. Has that made things easier or more difficult for you in terms of your diary for this week, or are you not arsed either way?
I am far from “not arsed” Des!
The television companies and sleeping suits at the EFL offer to the world an ingloriously tunnel visioned approach to organising and publicising football matches, one solely focused on the bottom line, and they are simultaneously unfazed as to how much their plans negatively impact on football supporters – particularly those travelling to away games.
In this most recent example of stupidity on the EFL’s part, their latest genuflection in the direction of Sky Sports probably won’t result in a reduced attendance, just a massive inconvenience for travelling County supporters, but this switch came in a package with our game at Crawley, set for Saturday, moved to Monday night. County fans are doubly cursed!
Football supporters, particularly those who travel to support their teams, are used to getting zilch in the way of consideration from those running the game in the UK. It is way beyond time that this changed, but I am not holding my breath in the meantime.
No, like countless other County supporters, I will turn up tonight (and Monday too all being well), but as I have said elsewhere… a pox on the television companies and those EFL suits!
Before County’s home game with MK Dons this month, pop along to Bauhaus Blinds & Shutters’ new showroom
Bauhaus Blinds & Shutters is a family run business, based in Poynton. They have a long and distinguished track record of happy customers, providing high quality blinds and shutters which are expertly fitted.
They specialise in turning your house into a home, having a solution to suit every room and window. Your blinds are provided and installed by their expert team of fitters. If you have any custom requests, let them know and they’ll find a solution.
You can have a chat with Karmen and Aaron in person, as they’re inviting The Scarf My Father Wore readers to have a look at their new showroom on Buxton Road on Saturday 23 March, between 10am and 2pm. And with County’s game that day not kicking off until 5.15pm, there’s plenty of time to do so!
Visit bauhausblindsandshutters.co.uk for further details.
Learn to drive in 2024!
Give Craig a call, who’s been a driving instructor for over 20 years. He offers a full and thorough driver education experience. Driving is a skill for life and must not be under-estimated. Craig provides a training environment to facilitate client centred learning, which will ensure that your driving lessons are tailored to suit your development requirements, helping you to develop at a pace that suits your ability and learning capacity. All of Craig’s customers leave his care as safe, competent and confident drivers!
Visit craignicksonadi.co.uk for further details.
Photo of the day
Waterstones, Stockport
A selection of music books on display in Waterstones in Merseyway, adorned with a quote by Joe from Blossoms.
Today in SK
🎬 Cinema
One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Dune: Part II (12A) at 3.30pm. Click here for tickets.
🍺 Food and drink
If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a couple of pints. Open till 11pm.
The Stockport Sippers Society are meeting in Manchester at 4pm today. Loads of other County fans are starting early in Bask, ahead of tonight’s game at Salford. Make sure you line your stomach ahead of the big game tonight! If you fancy a good lunch today, head to The Dog & Partridge (SK2). One course for £7, two courses for £11. 12pm - 2pm.
Fish Meal Deal at The Friary (SK3). Lite bite fish and chips with peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £9.75. Open till 7.30pm.
🎶 Free jukebox
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.
🎤 Karaoke
Enigma (SK1). 8pm.
Random County fan of the day #70 – Joe Holland!
One final thing before you go… if you’re in need of any of these products or services this month, get in touch with our brilliant bunch of sponsors!
🎨 Art & Gifts: Kate O’Brien Art
💈 Barber: STUDIO26 Haircare
🪟 Blinds & Shutters: Bauhaus Blinds & Shutters
📚 Bookkeeping: Eleven Accounts Services Ltd
🧱 Builders Merchant: MKM Manchester South
🍰 Cake Maker: Claire Green Bespoke Cakes and Catering
🧽 Car Valeting: Rub A Dubz Detailing Ltd
🧼 Carpet Cleaning: Pro Clean Carpet Services
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈⬛ Cat Sitting: The Crazy Cat Ladies Cheshire
👶 Child Health: The Sleep Nanny
🤹♀️ Children’s Entertainment: Stockport Hero Hire
🧹 Cleaning: Beespoke Cleaning
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🗣 Counselling: Time and Space Counselling
🦮 Dog Training: Paws High Peak Dog Training
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
🔥 Fire Protection: Radial Fire And Security Limited
🍸 Gin: Hatters Gin
🛁 Grout Refresh & Recolour: GroutGleam Stockport
💇♀️ Hairdressing: C West Hairstylist
🛠 Home Improvements: Menzies Develop & Build
💻 IT Services: Bridge Computer Services
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
👨🍳 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
🚐 Minibus Hire: Westfield Minibuses
🧤 Oven Cleaning: That Oven Girl
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
🎈 Party Supplies: Step Into Fun Events
🚑 Personal Injury: Parkers Solicitors Ltd
📸 Photography: Holly Dwyer Photography
🎹 Piano Tutor: Sophie Grace Piano and Keyboard Tuition
🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman
🦶 Podiatry: SK Podiatry
📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing
🛖 Roofing: ADM Roofing Services Ltd
☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd
👨💼 Solicitors: B.J. McKenna & Co
⚽️ Sports Coaching: UK Sports Coaching Ltd
🪨 Stonemason: LM Stone Creative
🖊 Tattooist: Heatons Tattoo Club
🪵 Timber Supplies: Portwood Timber Division of Illingworth Ingham (Manchester) Ltd
☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd
👨💻 Web Design: SITEZO
⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean
🪟 Window Cleaner: R ‘N’ B Window Cleaning
🏋️♀️ Women’s Fitness: Sophie Pavey Fitness
🧘♀️ Yoga: Greenshoots Yoga