“That was the day I knew we were going up”

Ed Chadwick shares his favourite moments from our title-winning campaign

May 12, 2024

Sunday 12 May 2024

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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Sunday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

So far, our 2023-24 season review has featured the teams who finished 10th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 21st and 2nd. You don’t think we’ve forgotten about the side who finished 1st do you? Obviously we’ll be catching up with our regular County correspondents one final time before we let them have the summer off. First up, Ed Chadwick from the County Co-op.

Today’s edition is sponsored by A Star Clean and Waterhouse’s Quality Food. A big thank you to both Patrick and Jennifer.

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: 148.94 miles

Total steps so far: 237,462

Total raised so far: £1,686

Total completed streets so far: 304 (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

A huge goal from Odin on Easter Monday (Photo courtesy of Mike Petch)

Best moment of 2023-24?

Best moment is a really tough one. Beating Wrexham 5-0 was incredible. Everything clicked for us that day and they were miles off it. I’m not entirely comfortable with this little rivalry that some fans are keen to cultivate but it was really nice to give them a reality check and show them that they weren’t simply going to piss the league.

Another highlight was Notts County away. It was an incredible away end that night and the moment Hinchliffe shared with us right at the end was magical.

But I’m going to go for Bailey’s goal against Wimbledon. That was the day I knew we were going up. It was a tough contest resolved by a moment of magic.

Worst moment of 2023-24?

The worst moment of the season by some distance was hearing Kyle Knoyle’s head injury on New Year’s Day. I was hungover alone in the Railway End. We were getting bullied on the pitch by Mansfield then that happened about 25 yards from me. It was an absolutely sickening noise and I wish you’d not made me dredge it up TBQFH.

Funniest moment of 2023-24?

I'm going to go into full recency bias mode and say the entrance of Kyle Knoyle at the trophy presentation.

Best and worst away days of 2023-24?

The best away day simply has to be Notts County. It was my wife’s first away game and we found a lovely pub on the outskirts of town for tea and a couple of pints before singing our hearts out as we battered Notts to win the league. That's what it's all about. Meanwhile there was just enough jeopardy to keep it interesting.

Worst away day: Tranmere. There’s nothing more to say.

Player of the Year, Ben Hinchliffe. Agree or disagree?

I couldn’t agree more. Horsfall was the other main candidate for his calmness and consistency, but Hinchliffe has been colossal. The saves at Bradford and Barrow showed what he's all about.

We’re all entitled to an opinion but those who suggest we need a new number one next season need to give their heads a wobble. The guy needs a two year deal and a proper tribute to his recognition in the form of a new stand naming after him.

Goal of the Season, Camps at Forest Green. Agree or disagree?

I didn’t actually vote for Camps’ goal because I thought Madden deserved to win something. I went for his third away at Sutton. There was likely an element of recency bias involved again given the club opened the voting a day or two after. What a strike though. He was absolutely majestic that day. Vintage Madden. Gutted to see him leave.

I apologise to The Ginger Prince. He’s finally found his feet in this team – or Chally has found a way to accommodate him. Either way, I think he’ll be a really important player next season.

Young Player of the Year, Ethan Pye. Agree or disagree?

Who else could have won the young player award other than Ethan Pye? And it’s not by default either. To trot out a cliché, the lad is an absolute Rolls Royce of a footballer. He’ll go on to big things, I hope it’s with us.

We’re all going on a League One tour! Which ground are you most looking forward to visiting next season?

There are some great away games next season aren’t there? And nobody an hour the other side of London thankfully. If anybody from the EFL is reading, please assign the following games as 3pm Saturday kick-offs: Blackpool, Shrewsbury, Bristol Rovers, Birmingham. I’m sure the shower of bastards at Sky TV will deal a hammer blow to a great day out at some point. I’ll be aiming to make a weekend out of Charlton and Leyton Orient too.

On the other hand, there are a few piss poor grounds in League One. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit Bolton, Wigan or Reading. All are soulless out of town bowls that I’ve visited before.

And finally, as we probably won’t hear from you again until the friendlies kick off in July, what message would you like to leave for our readers over the summer?

My closing message for this wonderful season is one of peace, love and unity. You never know when this brilliant journey will end so make the most of it.

Oh… and join the Co-op. Yes the club is in good hands at the moment but it’s moving quickly. We need the support of as many County fans as possible if we’re to have a credible voice as we move up the pyramid and get dragged towards some of the ills of modern football.

We can’t claim all the credit for the very sensible season ticket prices but Co-op board members put lots of work in behind the scenes to consult with the club. In particular, huge credit must go to John Giles for that. I'll close on a reminder that the more members we have, the stronger our voice. It costs £1 per month. Click here to join.

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Give those carpets of yours a clean

A Star Clean offer professional carpet cleaning for £35 a room, or three rooms for £90, with sofa cleaning starting at £50. If you’ve had a spring clean recently, give your carpets a little TLC as well.

Give Patrick a call on 07395 642066 or email patglee78@icloud.com.

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A message from Jennifer, fourth generation at family business Waterhouse’s Quality Food

Hello The Scarf My Father Wore readers! It’s great to be featured here and have the opportunity to tell you a little bit about my family business in the heart of Cheadle Hulme.

We’ve been serving the area with fresh fruit and veg since 1921 when we started as a little corner shop. Over those 103 years, we’ve gone through many ups and downs, recessions, governments, global pandemics and much more. We’ve adapted and changed with the times, innovating and keeping up with what people need and want when it comes to fresh foods.

Our mission today is to encourage people to eat more fruit and veg for optimum health. We have the best quality and biggest range, from the local to the exotic.

We also have Prodjuice Juicery, our own in-house cold pressed juice bar, which we launched in 2021. So if you can't eat your fruit and veg (which is the number one best way to get your vital nutrients) you can now drink them instead.

Our cold pressed juice process is the second best way to intake nutrients. We take raw fruit and veg, slowly and gently mulch them, and then gently press them with tonnes of weight, extracting smooth pure juice full of live enzymes, vitamins and minerals your body and mind will love you for. All of our recipes have been created for different areas of the body and ailments in order to help support health.

Our single juice and juice cleanses are available every day to grab and go in store, as well as online for nationwide delivery. We also offer in-store consultations so just drop in and see one of our juice experts. We can even tailor a juice for you.

And what we offer does not stop there!

We do milkshakes, smoothies, barista coffees (worker bee of Edgeley), herbal teas and super food lattes.

We have an extensive range of free from groceries, including gluten free, plant based and dairy free.

And we also have a large refillery station including liquid household products, personal care, confectionery, fruit & nuts, pasta, rice, lentils, teas, oils and vinegars.

We’re open seven days a week. Come and say hello!

Visit waterhousesqualityfood.com for further details.

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Photo of the day

One division behind…

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Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Challengers (15) at 4.30pm, followed by Back To Black (15) at 7pm. Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

Enjoy this beautiful weather with a few drinks in the beer garden at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). And if you’re in there between 5.50pm and 6.20pm today, you’ll be able to get your hands on the League Two trophy!

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100 random grounds that County have played at

#15 – Bloomfield Road, Blackpool

Last visit: August 2004. The first Saturday away game of the season. Go on EFL, do the same next season, I double dare you! County ran out 4-0 winners on that occasion, Danny Jackman and Warren Feeney putting us two up at the break, with Luke Beckett scoring a brace in the second half.

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