The final chapter of a fantastic season

37 photos from the denouement of County’s first season back in League One

May 15, 2025

Thursday 15 May 2025

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, Leyton Orient 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.

Sadly, it wasn’t to be last night. County had two glorious chances to book their trip to Wembley at the end of normal time and extra time, but Tanto hit the scoreboard while Odin Bailey struck the post. As always, very fine margins in the play-offs. The O’s head to Wembley; Dave Challinor’s men remain in League One.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Guerrilla Chicken Spirits. A big thank you to Paul. If you’re stocking up on booze any time soon, get yourself 10% off by using the code Scarf10.

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

5 questions with Paul from Guerrilla Chicken Spirits

What was the best moment with your business in April?

A quiet month really, just getting things up and running with various markets and shows.

What’s your plans for the business in May?

The switch to summer markets, and the launch of our double-shot miniature pouches. Our Miniatures Party Box contains a mix of 20 50ml pouches – vodka, rum and gin. Perfect for a party, BBQ, picnic, wedding celebration or just a few drinks at the weekend!

What would you like to promote to The Scarf My Father Wore readers this month?

Our 10% discount for The Scarf My Father Wore readers is still running. Use the code Scarf10 at checkout.

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?

Lost count to be fair. England games, Wycombe a few times, the arena for a gig by The Cult. Unfortunately, I won’t be at Wembley for the play-off final if we get past Charlton tonight.

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?

I would buy my wife her dream home. I’m not a petrol head, nor do I have any personal aspirations or a bucket list as such. Dull I know! I would try and use the money to make those close to me happy and comfortable.

➡️ Visit guerrilla-chicken.com to see the full range of drinks and gifts, and don’t forget to use the code Scarf10 for a 10% discount!

Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

On this day in 2022, eleven years of hurt came to an end as County returned to the Football League. Paddy Madden settled the nerves against Halifax early on, with Will Collar wrapping things up after the break.

Today in SK

🍺 Food and drink

Happy Hour at Covent Garden Café (SK1) between 1.30pm and 2.30pm. If you spend £20 or more you get to roll the dice, and if you roll a 6 your bill is half price!

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £5.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £1.50, and 3 for £7 on Jägerbombs. Also, double up for £2 on premium spirits.

Enjoy a coffee and a cake for just £6 at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). The perfect excuse for a catch-up! 12pm - 4pm.

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8). Plus, discounts on certain lagers between 12pm and 6pm.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), 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.

Chapter 15: The Ride Home

County won the play-off final yesterday in our artificial intelligence world. We’re back with Danny Hartley and his daughter Lucy today on the coach home from Wembley.

The coach pulled out of Wembley just after sunset.

The streets around the stadium were still thick with blue. Horns honked. Arms waved from windows. Flags were stuffed through sunroofs, trailing behind in the wind like victory ribbons. Every time someone spotted another County fan, a cheer went up. As if no one could believe it — as if seeing someone else who’d lived it too made it real.

Danny and Lucy sat near the middle, window side. The seats were soft and just about clean. Someone had already cracked open a can. Someone else had curled up in a hoodie and was asleep before they hit the North Circular.

Danny felt hollowed out. Not in a bad way. Just emptied of everything but warmth.

Lucy had her head on his shoulder, her County hat pulled down low over her eyes. Her voice was gone — worn away by chants and screams — but she looked happy. Bone-deep happy. Like the kind that stays with you.

“Still hungry?” Danny asked.

She shook her head, then reached into her bag and pulled out the uneaten chips from earlier. Cold now. A little congealed.

He took one anyway. “Might be the best chip I’ve ever had.”

She smiled without opening her eyes. “Because it tastes like glory?”

“No. Because it tastes like vinegar and plastic tray and winning at Wembley.”

A few rows back, someone started a chant — hoarse and low.

“We are the County, the mighty, mighty County…”

It was slow and sleepy, but it caught on. Within a minute, half the coach was humming it. The other half too knackered to join in, but grinning all the same.

Outside, the lights of London gave way to darkness. Service stations. Fields. Long roads home.

Danny stared out of the window, watching the reflections pass by. His thoughts drifted — to his dad, to Edgeley Park, to the little rituals that had kept him coming back year after year. The scarf. The same seat. The same moans about poor refereeing. And now, this.

The win wasn’t just a result. It was proof. That the journey had been worth it. That the heartbreaks and relegations and nearlys had led somewhere.

He looked down at Lucy. Still on his shoulder. Still dreaming.

He didn’t know what she’d remember most. The goals? The lift? The sound?

Maybe she’d forget it all and just remember the way it felt.

That was enough.

The coach rolled northward. Tired voices faded. The singing stopped. Somewhere near Northampton, Danny closed his eyes too.

The trophy was somewhere behind them, packed in with the kit and the stories.

But in this moment, what mattered was here. Father. Daughter. A coach full of believers, carrying joy back to Stockport.