Saturday 26 November 2022
Good morning County fans! A safe journey to those travelling down to London right now. You’ve probably only been on the road for an hour or two, but for anyone feeling homesick yet, here’s the second part of my Groundhopper Diaries, looking back at the Orient game last Saturday.
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Des Junior
Saturday 19 November 2022, 3pm
Stockport County 1 Leyton Orient 2
League Two (12th v 1st)
Attendance: 9,368 (735 away fans)
12.58pm: “Lancaster, Lancaster, Lancaster.” My first glimpse of football fans on this overcast Saturday afternoon comes in the shape of a bunch of Dolly Blues, heading out of Chester train station ahead of their FA Trophy clash at the Deva Stadium. I enjoy the contrast between the Lancaster lads, and the two far-too-posh-for-my-liking couples (heading for Escape to Freight Island in Manchester) on my stopper train from Chester to Stockport - wittering on about the London Underground, tapas and the weather before we’ve even pulled into Mouldsworth.
1.13pm: Just after we’ve left Mouldsworth (one of 13 stops between Chester and Stockport during the 75-minute journey) the uncomfortable-looking conductor takes an uncomfortable-looking walk along the train to pass on the uncomfortable-sounding news that “because today’s train only has two carriages rather than four, it’s going to get extremely busy the further along we get”. Posh Lady One is not impressed: “I can’t believe half of the train is missing.” For her voice, just think Lady Bracknell from The Importance of Being Earnest, or a ‘posho’ from Downton Abbey.
1.23pm: Three young lads get on at Cuddington swigging bottles of Birra Moretti. They’re genuinely excited at sitting next to each other in a line of three seats, like they have on Northern Rail, and excitedly pile into the row, with a few drops of Italian splashback almost hitting Posh Lady One opposite, who as you can imagine, is not impressed. Rest of the journey passes by chatting to a couple of Carlisle fans off to their game at Salford. They’ve both got fond memories of the 0-0 draw at Edgeley Park on the final day of the 2005-06 season, home and away supporters celebrating survival and the title respectively. One’s a successful Manchester property developer it seems, who’s “been in a few meetings with Mark Stott”. I try to squeeze the gossip juice tree, but to no avail.
2.55pm: “Why are you taking a photo of a gate?” One of the stewards on the Pop Side is a little confused at, well, why I’m taking a photo of a gate. I do feel a little awkward trying to take artistic photos from time to time. Although I feel even more awkward a minute later when I take a photo of my mates in Yellow Block and they all stick either one or two fingers up at me.
3.06pm: County seem bang up for the visit of the leaders, and take an early lead, perfectly timed at the end of a full rendition of ‘When I Was Young and Lazy’ from the Pop Siders, which you don’t always hear in the Cheadle End. From a Will Collar cross, Paddy Madden lays the ball to Miles Hippolyte, who finishes coolly in front of the stunned Cockneys in the Railway End. Game on; season on.
3.11pm: Orient’s ‘danger’ man Paul Smyth runs the ball out of play right in front of us. With a lesser-known version of his surname printed on the back of his shirt, his punishment comes courtesy of a number of middle-aged Pop Siders loudly addressing him in funny voices. There’s a “Smith” and a “Smyth” and a “Smythe” and even a “Twat” from one Stockport scamp.
3.14pm: The Stockport scamp is actually quite witty. An Orient player with James on his shirt is on the touchline in front of us to take a throw-in, and gets instructed to “sit down”. Ashamedly, that one takes me a few seconds.
3.21pm: “I’ve not even had a pint today,” reveals Mike Harradine sat next to me. “I wish I had - I’m nervous today.” He’ll need something strong now. Those words have barely left his lips when Orient equalise. And it’s a really annoying one to concede, having played like the league leaders ourselves for 20 minutes. An Orient throw-in is flicked on for Darren Pratley to power home a header in front of a sold-out Cheadle End. 1-1.
3.58pm: Steve Massey, a popular County striker from the 70s back in town launching his book, is on the pitch at half-time. Steve Bellis announces Massey has purchased a couple of season tickets for next year for struggling supporters to use. I love this club.
I chat to another County legend during the break, Mike Harradine, who I’ve (often drunkenly) played with for the last 20 years representing the fans’ team.
We’re both stood in the same spot from which we saw County beat Bolton in the FA Cup almost a year to the day. What’s your memories from that night?
“It was fucking rammed! No one was in their right seat. Everyone was squeezed in together, what an atmosphere that was. After such a long time in non-league, that was the moment you knew we were coming back to life. A magical night.”
It’s been some 12 months hasn’t it?
“What a rollercoaster. I went to both games at Wrexham, in the FA Trophy and the league, which were awful. But we did it in the end. My best memory of us winning the league is the celebrations at Edgeley Park, singing “You can stick your Hollywood ending up your arse” in front of the Granada Reports cameras.”
Thoughts on the first half today?
“We should be leading. I thought we dominated the first 20 minutes, Orient looked stunned, but we haven’t taken advantage. That’s a silly equaliser to concede.”
4.20pm: Orient make a couple of subs. Ogie and Drinan on for Smyth and Moncur. I wouldn’t normally report on boring stuff like this, but at the same time one bloke from the home end runs on (I say bloke as nobody recognises him as a County fan, and we do unfortunately attract a few City and United cranks when there’s no Premier League action to enjoy from their armchairs) in a bizarre pitch invasion, not really knowing what to do apart from take a couple of selfies before he’s carted off. Arrested and a three-year ban. Nice one.
4.27pm: County have a blatant penalty turned down. I appreciate ‘blatant’ is quite a biased-sounding word as a home fan, but I think you’re allowed to use the word ‘blatant’ when an Orient defender pushes Paddy Madden to the ground with two hands. The referee’s having none of it and the Londoners break quickly, firing a ball across the box which has to be put behind for a corner…
4.28pm: …and yep, you guessed correctly, they score from it. The corner is actually half-cleared, to Idris El Mizouni on the edge of the box, whose screamer is superbly tipped onto the bar by Ben Hinchliffe, but the rebound falls to Omar Beckles who smashes it into the net, to the delight of the travelling O’s. County huff and puff, but the league leaders are professional and organised in the second half, and pick up another three points - their 14th maximum from 19 games.
5.35pm: Post-match analysis comes from Paul Bruckshaw, a lifelong home and away Hatter, in The Prince Albert on Castle Street.
“My thoughts on today, we just weren’t savvy enough. They were just that little bit better, not at playing football, but getting the job done. The chances we had though, we should have been 3-0 up before the interval. The referee was a bit shit, but you get that in this league. I’ll take a 2-1 defeat though. I’m happy today, because we’ve shown we’re not far off where we need to be.”
5.51pm: My notepad’s been tucked away in my coat for the day, but it reappears when I get into The Armoury. County fan Gordon Cundill beckons me over, thinking I might like to interview an Orient fan he’s been chatting to, a young lad who’s come over from Sheffield on the train (he’s doing history at university in the Steel City) called Dave Dallas. With a name like that, you’d be right Gordon. Dave’s a top lad. He’s in Stockport on his own because his mate, who also had a ticket for the game, sent him a text this morning saying he was too hungover.
Thoughts on today’s game, Dave Dallas? What a name that is by the way.
“I thought it was a class game. We weren’t quite at our best today, but we’re finding a way to win games. You gave us a good run for our money though and it could easily have gone either way.”
Enjoying Sheffield?
“It’s a class city. I’ve not been to Sheffield United yet but I’ve been to Hillsborough a couple of times. That’s a proper ground. I’ve always lived in London so I had this idea of a bleak northern industrial place but Sheffield’s lovely. I’m really enjoying being at uni there.”
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Stockport photo of the day
Edgeley Park, November 2021
Thanks for the memories, Ash. Best of luck at Chesterfield.
Matt Walker ‘eats’ the World Cup
🇸🇦 No 5 - Saudi Arabia (Hijazi Corner)
“Saudi Arabia are going to win the World Cup! A special breakfast liver dish and warming karak chai accompanied one of the most remarkable results in World Cup history - especially if you backed the Saudis at 22/1!”
One of my favourite football books is Matt Walker’s Europe United, in which the author and Fulham fan spends a whole season taking in a game in all 55 UEFA countries. Well he’s back with another fun challenge, to experience Qatar 2022 in restaurants and bars across London which represent all 32 competing nations. I was going to attempt this myself but apparently there aren’t any Saudi Arabian restaurants in Stockport. But fear not, Matt has kindly allowed me to use his photos and I’ll bring you one each day, giving you a tasty flavour of the World Cup, in more ways than one.
The only Christmas gift guide you need this year
29 sleeps to go! The Scarf My Father Wore have curated a beautiful Christmas gift guide this year, from independent businesses across the UK. Check the guide each day, with new items constantly added, before our festive giveaway starts on 1 December. And don’t forget, you have to be a subscriber to take home one of our superb prizes!
Today in SK
🎵 As always, Bask is your place for a Saturday night party. DJ Gareth Brooks on from 7pm till 2am. Free entry.