“The lack of goals and excitement has been dire”

A season to forget down in Stockport-in-the-Sun… or Exeter as it’s more commonly known

Jun 02, 2025

Monday 2 June 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.

THE SCARF MY FATHER WORE 2025-26 CALENDAR: Having been to all 56 County games this season, I’ve taken thousands of photos. I’ve put together calendars for next season, featuring some of my favourite photos from the last year, plus some other County bits and bobs. £10 each. Get in touch if you’d like one.

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

Our great big review of the 2024-25 season is nearing its conclusion. We’ll almost be done by the end of this week. It’s Exeter City today. Jon from The Big Bank Theory podcast shares his thoughts.

As you can see from the photos above, I was at Edgeley Park in December as County beat Exeter 2-0. I was also in Devon in April to see Dave Challinor’s men win by the same scoreline at St James Park. 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 DT Plastering Services and Damp Proofing Specialists. A big thank you to David. If you live within a three-mile radius of Hazel Grove, you can book a free damp proofing survey. Call 07774 325529 or email dtplasteringservices@gmail.com.

Thanks also to Pro-Tech Print who sponsor our Exeter City 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

No goals or points for Exeter against County this season (Photo credit: Mike Petch)

Best moment of 2024-25?

Having the Premier League’s third-placed team (at the time) Nottingham Forest come to City in the FA Cup and taking them to penalties was great.

Worst moment of 2024-25?

The lack of goals and excitement has been dire.

Funniest moment of 2024-25?

The club’s ill-fated attempt to expand the food options, and choosing everyone’s favourite snack the pizza twist!

The Birmingham Boasters and the Wrexham Wazzocks seem to have annoyed a lot of fans in League One this season. Which one are you most glad to see the back of?

I’ve got nothing against either set of supporters, but I’m slightly surprised at the excitement felt by people from Exeter that Wrexham were coming to town. I mean, who cares who someone’s owner is?

Reform have been making a lot of noise recently. Based on this season, what’s in most need of reform at Exeter, on or off the pitch?

Attacking football needs to make a comeback. (And Farage needs to jog on, but that’s a different question.)

Four Four Two had you down to finish 20th, EFL pundit Gabriel Sutton thought you’d finish 19th, while the Opta supercomputer predicted you’d be 14th. You finished 16th. Discuss.

Honestly, the players we’ve had this year should have helped us comfortably survive, and fair play to them and the manager. I don’t think we were ever in the relegation zone by the end of each Saturday. It just felt like there was a bit more possible.

County 2 Exeter 0 in December. Exeter 0 County 2 in April. Thoughts?

Completely outclassed. You didn’t even have to break a sweat.

Best away day of 2024-25?

Winning 2-1 at Bristol Rovers, sinking them into the relegation zone, was great.

Which Exeter player is most deserving of his couple of weeks on the beach this summer?

Our young star Jake Richards has been great, and also Josh Magennis who’s been made to play up front without support for a whole year and never stopped running.

Never mind Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+, a TV production company have just made Exeter City: The Story of 2024-25. Which channel would it be most suited for?

Any channel that lets you fast forward to the highlights.

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 Exeter goal from this season. What you sticking on?

Reece Cole scored a brilliant volley in our victory at Bristol Rovers.

➡️ Any Exeter 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 Exeter 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.

Book your free damp proofing survey

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Photo(s) of the day

Here’s 10 of my favourite photos from March!

Having been to all 56 County games this season, I’ve taken thousands of photos. I’ve put together The Scarf My Father Wore calendars for next season, featuring some of my favourite photos from the last year, plus some other County bits and bobs. £10 each. Get in touch if you’d like one.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Lilo & Stitch (U) at 5pm, followed by Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (12A) at 7.30pm. Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

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

If you’re heading out for a few beers today, pop into one of our featured venues such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7) and Flute & Firkin (SK12).