The League One stage is set for the Stags

Mansfield are back in the third tier for the first time in 22 years

Jul 19, 2024

Friday 19 July 2024

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.

STOCKPORT COUNTY PREDICTION GAME 2024-25: Predict County’s top scorer, final league position, cup performances etc. £10 to enter. 40% of the pot to the winner, 30% to second, 20% to third, and 10% to Mentell. If you’d like to enter, drop us a message or an email.

Flights have been grounded. Certain shops can only take cash. TV channels have gone off air. It’s been a day of chaos with the global tech failure, but everything seems to be in order at The Scarf My Father Wore HQ, so here’s Friday’s edition for you.

We’ve already featured fellow promoted sides Wrexham and Crawley in our season previews. Completing that line-up is Mansfield, finally able to enjoy a change of scenery after 11 consecutive seasons in League Two. The bookies currently have the Stags to finish just above the relegation zone, but Craig Priest from Mansfield Matters thinks his side will be fine.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Not Just Travel. A big thank you to Paul and Tracy.

Thanks also to RIAN Construction, who sponsor our Mansfield Town 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: 176.31 miles

Total steps so far: 284,130

Total raised so far: £1,956

Total completed streets so far: 399 (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

Leave a comment

Last win at our place: Wednesday 9 April 2008, League Two, 1-0

Last win at their place: Tuesday 14 October 2003, LDV Vans Trophy first round, 2-1

Today’s Sky Bet title/promotion odds: Us – 20/1 11/2 Them – 66/1 18/1

Top story in the local news today: Here are the best places for ice cream in Mansfield according to Google reviews

First question. “We’re all from Stockport, who the fuck are you…?”

We’re that team who took six points from you last season and enjoyed it so much, we thought we’d join you in League One and do it again!

Which team do you most want to beat this season?

Rotherham. How Slimy Steve Evans still gets employed is beyond me. Nothing against Rotherham fans, it’s Evans I want to beat. Other than that, Wrexham, who pipped us to second last season.

Which Mansfield player is most likely to end up in League One’s team of the season?

Take your pick between Davis Keillor-Dunn and Aden Flint. Both will be vital to our bid for survival/consolidation.

County haven’t been to Mansfield in the league since August 2023. In just one paragraph, sum up everything that’s happened at your place since then.

Promotion! Oh, and at last… we’ve ripped those horrendous advertising boards down and the Bishop Street Stand is finally being redeveloped, which is where away fans will be moved to once things are completed.

Mansfield away. I think of a little place on the outskirts of Nottingham, a train station in the middle of nowhere, and a ground with three sides. Do I need to educate myself further, or is that fairly accurate?

See above. Four sides now thank you very much!

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Stockport County?

At the time of writing, randomly, the sitcom Great Night Out with Will Ash and Craig Parkinson. I was watching it the other day on ITVX and County popped up; I seem to remember their characters were County fans.

Rotherham play at the New York Stadium. NFL star Tom Brady is involved at Birmingham. Wrexham are plastered all over Netflix or Nickelodeon or whatever it is. League One has a bit of an American flavour this season. What’s the most American thing about Mansfield?

We had an American trialist play in a friendly at Retford the other night, Eric McWoods – so him if he signs!

I’ve been watching Football Cops on Channel 4 recently, featuring Sunderland fans kicking down barriers at Coventry, and loads of little Crewe rapscallions playing up at home to Walsall. On a scale of 1 to 10, how naughty are Mansfield fans these days, and how safe will our lot be when we make the trip to Nottinghamshire this season?

Can you really associate the word “fans” to groups who just go out for everything but the football? Next question.

Who or what needs to be top of Mansfield’s shopping list before the new season starts in August?

A right-back, possibly a striker. We can NOT go into League One with Lucas Akins (striker) playing at right-back. We have Elliott Hewitt and George Williams in the squad, but both are coming back from injury with the latter injury prone, so we need natural cover in that area, someone with League One experience.

What’s your early predictions in terms of the promotion and relegation places?

Birmingham will take the title, Rotherham will probably sneak in too – annoyingly, Big Steve just has a knack.

Relegation wise, Crawley might as well just stay in League Two right? (Sorry Crawley fans!) Burton will struggle again. I think both Stags and County will be fine in mid-table.

Click on the links below to read the other 2024-25 season previews we’ve published so far.

Birmingham / Blackpool / Bolton / Cambridge / Charlton / Crawley / Exeter / Huddersfield / Leyton Orient / Lincoln / Northampton / Peterborough / Reading / Rotherham / Shrewsbury / Wigan / Wrexham / Wycombe

If you’re looking to book your summer holiday get in touch with Paul and Tracy Franklin

As a team, Paul and Tracy Franklin are dedicated to delivering for their customers. They recognise that holidays are often the biggest outlay for people and so their top priority is finding them the perfect getaway. Whether you know exactly what you want or are looking for some ideas and inspiration, they can help!

With in excess of 450 suppliers they can find your dream trip. They have a number of key trade partners which allow them to organise anything from city breaks and fly and flops to cruises, weddings, honeymoons and sporting events across every corner of the globe. From high street names such as TUI, Jet2 and Easyjet to bespoke travel arrangements they can meet your requirements. They pride themselves on exceptional, personable service and for peace of mind all bookings are ABTA and ATOL protected.

Using Paul and Tracy as your personal travel consultants means that they can take all the legwork of finding and planning your trips. They can also deal with any bumps in the road should there be any. There are so many variables to a trip and so many places to look most of their customers are so relieved to have someone do that for them! Others are just glad to be able to support a smaller business that delivers a personal touch, as opposed to some of the travel giants out there. Whatever an enquiry looks like they are always keen to get their teeth stuck in, adding value where they can and learning along the way – the world is a big place!

Visit paulandtracyfranklin.notjusttravel.com for further details.

For any repairs or renovations in Nottinghamshire, give RIAN Construction a call

RIAN Construction is a local family run joinery business, based in Mansfield, with over 17 years worth of experience. When carrying out any task, be it big or small, they strive for the highest of standards to bring an excellent service to you, the customer.

Whether you need a major repair or a renovation, they can deliver professional skills at a fair price. It’s their highest priority to get the job done right the first time on every assignment.

RIAN Construction will provide a full consultation to explain available options so that you can choose the service that’s right for your home or business. They strive to meet your project’s needs and save you the time.

Visit rianconstruction.co.uk for further details.

Photo of the day

Pinatar Arena, Spain

Travelling Hatters enjoying the sunshine in Spain today, at County’s friendly with Derby in Murcia.

Eden 6-Piece Band are performing at The Crown (SK6) tonight

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Fly Me to the Moon (12A) at 5.30pm, and Kinds of Kindness (18) at 8pm. Click here for tickets.

💿 DJs

Stockport’s biggest party at the weekend is at Bask (SK1), with DJ Gareth Brooks playing till 3am. Last entry 1.30am.

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have their resident DJ playing on a Friday night, with Dicko (Ian Dickinson) on from 8pm till 1am.

🍺 Food and drink

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8).

If you’re simply in the mood for a couple of pints today, pop along to one of our featured venues such as AMP (SK1), The Petersgate Tap (SK1), Thread (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Armoury (SK3), Reddish Working Men’s Club (SK5), The Railway (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Shady Oak (SK7), The Three Tunnes (SK7), The Railway (SK9), Flute & Firkin (SK12) or The Friendship (SK13).

🎵 Karaoke

Karaoke and DJ at The Marple Tavern (SK6). 7pm.

🎸 Live music

Eden 6-Piece Band at The Crown Inn (SK6). 9pm.

100 random grounds that County have played at

#69 – Anfield, Liverpool

Last visit: October 1984, ten days after your editor was born! (I wasn’t at the game.) After drawing 0-0 at home to Liverpool in the first leg of their League Cup second round tie, Fourth Division County unbelievably pulled off the exact same result in the second leg, after 90 minutes. Joe Fagan’s men needed extra-time to finally get past the plucky Hatters, as goals from Michael Robinson and Ronnie Whelan sent them into round three.