“There were over 15,000 at Edgeley Park that night and I can still picture the Pop Side to this day, absolutely bouncing”
Steve Massey, County’s popular striker from the 70s, speaks exclusively to The Scarf My Father Wore ahead of his book launch this afternoon
Ah, I’m in a good mood this morning. I’m off to see County take on the League Two leaders at a sold-out Edgeley Park rather than getting piss wet through on a lump of concrete in Hyde or Stalybridge. We’ve got a cracking bumper Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore to bring you, featuring an interview with a top ex-player from the 70s. And best of all I’m sure you’d agree, the fundraising event we’ve mentioned over the last few days, for a lifelong County fan whose wife has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, has now completely sold out. I know a lot of County fans have bought tickets, and on behalf of the organisers Emma, Jade and Shel, a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you.
For anyone not attending the fundraising event, but would still like to donate, there’s also a Go Fund Me page which has raised a staggering £28,000 in three days. The generosity of not only County fans, but all of Paul and Alex’s friends and family, cannot be underestimated, as the money is now being used for Alex to start on a course of Avastin, which could potentially give her another 6-9 months.
I know Paul and lots of his friends will be reading this right now. For what it’s worth, I’d just like to say we’re all here for you mate, every single step of the way. You’re a part of the County family, and as a collective, we’ll do everything we possibly can for you, Alex and the girls.
Once again, a big thank you to Benji and the team at Bask for sponsoring today’s edition. Have a wonderful weekend, wherever you are in the world, and here’s to the Hatters taking another chunk out of that five-point gap between us and the play-offs by 5pm.
Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to The Scarf My Father Wore to be in with a chance of winning over £1,000 worth of prizes throughout December. We’ll be giving away every single item listed in our Christmas Gift Guide (including an A3 print of Paddy Madden from acclaimed Manchester artist Stanley Chow) to our subscribers.
Des Junior
It’s lovely to have you back in Stockport for the weekend, Steve. First things first, let’s get down to business. Tell us about your book.
I’ve been asked to do one a few times but I’ve never got round to it for whatever reason. Then I met an author called Rodney Marshall, a Northampton fan, who expressed an interest in helping me write it. At first I thought he was just a supporter from one of my old clubs but then I saw his CV and realised he’d written 30 or so books, so we decided to work together and it’s been a great decision. We’d meet up for two or three days at a time and I’d put all my witless waffle into a dictaphone, and here we are!
You’re living in Cornwall these days aren’t you?
That’s right, Truro - a super part of the world. My mum still lives in south Reddish, so I drove up on Thursday night ahead of the book launch.
You’ve been down there quite a while haven’t you?
My wife and I have been down here since the late 80s, when I finished my time at Wrexham, my last professional club. Back then footballers didn’t earn quite as much as they do today, so you had to do something else. Quite a few players would run a pub, or go into insurance, something like that, but my wife and I thought we’d be a little quirky and we invested in a holiday park. We did that for 20 years, building up a small portfolio of holiday parks, before selling the business in 2009.
Your dad used to take you to Edgeley Park growing up. What’s your memories as a youngster?
My dad used to take me to the Friday night games, but my best memory is when we beat West Ham 2-1 in the League Cup. I was 14 at the time. I remember Tommy Spratt scoring the winner.
I was also at the West Ham game in 1996-97, this time with my son Ben, which was another special night. Despite living in Cornwall, even now I still try and get up to Edgeley Park 3-4 times a season.
Ben will be with me at the game today, he’s a County fan as well. I’ve got a photo of him from the day we beat Halifax to return to the Football League, pointing at my name at the Wall of Fame in the Cheadle End, which I’m so proud of.
What’s your favourite memory playing for County?
Obviously making my league debut as a 16-year-old, coming off the bench at home to Darlington on a Friday night at Edgeley Park and scoring the winner.
I’d also have to say playing alongside George Best. As a kid, I’d watched him on TV, thinking he was simply untouchable on his day. Then at the age of 17, I’m in the Main Stand getting changed next to him, which was just so surreal.
The League Cup game at home to Everton in 1976-77 sticks out as well. We lost 1-0 but we gave a really good account of ourselves and were perhaps a little unlucky. There were over 15,000 at Edgeley Park that night and I can still picture the Pop Side to this day, absolutely bouncing.
Compared with today, County was quite a different place to be back in the 70s, and there’s some good stories in the book. As an apprentice, I can remember getting in the van with Jim Mulvaney every Friday, before driving over to Alan Kirk’s house, the vice chairman, to pick up the players’ wages. The van was called ‘The Zebra’ as it was covered in blue and white stripes, given to the club by Gordon Ford.
I’ve played for some wonderful clubs during my career, but I’m a Stockport County fan, and wherever I go in the world I’m always proud to talk about us when people ask me.
You’ve been involved in Cornish football ever since moving down there. What’s that been like?
When I moved down to Cornwall after leaving Wrexham, I played for Truro City, before going on to manage the club on three separate occasions during their rise from the local leagues up to the Conference South.
Most recently, I managed Helston Athletic in the Western League, but I’ve since moved into their Director of Football role instead.
Steve will be at Edgeley Park for the game today, signing copies of his autobiography in the 1883 Suite from around 12.30pm, as well as after the game. Pop along for a photo with him, and you can get your book signed at the same time. You can pick up a copy today for £8 (paperback) or £12 (hardback).
Book a table at Bask for England’s World Cup games
Whether it’s tucking into a tasty treat from Ate Days A Week alongside a Stockport Gin before the game, or dancing to the tunes of DJ Gareth Brooks after it, many County fans have already enjoyed the splendid matchday experience created by the team at Bask. And now you can do the same for England’s World Cup games as well (plus all the other belters like Tunisia v Australia if you fancy it). Table reservations are now being made, which is certainly well worth doing, to follow all the action from Qatar on Bask’s brand new 75” screens. Email hello@thisisbask.co.uk to book.
An extract from Where’s My Towel? A Life in and out of Football
On 8 November 1975, a crowd of 2,789 saw County lose 1-0 to Huddersfield at Edgeley Park in the Fourth Division. Three weeks later, 9,220 were in attendance for the Friday night visit of Swansea, which just might have been down to the debut of a certain former Manchester United player from Belfast. A 17-year-old Steve Massey also started for County that evening, which is the moment we pick up his story.
Early on in that match against Swansea, Best took a corner. My role was always to be in or around the six-yard box. Not standing on the keeper, but coming from behind, trying to stay out of his eyeline before arriving in front of him. From Best's in-swinging delivery, it worked perfectly. I flicked the ball on with my head and it nestled in the back of the net. The bumper crowd went wild, and all the County players ran across to George who was celebrating with his trademark raised right arm. I was thinking, "It's my goal! It came off my head." Looking at the grainy highlights on YouTube, the goal was (incorrectly) awarded as an own goal by the Swansea keeper, supposedly punching the ball into his own net. Only I know, perhaps, that I had been robbed of a goal, on a special night.
After half-time, Best created a second goal, with a glorious pass to Lee Bradley, before curling in the third from outside the box. Rumour had it that he was being paid £500 a match, at a time when the highest earners at the club were on £40. It had been a year and a half since Best's last competitive match and the summariser of those highlights commented, "There's no doubt he is fatter, older and slower, but he still has the skill."
There was one stand-out moment in that first game which offered proof of the latter. Our goalkeeper, Paul Hopkinson, had kicked the ball up high, towards the main stand dugouts. It was dropping out of the sky, right by the touchline. Facing the crowd, back to the pitch, Best brought the ball down, instant control; it hadn't even bounced or bobbled. It was like Velcro, stuck to his foot; he had killed it and then backheeled it in a split-second. For the crowd there was a fleeting moment of anticipation, silence, then a gasp of disbelief and, finally, applause. For us as players, it was a flash of magic, me thinking, "Did you see that?! Oh, OK, carry on then." As I said, that was the stand-out moment for me.
If you can’t get to the book launch at Edgeley Park today, the book will be on Amazon from 1 December.
Bunch of fives
Steve Massey’s 5️⃣ clubs in between starting at County and finishing at Wrexham
Bournemouth
Peterborough
Northampton
Hull
Cambridge
5️⃣ ingredients in the bottle of Ribena I’m drinking right now as I type all this up
Water
Blackcurrant Juice from Concentrate
Sugar
Thickener (Polydextrose)
Acidity Regulator (Sodium Gluconate)
With the leaders coming to EP today, here’s the last 5️⃣ teams to win League Two
2021-22: Forest Green, 84 points
2020-21: Cheltenham, 82 points
2019-20: Swindon, 69 points (after 36 games, due to Covid)
2018-19: Lincoln, 85 points
2017-18: Accrington, 93 points
Today in SK
🕺 Bask is the place to be in Stockport on a Saturday night at the moment. DJ Gareth Brooks is on tonight from 7pm till 2am.
🎦 In a day of celebration for Dame Angela Lansbury DBE, Stockport Plaza are screening one of her greatest film roles of all time tonight. The Harvey Girls starts at 7.30pm. Cert: U. Tickets £9.90.
The only Christmas gift guide you need this year
36 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!