They live their life in the city, and there’s no easy way out (of League One)
Charlton haven’t managed to make the play-offs in the last four seasons, since their relegation from the Championship in 2019-20
Thursday 27 June 2024
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Charlton 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. (If you’re only just joining us today, for no reason at all, I’m somehow trying to use Oasis songs for every single one of our League One season previews!)
As I click publish on today’s edition, I’m at The Carousel in Reddish – a pub I don’t think I’ve been to for over 20 years. I’m back on my Streets of Stockport walk today, which started in Heaton Chapel, before taking me all the way along Broadstone Hall Road South into Reddish. As soon as I’ve finished my orange juice (£3.30!), I’ll be ticking off a few more streets in SK5, before heading back into SK4.
Our 2024-25 season preview continues with Charlton Athletic today. Steve Charnock, from Addicks fanzine My Only Desire, shares his thoughts.
Today’s edition is sponsored by LM Stone Creative and Guerrilla Chicken Spirits. A big thank you to both Chris and Paul.
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: 148.94 miles
Total steps so far: 237,462
Total raised so far: £1,881
Total completed streets so far: 304 (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
Last win at our place: Wednesday 7 December 2022, FA Cup second round replay, 3-1
Last win at their place: Saturday 27 September 1997, Division One, 3-1
Today’s Sky Bet title/promotion odds: Us – 20/1 7/1 Them – 12/1 9/2
Top story in the local news today: ‘Tear down Blue Wall,’ Ed Davey urges London and commuter belt voters
I’m sorry to start with a political question, but as Rishi’s chucked a general election slap bang in pre-season, I feel we’ve got to mention it. Who are you voting for? If that’s too personal just give us a flavour of the current political feeling in Charlton? And which person at your football club do you think would make the best prime minister?
GENERIC NON-PARTISAN RESPONSE: We here at MODmag hold/promote no political views or opinions.
As for a Charlton type for PM, he doesn't work for us at the moment, but the newly MBE'd Chris Powell is a statesman-in-waiting. In fact, thinking about it, he's far too sensible and nice to be prime minister.
Nigel Farage has had cement and a milkshake chucked over him recently. If he was to do a lap of The Valley on a Saturday afternoon, what would Charlton fans be most likely to throw at him?
GENERIC NON-PARTISAN RESPONSE: We here at MODmag hold/promote no political views or opinions, etc, etc.
If you had to compare the ownership and daily operations of your club to a political party, which would it be?
Tempting to say Monster Raving Loony Party, but given 80% of replies will probably say this, we'll just shrug and give that whole 'NON-PARTISAN RESPONSE' answer again.
On and off the pitch, what do you think your club’s manifesto should say for the next 12 months?
“Get Bloody Promoted.”
Right, that’s enough political stuff. Next question. “We’re all from Stockport, who the fuck are you…?”
We're that Cockney lot that wear red but aren't Leyton Orient. You might know us from such TV shows as Match of the Day 20 years ago.
Which team do you most want to beat this season?
Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Or, more realistically, maybe Wrexham. We've no particular issue with them, but if they're doing their bloody Netflix series again, we'd rather be on there looking slick and sticking four past them than getting turned over by Deadpool and Mac's fawning underlings.
Which Charlton player is most likely to end up in League One’s team of the season?
If we keep him, Alfie May. If we don't, Luke Berry – the man was scoring goals in the Prem last season.
County haven’t been to Charlton in the league since March 2010. In just one paragraph, sum up everything that’s happened at your place since then.
Absolutely not. Your website doesn't have the server space.
Charlton away. I think of a fairly boring part of London, the River Thames, and one of the best play-off finals of all time. Do I need to educate myself further, or is that fairly accurate?
How very small-minded and offensive of you, thank you. South London's the REAL London, actually. Everything else is basically either Essex, Hertfordshire or for tourists. And technically, that play-off final happened in north west London. Which is a boring part of London.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Stockport County?
That my mate Jim's old man supports you. No offence, but that's about it.
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 Charlton?
The consortium of low-key American geezers than own us, probably. That and the fact that Nathan Jones conceal-carries a Glock 9mm.
I’ve been watching Football Cops on Channel 4 recently, featuring Sunderland fans kicking down barriers after the game at Coventry, and loads of little Crewe rapscallions playing up at home to Walsall. On a scale of 1 to 10, how naughty are Charlton fans these days, and how safe will our lot be when we make the trip to South London this season?
We're not naughty at all. We're known as trainspotters by the big blue EDL chapter down the road. The closest you’ll get to trouble will be the six children in goggled hoodies chucking Doritos at you from the other platform before the train home.
Who or what needs to be top of Charlton’s shopping list before the new season starts in August?
An entirely new squad altogether wouldn't go amiss.
What’s your early predictions in terms of the promotion and relegation places?
Oooof. Tricky. Rotherham always go back up. Birmingham, even on a bit of slide, should have enough. And Bolton really should've got promoted last year. Lincoln, Peterborough and Barnsley will be around and about too. Christ, then there's Huddersfield. Then bloody Wrexham if they keep spending. This league's harder to get out of than you might think.
As for the bottom end, Cambridge were pretty woeful last season. Crawley might find it tough. And Stevenage without Buster Bloodvessel cheating for them might struggle. I'd guess you and most of the other promoted sides that aren't Crawley should be alright. The jump from top of League Two to easing into League One is more of a slight hop, really. Especially if you're well run and/or have a couple of quid.
Click on the links below to read the other 2024-25 season previews we’ve published so far.
Birmingham / Bolton / Crawley / Huddersfield / Leyton Orient/ Lincoln / Rotherham / Wigan
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Stock up on spirits for your summer adventures, and enjoy a 10% discount!
Guerrilla Chicken Spirits has a range of four show-stopping spirits that challenge the industry by using a reusable flask and refill pouches rather then single use glass bottles.
They want you to enjoy their spirits and use their reusable flask forever. They would love that none of their bottles need to be recycled and certainly never hit the landfill.
Keep your bottle chillin’ in the fridge, ready for enjoying at home, or ready cold for taking to a picnic or a party in a park!
Photo of the day
Saltergate, Chesterfield
The last time County secured promotion from the third tier, back in 1996-97. Can we do the same this time around…
Today in SK
🎬 Cinema
One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. The Bikeriders (15) at 12.30pm. Click here for tickets.
🍺 Food and drink
If you find yourself in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two.
Discounted doubles on spirits and 10% off four pint jugs at The Railway (SK9).
🎶 Free jukebox
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.
🔮 Psychic night
The Railway (SK6). Walk-ins available. It’s £27 for a 30-minute private reading.
⁉️ Quiz night
The Dog & Partridge (SK2). 8pm. Free to enter. A £20 food voucher at the pub for the winners. It’s also pizza night, with some delicious pizzas available to order, along with the pub’s classics.
100 random grounds that County have played at
#49 – Huish Park, Yeovil
Last visit: April 2022. Obviously, County went on to win the National League title in May, but Dave Challinor’s men had a bit of a wobble in April, losing four games during the month (three in the league, plus that FA Trophy semi at Wrexham). Yeovil scored either side of half-time in this one, before Myles Hippolyte pulled a goal back on 69 minutes. Will Collar was sent off three minutes later, and County had to make the long journey home from Somerset empty handed.
One final thing before you go… if you need any of the following products or services this month, get in touch with our fantastic bunch of advertisers!
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