Today’s article is a bit Posh

Our season preview continues with Peterborough United, who beat County at Wembley 32 years ago

Jul 17, 2024

Wednesday 17 July 2024

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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.

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

I’ll admit, that’s a very lazy, unimaginative title from myself this morning (Peterborough’s nickname is The Posh if you weren’t aware) but my brain isn’t in gear yet. I was up at 5am, on a train by 6, and walking up to the Halton Stadium in Widnes by about half seven. Why? Well, I’m currently filming a new TV advert for one of the big high street bookies. There’s about 100 extras in total, divided into Everton fans, Newcastle fans and Man United fans. Guess which one I got landed with…

With the new season fast approaching, we’ve got another preview today. Peterborough fan Ray Cole gives us the London Road lowdown.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Colourtone. As always, a big thank you to 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: 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

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Utter, utter heartbreak for County in May 1992

Last win at our place: Saturday 16 October 2004, League One, 1-0

Last win at their place: Saturday 12 April 2008, League Two, 1-0

Today’s Sky Bet title/promotion odds: Us – 20/1 11/2 Them – 12/1 4/1

Top story in the local news today: Jail for Peterborough man who treated wife ‘like a prisoner in her own home’

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

We're the team that beat you at Wembley in the Division Three play-off final in May 1992!

Which team do you most want to beat this season?

Northampton Town. Local rivals.

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

Harrison Burrows (again).

County haven’t been to Peterborough in the league since April 2009. In just one paragraph, sum up everything that’s happened at your place since then.

Promoted to the Championship three times and won the EFL Trophy twice. Darren Ferguson came back to manage us for a third and fourth time. Signed and sold strikers Ivan Toney, Britt Assombalonga, Sammie Szmodics, Siriki Dembele, Jack Marriott and Ephron Mason-Clark.

Peterborough away. I think of the River Nene, a cathedral, and Barry Fry. Do I need to educate myself further, or is that fairly accurate?

Sadly that’s fairly accurate!

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

The Division Three play-off final on 24 May 1992. Jim Gannon comes second – he managed us in 2010.

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 Peterborough?

Our owner. (Darragh MacAnthony lives in Florida.)

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 Peterborough fans these days, and how safe will our lot be when we make the trip to Cambridgeshire this season?

2/10. We're not naughty, you’ll be very safe. Loads of good pubs near the ground too. Charters is a great pub and less than 5 minutes walk from the ground, which welcomes home and away fans.

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

An experienced central defender.

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

Promotion: Birmingham, Bolton and us.

Relegation: Crawley, Stevenage, Exeter and Cambridge.

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 / Reading / Rotherham / Shrewsbury / Wigan / Wrexham / Wycombe

Give your car a lick of paint

Granted, Stockport used to be a little rough around the edges. But the town’s getting a good old lick of paint these days, with fancy new offices, apartments, bars and restaurants springing up. You can’t be driving up and down the A6 in a tatty car with chipped paintwork, so give your car a nice lick of paint too. Colourtone is your go-to company for that. They’ve been servicing the automotive and industrial markets in Cheshire and Greater Manchester for decades, and carry an extensive range of car paint and industrial paints.

Visit colourtone.com for further details.

Photo of the day

Halton Stadium, Widnes

Your editor does love visiting a new ground! This one’s in the North West, but I’ve never been here before. For any rugby fans, it’s the home of Widnes Vikings. For the football fans, it’s the home of Widnes FC, who will be playing in the eighth tier this season alongside a few of County’s recent league opponents such as Stalybridge, Hednesford and Vauxhall Motors.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. A Quiet Place Day One (15) at 2.30pm, 5.45pm and 8pm. Click here for tickets.

🍔 Food and drink

Treat yourself to lunch at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). One course for £7, two courses for £11. 12pm - 2pm.

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8). Plus, discounts on certain lagers between 12pm and 6pm.

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), Bask (SK1), The Nelson Tavern (SK1), The Petersgate Tap (SK1), Thread (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Railway (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), The Railway (SK9), Flute & Firkin (SK12) or The Friendship (SK13).

🎱 Free pool

All day at The Marple Tavern (SK6).

🧶 Knit and natter

The Shady Oak (SK7). From 12pm.

🎤 Open mic night

There’s a new weekly open mic night at The Armoury (SK3) and the first one kicks off this evening! From singers to poets, comedians to rappers, everyone’s welcome. Starts at 7pm.

🤔 Quiz night

Get ready for a night of brain-teasing fun at Reddish Working Men’s Club (SK5) with various rounds and cash prizes for the winners! 8pm. Free entry. Maximum of six in a team.

100 random grounds that County have played at

#67 – Bescot Stadium, Walsall

Last visit: County only suffered five defeats away from home in the league last season, on their way to winning the title. Two of those came in August. The first was at Walsall, on the second weekend of the season, with Dave Challinor’s men still without a point after this setback in the West Midlands. A 2-1 win for the Saddlers, with Ryan Rydel scoring our consolation deep into injury time.