Saturday 17 February 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Swindon – Saturday 24 February, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Tranmere – Today, 3pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Tranmere supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Ian Brown, Jonathan Baker and Ed Chadwick are all backing County to bounce back with three points this afternoon. Let’s hope they’re right, and we’re guaranteed to still be top of League Two by 3pm regardless of how Mansfield get on at Walsall. Prenton Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Hatters in recent years, though. We’ve only won one of our last twelve visits in the league.
Today’s edition is sponsored by Kate O’Brien Art and Bridge Computer Services. As always, thanks to both Kate and Mark.
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: 97.67 miles
Total steps so far: 160,432
Total raised so far: £1,561
Total completed streets so far: 156 (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
Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Paddy Madden’s out for two games with an ingrown toenail…blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham since 1672.
Fortunately, he has a number of fellow County content creators to call upon. Here’s their thoughts, general chit-chat and score predictions, as County head to Prenton Park just one point clear of Mansfield at the top of League Two.
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
Tranmere 1 County 2
Did Challinor get it wrong on Tuesday night?
I think I have made my views on Tuesday’s dire performance against Crewe as clearly as I can in my match report.
County were shambolic. Our tactics, use of substitutes, and most crucially how we were set up, were questionable at best. It beggared belief that Dave Challinor had apparently forgotten recent history when it comes to playing full-backs and wing-backs as central defenders, starting with Touray, and leaving Byrne and Bennett, two centre-backs, on the bench.
This showed scant respect to a Crewe side in decent form, and it reaped County a dismal harvest with the back line always struggling under pressure. It forced our midfield into coming back to help out, leaving the forwards ploughing lonely furrows with minimum service. Under those circumstances it’s difficult to see how any 11 players can adhere to a cohesive tactical plan and our prospects were not improved by some questionable substitutions.
I found it extraordinary that Evans and Bristow were sacrificed on 46 minutes whilst Touray remained on the park. Byrne for Touray plus Camps for Croasdale would have made more sense for me.
However, all that said, Dave Challinor has massive credit in the bank so we acknowledge that, and the fact that nobody (and certainly no football manager) is infallible, and we allow him to put things right – starting today!
Jonathan Baker aka Geordie Hatter, The County Away Day Show
Tranmere 1 County 2
The Wirral or Liverpool. Which side of the Mersey has produced the best music in your opinion?
At first glance it seems very hard to look past the home of the Liver Birds, what with The Beatles having essentially invented popular music as we know it while still wearing short trousers. And that’s before we even consider the accomplishments of those who followed the Fab Four on that well-beaten track from childhoods in the Mersey city to pop superstardom, with special mentions due to Echo and the Bunnymen, The La’s and The Farm (the latter pair I always tend to get mixed up with each other, but they’re clearly two absolutely distinct acts, even if they appeared to share the same early 90s shellsuit).
Not to be outdone, however, the self-styled “Leisure Peninsula” – a short ferry ride across the river – has produced some fine talent of its own, with the briefly-bouncing Boo Radleys, the ever-evolving Coral, and (as I was surprised to find out today, as we may have been forgiven for assuming he hailed from Hull) The Housemartins / Beautiful South frontman Paul Heaton all drawing their first breaths on the far bank of those celebrated tidal waters.
If such was the final reckoning, then I reckon we’d be looking at a high-scoring draw in our Mersey Musical Match-Up. But that would be discounting the contribution to our popular culture by four boys from Birkenhead described by no less a figure than John Peel as: “A national treasure.” Peel even added: “In a decently ordered society, they would be routinely carried shoulder high through the streets of every city they visited.” The veteran DJ was talking, of course, about Tranmere Rovers-supporting combo Half Man Half Biscuit, and I would tend to agree with his judgement. So it’s the Wirral that (just) wins the day for me!
As for competition of a League Two footballing kind, I don’t know if HMHB are due to attend Prenton Park this afternoon, but if so, I reckon they’ll go home on the end of a narrow defeat for their Lilywhite favourites. 2-1 to the visitors, and our teetering top-of-the table berth safe for another week at least!
Ed Chadwick, Stockport County Supporters Co-operative
Tranmere 0 County 1
If we don't win at Tranmere, Mansfield could be top of League Two by teatime. How do you think Challinor and the players would deal with that, having been top since mid October?
In a league that's become increasingly unpredictable, the word 'if' is doing a lot of heavy lifting. As my dad always says: "If my auntie had bollocks, she'd be my uncle.” I'm not going to wade through the gender politics minefield needed to unravel that phrase because it's as confusing as what I watched on Tuesday night.
We were toothless in the tackle, bereft of ideas and responded to loose balls about as quickly as Crewe acknowledge their role in a scandal. It was like watching another team in our kit.
I'm going to be optimistic and write it off as a bad night at the office caused by a poorly-timed experiment from Challinor. We've shown this season we can take our medicine and bounce back when we've been wounded and that's what I'm expecting today.
The only prediction I'm truly confident about making is that there'll be major headloss among our fans if we lose at Tranmere.
As for Mansfield, they'll be brimming with confidence but they dropped points against Wimbledon and Sutton last month. All the front runners in the league have shown that they've got flaws and I can't see any side running away with it.
It might suit us to let someone else pick up the mantle of league leaders for a few weeks and see how they handle the pressure. Nigel Clough isn't exactly a cool customer is he?
Crewe have reminded every side in League Two that the way to play against us is to press us relentlessly from the whistle so I don't expect anything else from Tranmere. It will be a scrap but I couldn't care about entertainment as long as we get three points. County to win 1-0.
Upgrade your coffee setup
I’d hazard a guess that a sizeable chunk of our readers will be enjoying today’s edition of The Scarf My Father Wore with a cup of coffee before setting off for Tranmere. Take a look at your mug. Now take a look at your coaster. They need upgrading, don’t they? Stop drinking your brew from a Sports Direct mug, then placing it down on an “I Love Blackpool” coaster. For just £20, pick up this stunning County mug and coaster set from Stockport artist Kate O’Brien. (Kate’s got loads of other great County/Stockport stuff as well, so check out her website or pop along to her stall in the market.)
Visit kate-obrien.co.uk for further details.
Give Mark a call with any computer problems
If you’re experiencing any computer issues at the moment give Mark a call at Bridge Computer Services.
Based in Romiley, the business provides computer workshop and callout services to residential and business customers across Stockport. Their callout and workshop engineers are trained to fix computers, laptops and servers on site (where possible) as well as setting up new computers and wireless networks, plus maintaining existing networks and removing viruses.
Visit bridgecomputerservices.co.uk for further details.
Photo of the day
Prenton Park, Birkenhead
County fans in the Cowshed on our last visit to Tranmere back in November 2022.
Today in SK
🎬 Cinema
Four films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Migration (U) at 12.45pm, One Life (12A) at 3pm, The Color Purple (12A) at 5.30pm, and The Holdovers (15) at 8.15pm. Click here for tickets.
💿 DJ
Stockport’s biggest party at the weekend is at Bask (SK1), with DJ Gareth Brooks playing till 3am. Last entry 1.30am.
🌭 Food and drink
Treat yourself to the February special from Enigma (SK1). Just £5 for a hot dog with grilled onions, ketchup and mustard, skin-on fries, and any ground bean coffee. 12pm - 10pm.
If you’re in Stockport after getting back from Tranmere this evening, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two. Open till 11pm.
🎤 Karaoke
The Nelson Tavern (SK1) with Lee. From 8pm.
🎸 Live music
90 PROOF at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). 9pm.
Dr Uke at The Flying Coach (SK7). 9pm.
Random County fan of the day #48 – Carl Wieczorek!
One final thing before you go… if you’re looking for a birthday present this month, how about a painting, or a cake, or a bottle of gin, or anything else from our fantastic sponsors!
🎨 Art & Gifts: Kate O’Brien Art
💈 Barber: STUDIO26 Haircare
🪟 Blinds & Shutters: Bauhaus Blinds & Shutters
📚 Bookkeeping: Eleven Accounts Services Ltd
🍰 Cake Maker: Claire Green Bespoke Cakes and Catering
🧽 Car Valeting: Rub A Dubz Detailing Ltd
🧼 Carpet Cleaning: Pro Clean Carpet Services
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈⬛ Cat Sitting: The Crazy Cat Ladies Cheshire
📓 Celebrant: Elliot Dodd – Independent Celebrant
👶 Child Health: The Sleep Nanny
🤹♀️ Children’s Entertainment: Stockport Hero Hire
🧹 Cleaning: Beespoke Cleaning
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🦮 Dog Training: Paws High Peak Dog Training
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
🔥 Fire Protection: Radial Fire And Security Limited
🍸 Gin: Hatters Gin
🛁 Grout Refresh & Recolour: GroutGleam Stockport
💇♀️ Hairdressing: C West Hairstylist
🛠 Home Improvements: Menzies Develop & Build
💻 IT Services: Bridge Computer Services
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
👨🍳 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
🚐 Minibus Hire: Westfield Minibuses
🧤 Oven Cleaning: That Oven Girl
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
🧱 Plasterer: Tate Plastering Services
🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman
📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing
🛖 Roofing: ADM Roofing Services Ltd
☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd
⚽️ Sports Coaching: UK Sports Coaching Ltd
🖊 Tattooist: Heatons Tattoo Club
🪵 Timber Supplies: Portwood Timber Division of Illingworth Ingham (Manchester) Ltd
☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd
👨💻 Web Design: SITEZO
⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean
🪟 Window Cleaner: R ‘N’ B Window Cleaning
🏋️♀️ Women’s Fitness: Sophie Pavey Fitness
🧘♀️ Yoga: Greenshoots Yoga