“Wembley was an absolutely fantastic light in the darkness of this season”

Making his debut on The Scarf My Father Wore, Peterborough fan Charlie McLellan discusses Sam Hughes, Darragh MacAnthony and, of course, Sunday’s Wembley win

Apr 17, 2025

Thursday 17 April 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Huddersfield Town – Monday 21 April, 3pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Peterborough United – Tomorrow, 3pm

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Peterborough 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.

Our Peterborough build-up kicks off today with Charlie McLellan from Up The Poshcast.

Today’s edition is sponsored by CFN School of Motoring. A big thank you to Craig.

Thanks also to TH Private Hire who sponsor our Peterborough United 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: 253.75 miles

Total steps so far: 418,084

Total raised so far: £2,302

Total completed streets so far: 474 (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

Photo credit: Peterborough United FC

How was Wembley?

Wembley was an absolutely fantastic light in the darkness of this season. We went there as clear underdogs, written off by everyone it seemed, and yet performed to an insanely high standard. We were undoubtedly the better side on the day, and thoroughly deserved to win.

Where did this season go wrong?

We just didn’t get our recruitment right (which is actually a rarity for us) and it’s come back to hurt us. We lost some really key players last summer, and just haven’t signed apt replacements. Inexperience in defensive areas particularly has cost us dearly. Hopefully this season will be a warning to our recruitment team, and we’ll come out of it stronger.

You took Sam Hughes on loan from us in January. Clean sheet on his debut, conceded five at Lincoln the following weekend. How’s he been getting on since then?

Sam Hughes has been a revelation. A lot of Posh fans dread to think where we’d be without him. Hughes has actually captained us on several occasions, showing superb leadership qualities and a great ability to organise from the back. He’s no nonsense, and that’s exactly what we needed after the pre-Christmas circus of defending from us. I think there will be a serious clamour in the summer for him to join on a permanent basis ahead of next season.

Best pub for County fans to visit on Good Friday?

There are actually loads of really nice pubs in Peterborough. I’d personally recommend Charters Bar. The forecast for Friday looks nice, and so the lovely big beer garden right on the river will be a great place to have some pre-match bevs. It’s a mix between home and away fans, and (usually) has a very jolly atmosphere.

Photo credit: Charters Bar

Best shop for County fans to get an Easter egg on Good Friday?

I’d go for one in the city centre. I’m not a huge chocolate man, but I have been known to nip into WHSmith for some Tangfastics from time to time.

Is Peterborough really as depressing as everyone thinks it is? One of my friends said: “Great cathedral, crap city.”

I don’t live in the city so can’t comment fully, however, I think it’s a lot nicer than people give it credit for. The cathedral is absolutely stunning, and there are lots of places to shop and get food. It’s decent.

Is Barry Fry still running up and down the pitch?

No, he’s way too old for that nowadays. He’s still as passionate and infectious as ever though!

Be honest, did your opening goal at Wembley in 1992 cross the line?

I’m too young to remember that. However, given that it was a contentious decision that went in our favour, I’m going to say yes!

Best and worst memories as a Peterborough fan?

As a younger fan, my best memories include winning automatic promotion in the Covid season, lifting the EFL Trophy twice in the last two years, thrashing Cambridge at home twice in a row, and the first leg of the 2022-23 play-off semi-final in which we beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-0.

For the worst, relegation from the Championship, and two play-off heartbreaks – most notably in that second leg against Sheffield Wednesday.

What’s your thoughts on Stockport County – A) the club B) the manager C) the fans?

A great club that’s been through tough times and thoroughly deserving the good times you’re experiencing now. A much better fairytale story than the other one that gets most of the attention at the moment.

Dave Challinor’s great. He knows the Football League so well and really suits the ethos of County it seems. He’ll be a manager with great longevity at Edgeley Park, and I assume his legacy will live on forever.

A strong fanbase that has really stuck together through thick and thin. I’m not going to lie, I was expecting a better atmosphere when I visited Edgeley Park on a freezing Friday in December, but a great following overall.

Give us a brief history of your podcast.

We started at the beginning of this season and have grown in ways that we never expected. It’s been a fantastic year for us, gaining a strong and consistent listenership, having the club chairman on for a live interview, and sending representatives on loads of opposition podcasts too. It’s been a blast!

How do Posh fans feel about Darragh MacAnthony?

He’s unpopular with some elements of the fanbase, but generally speaking he’s liked and appreciated for the things he’s done and continues to do for the club. Darragh is vastly experienced and knowledgeable, and has a great knack for spotting new talent and selling them on for a lot of money. He’s charismatic and communicates with the fans, something we probably take for granted sometimes. Overall, I like him, and I’d say I’m in the majority with that viewpoint.

What’s your prediction for Friday?

We were absolutely unbelievable at Wembley, and there will be a feelgood factor at London Road on Friday as a result. I’m going for 3-1 Posh. We’ll score, you’ll equalise, but then in the second half we’ll blow you away with our speed up front.

And finally, how many 5-year-olds could you take on in a cagefight? (They’re all coordinated.)

I’d like to preface this by saying I would never fight a 5-year-old. However, I think it depends on what you mean by coordinated. If you just mean they can all stand and know vaguely what they’re doing, then I think I could take around 10-15 of them. If they are strategically placed, however, and can go to try and tie limbs up early, then I think that number plummets to six or seven.

➡️ Check out Up The Poshcast for loads more stuff on Peterborough, including their latest episode which previews tomorrow’s game at London Road.

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Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

County fans were full of Christmas cheer the last time we played Peterborough – our final game before the festive season. Dave Challinor’s men won 2-1.