We’re all going on a League One tour, but what have Newport made of 23-24…

Next stop Newport, where County’s 12-game winning run came to an end and Man United had an almighty scare in the cup

May 05, 2024

Sunday 5 May 2024

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

We’re off to South Wales for the next instalment of our 2023-24 review. Our Rodney Parade rundown is covered by Ed Bridges, from the Newport podcast 1912 Exiles.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean. A big thank you to Shlean. If you’re looking to lose a few pounds, give Shlean a call on 07725 088549 or email shlean@sky.com. She runs a group in Bredbury every Monday, and Reddish every Tuesday.

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: 136.36 miles

Total steps so far: 217,174

Total raised so far: £1,666

Total completed streets so far: 271 (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

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we’re all going on a League One tour! Are you going to give us a friendly wave off at the airport, or are you glad to see the back of us?

I’m genuinely pleased for you. Stockport were one of the best sides we played in 2022-23 and I was amazed you didn’t go up then. In 2023-24, even though we beat you at Rodney Parade (more of which later…) you’ve clearly been a cut above the rest and deserve your title. I’m sure you’ll hit the ground running in the Third Division, so it may be a while before we meet again.

Gareth Southgate needs a last minute replacement for his Euro 2024 squad. Which Newport player deserves the nod based on their performances this season?

Not sure anyone this side of the border will really care how Ing-er-lund do. Qualifying for international tournaments is massively overrated in our opinion.

With World War 3 getting closer with each passing day, the government have asked me to pass on the following questions:

A) Who’s been your toughest player in 2023-24, most suitable to stick on the frontline?

B) What’s the best food you’ve had at a ground in 2023-24, that we can use for the troops in the trenches to keep morale up?

C) If World War 3 does kick off, how will Newport fans react in a crisis?

A) Ryan Delaney could tackle a fridge and still come off unscathed, so probably him. Absolutely critical that we get him signed up for another season.

B) It wasn’t actually in our league – but the good news for Stockport fans is that it’s a ground you’ll visit next season! At Bristol Rovers in their fanzone, I had curry goat with rice and peas, which is not only the best thing I’ve ever eaten at a football ground but is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten anywhere. And washed down with a local craft IPA.

C) We’d be split between the dour pragmatists who will say “we’re doing well to dodge the bullets and live off foraged human remains amidst difficult circumstances” and wild-eyed utopians who call our centre-half a fanny for not slide-tackling a nuclear bomb.

Best moment of 2023-24?

The ten minutes of being 2-2 against Man United and them genuinely thinking they were about to f*ck it up at Fourth Division Newport Bloody County was thrilling, and just finishes ahead of beating the six-fingered Hollywood lovers from North East Wales at our place.

Worst moment of 2023-24?

All eight of the final games, which we lost, having run our race. A hangover at the start of next season could well see things unravel.

Funniest moment of 2023-24?

A bonkers 5-3 win against Morecambe on a Tuesday night in early spring when goals were flying in everywhere. It was silly and joyous, and gave us brief hope that the play-offs might have been possible.

Four Four Two said you’d finish 21st. When Saturday Comes said you’d finish 20th. You finished 18th. Discuss.

If you’d offered me 18th and a cup run back in August, I’d have had you sectioned. In the event, many of us were disappointed by the way the season tailed off so steeply – but we more than surpassed expectations, and it’s been a lovely ride. With the club under a more stable ownership, and some key players under contract for another year, we may even glimpse a top-half finish next season if we sign well over the summer.

Palpable relief at Edgeley Park in March as Paddy smashed home a 93rd minute winner, County’s first goal in over seven hours (Photo courtesy of Mike Petch)

Newport 2 County 1 in November. County 1 Newport 0 in March. Thoughts?

Genuinely, beating you in November was one of my favourite days of the season. Partly because it was so unexpected when you’d won 12 games straight – but mostly because it was the moment we knew we’d stay up. There would be bumps in the road, but it was clear that day that we had enough quality and self-belief even against clearly the best side in the Fourth Division. We also nearly sh*thoused a point and a clean sheet at Edgeley Park, but we’d be lying if we said you didn’t deserve all three points from that game.

Best and worst away days of 2023-24?

Winning 2-0 at Wimbledon in March was fab. All our favourite people were there, we picked a cracking pre-match pub near Vauxhall (which has since been name-checked in a Taylor Swift song, apparently, so we went there before it was cool), the team delivered on the pitch and we were in the play-off hunt at that stage. The insipid loss against an insipid Grimsby side a month later underlined our frailties.

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Lose weight and manage your diabetes with Slimming World

Slimming World have helped thousands of members lose weight and manage their diabetes. Now, they’re partnering with Diabetes UK to make that support even stronger.

“We’ve always directed our members living with diabetes to Diabetes UK for support outside of weight management, so we’re delighted to be working more closely with them,” said Lisa Salmon, Slimming World’s managing director.

“We’ll be collaborating on resources, producing co-branded recipes, increasing our knowledge, and sharing our expertise.”

Through this partnership, Slimming World aim to further deepen their understanding of the challenges and misconceptions people living with diabetes face. They’re committed to supporting their members with the latest and most effective information in diabetes care, and to reaching even more people living with diabetes or at risk of type 2 diabetes with inspiration and advice.

How Slimming World supports members with diabetes

Type 1 diabetes: Taking insulin or other medication doesn’t need to be a barrier to losing weight. Many Slimming World members with type 1 diabetes lose weight and steadily become fitter and healthier.

Type 2 diabetes: Slimming World have advice on managing blood glucose levels, including a five-day low-carbohydrate eating plan.

Pre-diabetes: If you’ve been told that you’re at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, making positive and lasting lifestyle changes can help you avoid or delay a diagnosis in the future.Slimming World’s latest evaluation found that more than half of members with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes surveyed, who had lost at least 10% of their body weight, said they had put the condition into remission. (The study polled 268 Slimming World members with diabetes in May 2020 and was published in the Archives of Diabetes & Obesity in 2021.)

Dreen, a member of Shlean's group at Houldsworth Working Men’s Club in Reddish, has reversed her type 2 diabetes losing 1st 2lbs.

Shlean runs groups on Mondays at Bredbury St Marks Cricket Club and Tuesdays at Houldsworth Working Men’s Club in Reddish.

For more information give Shlean a call on 07725 088549 or email shlean@sky.com.

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Photo of the day

A blast from the past. We’ll be taking on the Brummies once again next season, after they were relegated to League One yesterday. The last time they were in the third tier was 1994-95, when they finished as champions.

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Steve Bellis’s Trophy Tour takes in The Petersgate Tap today!

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Seize Them! (15) at 6.30pm. Click here for tickets.

There’s also a screening of Carmen from The Royal Opera at 2pm.

🍺 Food and drink

The Petersgate Tap (SK1) is a great place for a pint on a Sunday, open from 12pm till 9pm. And if you’re in there between 1pm and 1.45pm today, you’ll be able to get your hands on the League Two trophy!

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100 random grounds that County have played at

#9 – York Street, Boston

Last visit: Our final ever game at York Street was back in March 2019, on our way to winning the National League North title. Second half goals from Darren Stephenson, Elliot Osborne and Frank Mulhern secured a 3-1 win. The Pilgrims are now playing at their new home of the Jakemans Community Stadium, which will be hosting National League football next season after they won the North play-off final against Brackley yesterday.

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