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

A catch-up with Rich Pullen from The Loathed Strangers Podcast, following a worrying season in Wiltshire

May 06, 2024

Monday 6 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 Monday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore. Hope you’ve all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend!

Rich Pullen, host of The Loathed Strangers Podcast, joins us today for a look back at Swindon’s campaign.

Today’s edition is sponsored by BGM Decorators. A big thank you to Ben. If you’re thinking of having any decorating work done over the coming weeks or months, please see below for further details.

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: £1,686

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

Will Collar scores County’s first at Swindon in November (Photo courtesy of Mike Petch)

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?

A friendly, polite wave off akin to when you’ve got to give your parents a lift to the airport. Safe travels and have a great time but I’ve got to get home and deal with my own stuff.

Congratulations on a much-deserved promotion though!

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

You’ve not watched Swindon Town much this season, have you? Swindon’s 2023-24 Player of the Season was Dan Kemp… a player who was recalled by MK Dons on New Year’s Day!

Udoka Godwin-Malife can go with Gareth Southgate for being our best player over the whole season and Paul Glatzel can get a phone call from Julian Nagelsmann for Die Mannschaft.

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 Swindon fans react in a crisis?

A) We don’t really have a tough guy and this fact saddens me greatly. Saidou Khan loves a booking so off he goes to the frontline, purely by default.

B) Swindon Town went viral this season with its oversized and reasonably priced sausage roll. I’d say that you’d be the envy of the battalion with that as it’s at least one week’s worth of rationing.

C) Ignore the very obvious blunders made by the leaders who are responsible for the impending doom by choosing to blame each other instead.

Best moment of 2023-24?

There were a handful of genuinely entertaining games throughout August and September but, sadly, it didn’t compare to the joy and relief at full-time after the final game of the season against Morecambe. The season was over – FREEDOM!

Worst moment of 2023-24?

Swindon Town 4 Aldershot Town 7 (SEVEN). Particularly the 58th minute when Jack Barham completed his hat-trick to make it 7-0. It was so close to being 8-0 before the late, and undeserved, rally too.

Funniest moment of 2023-24?

The glorious chaos of a fans’ forum that was held in January. Whether pro or anti-ownership, there were no winners that evening. It was like Prime Minister’s Questions without the etiquette. Hilarious, frustrating and embarrassing.

Four Four Two said you’d finish 10th. When Saturday Comes said you’d finish 9th. You finished 19th. Discuss.

I don’t think these were daft predictions, really. If you don’t know either way then mid-table is an inoffensive punt.

Swindon had a horrible campaign and thoroughly deserved to finish 19th but, in my opinion, it wasn’t a strong division in 23-24 and Doncaster proved that a change of form could see a dramatic rise.

I’ll be very interested to see what Four Four Two and WSC predict for 24-25, because right now, it will have to be lower than 10th.

Swindon 2 County 4 in November. County 0 Swindon 0 in February. Thoughts?

Based purely on entertainment, the game at the County Ground was one of the best games of the season. It was a textbook example of Swindon running out of puff and ideas after an hour. That happened A LOT across the campaign, but we gave County a real go and it was a fun watch regardless of the final score.

The 0-0 was used by the interim manager as an example of how he was turning things around despite that being the final match of a five-game winless streak. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that County should have won comfortably, and our goalkeeper Jack Bycroft had a great game.

Best and worst away days of 2023-24?

The best was an unlikely win at Barrow (I bet they’re really regretting that loss) and the worst was the 4-0 at Wimbledon where we offered absolutely nothing for 90 minutes… and I mean nothing.

In the spirit in which I'm sure the question was asked, I had a lovely brunch at Newport.

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Today’s sponsor: BGM Decorators

Don’t be like this random stranger Des Junior found on the internet. He thought he could decorate his living room himself. But now look at him, sat forlorn on his floor covered in a tin of Dulux. His wife’s left him, and his evenings are now occupied by microwave meals and old repeats of The Sweeney. You know what he should have done, don’t you? He should have called BGM Decorators.

BGM Decorators is a family business that has been in the trade since 1988. They’ve been built on hard work, honesty, and a high quality service that has consistently enhanced their reputation. They provide a painting and decorating service on a domestic and commercial basis across Stockport, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, as well as offering tenant turnover services and working alongside estate agencies and private landlords.

Give Ben a call on 07816 589989 or email bgm.decorators@yahoo.co.uk.

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Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing him in that number 9 shirt again, but he’ll be always be our Starman. Thanks for the memories, Paddy.

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Today in SK

🎶 Free jukebox

The Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.

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100 random grounds that County have played at

#10 – Roker Park, Sunderland

Last visit: Roker Park was Sunderland’s home for 99 years, but County only ever played there once, in the second round of the League Cup in 1980-81. What a night that was. After a 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park in the first leg, County caused a huge upset in the North East against their First Division opponents. Jimmy McGuigan’s men even came from behind on the night, equalising through Dave Sunley, before Tommy Sword scored the winner from the penalty spot.

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