“We’ve always thought well of Stockport and your contribution to Wrexham’s misfortune has only added to it”
A chat with Newport fan Ed Bridges ahead of County’s trip to Rodney Parade at the weekend
Good morning County fans, and greetings to anyone else joining us today. I’m nice and early with your Thursday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore, but that’s because today’s heavy lifting has been done by Ed Bridges from the Newport podcast 1912 Exiles, ahead of our trip to south Wales on Saturday. Ed’s been nice about County and mean about Wrexham, so it’s an easy copy and paste job for me, without the need for any editing.
I enjoyed the monthly Baskmaster quiz last night. Flying solo, representing The Scarf My Father Wore, I didn’t finish last, which I’m counting as an achievement. I scored an impressive 8/10 on the general knowledge round, but the evening went pear-shaped when it came to band logos and musical dingbats. I also need to issue a sincere apology to Tom Ogden and Blossoms. I’ll type up a review of the quiz over the next few days. Speaking of Bask, today’s edition is brought to you in association with Stockport’s newest and most popular bar. Thanks once again to Benji and all the team.
Enjoy your Thursday wherever you are in the world. If you haven’t yet subscribed, please do. It’s completely free, and you’ll get a beautifully curated County/football/Stockport newsletter into your inbox each day.
Des Junior
This is your 10th consecutive season in League Two. Prior to that, you had 25 years in non-league after dropping out of the Fourth Division, before then having to reform after going bust. Is it still just nice to be back in the Football League or are supporters frustrated at not progressing further to League One?
After a shaky start to this season, I think many of us will settle for mid-table respectability. In recent years, we’ve tended to finish closer to the top than the bottom, and have had a pair of play-off finals to boot – but we also know that we are a relative minnow and need to live within our means. Consistent Fourth Division football and the odd cup run isn’t a bad life, especially for those old enough to remember the non-league days and enforced exile.
You’re 18th at the moment, four points above the drop zone. Is anyone starting to discuss the dreaded ‘R’ word in south Wales?
We certainly were for a few weeks, at the tail-end of James Rowberry’s tenure. He was an honourable bloke, an ambitious young coach and ‘a proper Newport boy’, but sadly he couldn’t get the players to do what he envisaged, and paid the price after a run of bad results. At that stage, we had to make the right appointment in order to get some points on the board. Most fans felt this is a good group of players who just needed a pragmatic, experienced manager to get the most out of them – enter Graham Coughlan (formerly of Bristol Rovers and Mansfield Town) who has done exactly that. We look much harder to beat, and have got some momentum going after a solid run of games. Mid-table beckons.
What’s your thoughts on us beating Wrexham to the title last season?
Honestly, the intense schadenfreude of watching the collapse of our six-fingered friends from north Wales, and the obvious disappointment of the entire Welsh media, gave some joy and meaning to the end of last season, which petered out for us on the pitch after a promising spell. We’ve always thought well of Stockport (proper club, good fans, a tidy ground), and your contribution to Wrexham’s misfortune has only added to it.
What’s your rivalry like with Cardiff and Swansea?
Whisper it, somewhat non-existent these days. Half our players currently are ex-Cardiff, and we’ve had some cracking loanees from Swansea in recent years (most recently Ollie Cooper, who will surely play for Wales before long). Some of our older fans consider them rivals, but that feeling only really flows one way. We don’t really have a proper rival these days – that may be the solitary argument for Wrexham making it back into the league; it may not be local, but there’s definite dislike between the fans, and a guaranteed Welsh media spotlight when the two meet.
You lost at Leicester in the League Cup this week, but you were unbeaten in Graham Coughlan’s first four games in charge. Are we coming down to Rodney Parade at the wrong time?
Yes indeed. Since he took over, we’ve beaten Colchester twice (once in the league, once in the FA Cup), we’ve got away points at Mansfield and Northampton (neither happy hunting grounds for us in recent years) and gave Leicester a good game in the League Cup for 45 minutes before losing 3-0. Along the way, we’ve kept three clean sheets, having looked defensively very porous under Rowberry, and the mood around Rodney Parade is good. A month ago, Stockport would have spanked us – now, the boot might be on the other foot, especially with Stockport not starting the season as well as many of us predicted.
In recent years, the club has been run by a multimillionaire lottery winner, and your supporters’ trust. What’s the contrast like between the two in reality?
For most of us, there’s a strong preference for the fan ownership model. Unlike many clubs at this level, Newport turned a profit even during the Covid era because we live within our means and don’t take unnecessary financial risks. It’s not glamorous, but we know better than anyone that shysters, celebrities and chancers can leave you homeless and bankrupt. We elect our board, and whilst they may not be perfect, they have a vested interest in the long-term survival of our club and give up a lot of their time and expertise for nothing. Give me that any day rather than Wrexham’s famous owners and the starfuckers who hang off their every word – it might look nice now, but at some point, the money runs out.
Favourite Newport XI from players you have seen?
Tough one, and I’m very definitely going with ‘favourite’ rather than ‘best’!
Roger Freestone, Dan Butler, Mickey Demetriou, Ismail Yakubu, David Pipe, Will Evans, Josh Sheehan, Joss Labadie, Jason Bowen, Christian Jolley, Padraig Amond.
Tell us something about Newport the city we might not know.
If you’ve got an hour to kill before the game, you could do worse than visit the Newport Transporter Bridge, one of only six operational transporter bridges left worldwide. For any nature lovers, there’s also a very pleasant RSPB reserve just down the road.
Prediction for the game on Saturday?
I think that County (N) will beat County (S), but only by a single goal. 1-0, with podcast favourite Will Evans to get the goal.
Book a table at Bask for England’s World Cup games
Whether it’s tucking into a tasty treat from Ate Days A Week alongside a Stockport Gin before the game, or dancing to the tunes of DJ Gareth Brooks after it, many County fans have already enjoyed the splendid matchday experience created by the team at Bask. And now you can do the same for England’s World Cup games as well (plus all the other belters like Tunisia v Australia if you fancy it). Table reservations are now being made, which is certainly well worth doing, to follow all the action from Qatar on Bask’s brand new 75” screens. Email hello@thisisbask.co.uk to book.
Bunch of fives
5️⃣ sandwiches in Sainsbury’s at Stockport station from their new Christmas range
Turkey Feast
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
Brie and Cranberry
Pigs Under Blankets
Boxing Day Veggie Curry Wrap
County’s last 5️⃣ trips to Wales
Wrexham 3 County 0 (2021-22, National League)
Wrexham 2 County 0 (2021-22, FA Trophy semi final)
Wrexham 0 County 3 (2020-21, National League)
Wrexham 1 County 2 (2019-20, National League)
Wrexham 6 County 1 (2014-15, FA Trophy second round replay)
5️⃣ questions from last night’s quiz at Bask
What’s the longest motorway in the UK?
What does the F stand for in FBI?
What do you call a baby giraffe?
Which Swedish band had a 1993 hit with ‘The Sign’?
Which fruit appears on the top of the men’s singles trophy at Wimbledon?
You can Google the answers if you’re stuck!
Newport’s first 5️⃣ games under new manager Graham Coughlan
Colchester (H) Won 1-0
Mansfield (A) Drew 0-0
Northampton (A) Drew 1-1
Colchester (H) Won 2-0 (FA Cup)
Leicester (A) Lost 0-3 (League Cup)
Today in SK
🤰If you’re a mum-to-be, about to have your first grandchild or even the cat’s mother in need of a witty romp through the trials and tribulations of parental life, then Stockport Plaza is the place for you tonight. There’s still a few tickets remaining for the uplifting, honest, heart-warming show Mum’s the Word, that will have you both roaring with laughter and reaching for the tissues. Starts at 7.30pm. Click here for tickets.
👩🎨 Are you a local creative, artist, musician, vendor or a freelancer looking to connect or network within the Stockport area? Head down to Bask for an evening of discussions and connections with fellow local creative, businesses and music communities. There’s also live music and free pizza! Click here to book your free tickets.
🎞 The Savoy Cinema in Heaton Moor have their popular Pizza Club tonight. Enjoy the new release The Banshees of Inisherin, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, with a delicious pizza delivered to your seat! The film starts at 8.30pm. Click here to book your seats.