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Post by des on Dec 12, 2023 8:08:44 GMT
So far in December, we’ve only brought you one instalment of our new ‘Meet the Subscribers’ series so I thought we’d have another of those today, before turning our attention to the Aldershot replay tomorrow. Matthew Ashmore went to his first County game in 1966 and has some brilliant memories to share with us. If you’d like to be featured in a future edition, drop me a message. thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/the-county-fan-born-dangerously-near
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Post by des on Dec 13, 2023 9:19:50 GMT
Aldershot fan Oliver Brookland thinks we’re heading for extra time tonight. Andrew Barlow, Paul Thompson, Ian Brown and Jon Keighren all think we’ll be safely through to round three. Me? I’m starting to have a bad feeling about this evening. When you’re five games without a win, with the injuries piling up, an FA Cup replay against a non-league team live on the telly feels very bloody bananaskinnerry. It’s got Bolton at Edgeley Park vibes, but we’re the Bolton. I truly hope I’m proved wrong and we get the job done at the second attempt, as I quite fancy a bit of The Hawthorns now. thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/county-v-aldershot
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Post by des on Dec 14, 2023 7:22:42 GMT
Tomorrow. The Aldershot report can wait until tomorrow. Let’s try and look forward to the weekend instead. Dan from the brilliant Gandermonium joins us today ahead of Saturday’s top v bottom clash at Edgeley Park. Although if we lose this one as well, Christmas might be cancelled in Stockport before Santa’s even put his thermals on. thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/were-we-surprised-to-win-promotion
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Post by des on Dec 15, 2023 7:10:56 GMT
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Post by des on Dec 16, 2023 10:02:57 GMT
thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/county-v-sutton Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and any Sutton supporters joining us today, a very warm welcome to today’s edition of The Scarf My Father Wore, ahead of our final Saturday game of 2023. Whatever happens over the next week, Stockport County are guaranteed to be in the League Two automatic promotion places on Christmas Day. Even if Stockport County lose to Sutton and Notts County, they’d probably still be top of League Two on Christmas Day. Stockport County are currently 28 points clear of the relegation zone. Stockport County have lost 1 of their last 16 games in League Two, picking up 39 points from a possible 48. A little bit of perspective ahead of this afternoon’s game at Edgeley Park, which is going to be a tense affair if we don’t get an early goal to settle the nerves. It’s a huge game, don’t get me wrong, and in the context of a title race, it does feel like a must-win, especially with festive fixtures against 3rd, 4th and 6th coming up. At the same time, however, let’s not lose sight of the fact that December’s been pretty miserable in recent years with FA Trophy exits at Stalybridge and Southport, and home defeats to Hyde and Harrogate on Boxing Day. As I’ve stated above, even if Sutton smashed seven past us and Notts notched up nine, we’d still be in the top three as you’re tucking into your turkey (or vegetarian/vegan alternative) on Christmas Day. We’d even have a positive goal difference. My point is that we’re in a rather good position these days, both on and off the pitch. With investment comes expectation and even entitlement, but let’s not forget where we’ve come from, and also what’s made our fanbase extremely special over the years. We’re having a little bit of a wobble at the moment, but we’ve been absolutely decimated with injuries, and I feel some County fans have certainly started making mountains out of molehills. (Although in this social media age, every club has that I suppose.) This blip isn’t even that serious when you really think about it. Granted, losing to a non-league team in the FA Cup is never nice, although we know from experience how tough the top of the National League is these days. But apart from that, nobody was arsed about Wigan. Morecambe doesn’t count in that weather. We battered Salford. And in terms of this blip, we’ve actually only lost ONE league game, at Newport. Without wishing to exude my clearly superior footballing knowledge and say “I told you so”, I thought we’d slip up on Wednesday but I’m adamant we’ll win today. It’s not as straightforward as you might envisage, however, from a top versus bottom clash. They’re unbeaten in five league games, and our midfield this afternoon might still consist of Kenny Boxshall, Steve Bellis and Vernon Bear, but Sutton have had their own injury problems and I don’t think they’ll fancy it one bit today. The atmosphere will be miles better than Wednesday night, but as Dave Challinor said afterwards, we’ve got to get right behind our battered and bruised team this afternoon, be patient for the opening goal, and I’m sure we’ll get back to winning ways. I might even buy every subscriber a pint. I’ve had a tenner on County to win 2-1 with Vernon Bear to score first.
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Post by des on Dec 17, 2023 13:01:30 GMT
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Post by des on Dec 18, 2023 7:41:48 GMT
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Post by des on Dec 19, 2023 16:17:23 GMT
thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/winner-stays-on Even though County slipped on a non-league banana skin just six days ago, I absolutely adore the FA Cup. It’s still a magical competition in my eyes. In fact, I’m currently writing a big feature on County’s trip to Goodison Park in January 1996, which I’m really looking forward to sharing with you next week as my little Christmas gift to readers! (I’ve actually just got off the phone with someone who played at Everton that day…) Last season, on Saturday 26 November 2022, County travelled to Charlton Athletic in the competition. For us, it was chapter two of that campaign’s FA Cup adventure. A last-gasp Myles Hippolyte equaliser forced a replay, which we won, but our road to Wembley ended in chapter three with Walsall winning at Edgeley Park. The day after County’s game at The Valley, RM Clark was at the Pirelli Stadium watching Burton Albion take on Chippenham Town. That was also a second round proper fixture, but for RM Clark, this was already chapter eight of his personal FA Cup odyssey, having followed the competition all the way from the extra preliminary round back in August. As with the previous rounds, the author continued to follow whichever team progressed, ending up at Wembley in June to see Manchester Citeh lift the trophy after beating United 2-1. Fourteen rounds in total, producing fourteen chapters of an excellent new book capturing the heart and soul of the competition from the first kick to the last. With original research and rich, thought-provoking prose, the book blends elements of travel writing with football culture and barstool sociology. It's also funny.
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Post by des on Dec 20, 2023 9:37:39 GMT
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Post by des on Dec 21, 2023 14:20:09 GMT
thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/des-juniors-great-big-review-of-2023-056 Congratulations to Nick and Geordie Hatter, the winning team in last night’s The Scarf Bergara Wore quiz at Stockport Gin. Commiserations to Russ and Waggy, who were in front late on, but were pipped at the post in a bizarre final round involving distorted images of County players from FIFA 23. You don’t get that on University Challenge. Big thanks to Paul for hosting, and Ben for compiling a belting quiz. I’ll have a write-up with you over the next few days. Today, it’s part two of my review of 2023. County only tasted victory once in January, but there’s much more of that winning feeling in February, as the push for promotion intensifies.
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Post by des on Dec 22, 2023 7:25:03 GMT
thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/county-v-notts-county Today’s edition is jam-packed. I’ve published two articles on the same day before, but I don’t think I’ve ever included THREE! It’s the perfect time of year for gorging on those things you enjoy though, isn’t it? Today’s Christmas cracker of goodies includes the thoughts of Ian Brown, Jon Keighren, Andrew Barlow and Jonathan Baker ahead of tonight’s game, an interview with Tom Wagstaff from Notts County Talk, and part three of my Great Big Review of 2023, which takes us back to March – a month when County completely forgot how to win at home. Fingers crossed that isn’t the case this evening.
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Post by des on Dec 23, 2023 14:30:11 GMT
I’m afraid our stuff on Friday night’s game won’t be with you until tomorrow. Notts County have had my laptop for the last 45 minutes and they won’t give it back. (They were bloody good, weren’t they? But from our point of view, that’s the sort of victory that wins the championship.) Leyton Orient were the League Two champions last season and we’re heading down there today as my Great Big Review of 2023 takes us into April. County were unbeaten throughout the month, taking the automatic promotion race to the final day. thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/des-juniors-great-big-review-of-2023-8ce
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Post by des on Dec 24, 2023 7:10:28 GMT
Today’s reading material is our match report from a rather strange game at Edgeley Park on Friday, which saw (Stockport) County win 2-1 to maintain their six-point lead at the top of League Two, although the visitors produced an extremely impressive display on the night. Dave Philbin and Adopted Magpie93 reflect on the final game of 2023 in SK3. I’m sure most of our readers are running around like headless chickens today, sorting out the last few bits and bobs for tomorrow, but I’ve included an extra article myself, for when you’re finally relaxing on the sofa later on. It’s part five of my Great Big Review of 2023 as the season ends in heartbreak at Wembley, but mixed with a huge amount of pride as well after reaching the play-off final in only our first season back in the Football League. thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/county-2-notts-county-1
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Post by des on Dec 25, 2023 8:05:50 GMT
Good morning County fans, and may I begin by wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas! Season’s greetings to all of our other readers as well. We’ve got subscribers from Adswood to Australia; wherever you are in the world I hope you have a wonderful day. My Christmas build-up kicked off with a brilliant night at Stockport Gin last Wednesday as The Scarf Bergara Wore hosted their second festive quiz. A write-up from the evening is included today, along with a few pics, and some questions for you to have a go at. thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/merry-quizmas-everybody
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Post by des on Dec 26, 2023 8:17:29 GMT
2023 has been another phenomenal year in the continued resurrection of this football club, with a play-off final at Wembley in May, and Dave Challinor’s team well on course for promotion this season, and maybe even a first Football League championship since 1967. I’ve become a bit of a photo geek this year, so today I thought I’d scroll through my phone and share some of my favourite images from the last 12 months. Plus, Barrow build-up with Ian Brown, and a look back at July, as County head off to Spain. thescarfmyfatherwore.substack.com/p/2023-in-53-photos
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