Saturday, 15^th August 2026.

Matchday: Plymouth Argyle v Stockport County, League 1.

The trip to pastie country was the first Fingerpost Flyer with our new coach provider, Elite Services. An excellent modern vehicle, lots of legroom and, important in this weather, working AC. Our drivers, Simon and Laurent, were friendly and efficient and, as a bonus, there was enough room for me to have a pair of seats to myself. If you look closely at the centre of Ian Brown’s photo, you’ll see that we were joined by County royalty in the shape of Mr. and Mrs. Freddie Goodwin. Freddie was a prominent member of County’s 1966-67 Fourth Division Championship team, playing 205 games and scoring 21 goals over two spells at Edgeley Park.

We rolled into Plymouth around noon, which is where it went a bit shit-shaped. It seems we couldn’t park next to the ground or we’d be stuck there for an hour after the game, so we had a right trek to the away turnstiles. Not the end of the world for most, but those of us with reduced mobility it was a right slog. I’m afraid Home Park has joined Charlton and Lincoln on the “too far for JKB” list. We were told by the stewards that the turnstiles would open at “half past one or one thirty,” presumably whichever was earliest. It was a long wait in the broiling sun with nowhere to sit, but in fairness they did eventually hand out bottles of water. Once in, we were told we could sit anywhere, my favourite arrangement. I took a seat on the front row, not a brilliant view but at least I wouldn’t have anyone stood in the way.

I’d predicted an unchanged team but Jim McN had promoted Ben Osborn to the starting XI at the expense of Tayo Edun, who dropped to the bench. The big surprises were around omissions rather than inclusions; no Mothersille or Moxon, it appears they were fit but didn’t travel, and no ‘keeper on the bench. You have to wonder about the future for a club’s record signing who can’t even make the matchday squad, I doubt we’ve heard the last of this.

One of the Plymouth podcasts had written a Kyle Wootton appreciation piece in the run-up to the game, this neanderthal wasn’t impressed:

Given the distance involved and the time of year, County fans had travelled in impressive numbers and were noisy throughout. The layout of Home Park helps in this respect, the teams emerge in the corner next to the away seating and all the team, including Jim McNulty, made a point of acknowledging the fans whenever they passed.

County were on top as soon as the game got underway, Plymouth obviously knew that we tend to build from the back and set out to press us but they weren’t quick enough to make any impact. Jack Diamond was on fire down the right wing, the home defence had no answer to him and he put us ahead after thirteen minutes, his goal-bound shot deflecting into the net off a hapless defender. The second, thirteen minutes later, came from another Diamond run and cross, this time Harry Wood thought he’d put the ball home but it actually bounced off the ‘keeper and went in off Kyle Wootton. Will Evans, Plymouth’s recent recruit from Mansfield, should have pulled one back after thirty-four minutes but his header was way off target.

Any hopes Plymouth may have harboured of a comeback were quashed after four minutes of the second half when Ryan Glover collected the ball on the right, ran along the eighteen-yard line and despatched a left-foot shot past the despairing Cooper in the Argyle goal. A rash of substitutions ensued, and the home team got a goal back after seventy-nine minutes but even then the result was never in doubt.

Knowing I had the long walk back to the coach and the three points were in the bag, I set off on ninety minutes. My spirits were raised by the sight of coaches waiting right outside the exit gates but they plunged again when I realised that none of them were the Flyer. It was, at least, where we were told it would be and I was among the first back.

Return journeys always feel quicker with three points, and after a brief stop at the services, we were back in Stockport just before eleven o’clock. Janice was waiting, we dropped Peter and Luke Tindall off in Mersey Square and I was filling my face with a splendid saag aloo just before midnight.

Executive summary: nineteen hours door-to-door but worth every minute.

I’ll give the last word to this chap who might be better employed looking at his own team’s shortcomings:

Today’s tune is by The Pretenders, who have obviously sussed out my technique for passing long coach journeys: “I Go To Sleep”:

Sunday, 16th August 2026.

Matchday: Stockport County Women v Chester-le-Street Town, Division 1 North, FAWNL.

This was a big day for County Women, their first league game under the new name, new management and at the new ground. New signings continued right up to the day of the match, here’s how they lined up:

County’s first came in the twenty-third minute from Ellie Fletcher. They doubled their lead just before half time with a second by Meg Boydell.

The home team’s dominance continued after the break with two more from Fletcher, to complete her hat trick, one from Em Bradshaw and an OG. Unsurprisingly, Em Fletcher was voted Player Of The Match by Steve Bellis.

The next game for the Women is Bradford City away on Sunday.

County’s highlights of Saturday’s win are out now. No need to watch these from behind the sofa!

The TSBW Match Review pod was back live at its now standard time of eight o’clock. This week’s panel was Dan Culverwell, Steve Bardsley, Lee Rowley and Russ Johnson. There was an understandably celebratory air about proceedings, which went like this:

• Northern hordes: Russ reported that the city was alive with County fans on the Friday.
• The team: As per Doncaster (H) apart from swapping Osborn for Edun. There was a slight change in formation, though; Osborn was on the left and Glover on the right rather than in their inverted positions.
• Notable absentees: Mothersille and Moxon were apparently fit but didn’t travel; could they be on their way out, or was the no point dragging them all the way to Plymouth if they weren’t going to play? Selling Mothersille in this window would mean a massive financial loss, but is there any point keeping him if he isn’t going to play?
• Performance: Dan suggested it was the best ninety minutes we’ve seen for a long time, probably even eclipsing the first half against Bradford (H) last season for quality.
• Tempo: County were into their stride from the first whistle; despite the influx of new players, everyone seems to know their position and be aware of where their teammates will be. The workrate was excellent and there was a palpable determination to win the ball back whenever it was lost.
• Jack Diamond: One of his best games for us. Few would have shed a tear if he’d signed for Luton last season but if he can keep this level of performance up he could be a key player for us.
• Lewis Bate: He seems back to his pre-injury best. We’ve yet to see how a Bate-Norwood midfield would cope in adversity but for the time being it’s looking good.
• Lewis Fiorini: Put in another good shift after replacing Norwood for the last fifteen minutes.
• Ollie Whatmuff: He was brilliant again, not just for his age, just brilliant. He exudes confidence, bosses players around who are ten years his senior, can use both feet, doesn’t fold under pressure. Magnificent. We’ll probably need to get promoted to keep him for another season.
• Jimmy McNulty: Like a Jack-in-the-box on the touchline, so much so that he got the game’s first yellow card when the referee took exception to his comments. Made a point of acknowledging the fans without resorting to fistpumps.
• Ref watch: We’re obviously still in the “letting minor fouls go” stage of the season, who knows how long it will last?
• Man Of The Match: A live poll on the pod was 90% in favour of Jack Diamond.

As ever, a highly recommended show, watch it in full here:

Today’s tune is Oysterband’s “Diamond For A Dime.” That might have been a fair price at times last season but it’ll be rising rapidly after his performance yesterday:

Monday, 17^th August 2026.

News came through today that County have signed Ethan Ennis from United on a three-year deal. The idea of him coming on loan has been around for a while but a permanent deal (if anything *is* permanent in modern football) was a surprise. He can play as a winger or wingback on either side of the pitch and he has an eye for a goal. United obviously think he has something about him because they have a sell-on clause, buy-back clause and first refusal should County part with him in future. He was at Fleetwood on loan last season and did very well by all accounts:

It was time for the monthly meeting of the Supporters’ Co-operative board tonight. Among the items discussed were these:

• Discount coach travel for members.
• Memorial Day, to be held on Friday, 28th August at The Royal Scot in Marple Bridge.
• Our proposed event with a current County player at Edgeley Park.
• Reported issues with the quality of this season’s replica shirts.

Once they have been approved, the minutes will appear on the Co-op website as usual.

Today’s tune, to mark our new arrival, is Dún Aengus’ version of “The Siege Of Ennis.” If this doesn’t get your feet moving, I should make an appointment with an undertaker:

Tuesday, 18^th August 2026.

Matchday: Stockport County v Everton U21, EFL Trophy.

I’d like to take the moral high ground and claim I boycotted tonight’s match because it involved a Premier League U21 team, but the reality is that we were in Wales for a few nights and I was able to watch it on Sky.

The lineup was remarkable for the eleven changes Jim McNulty had made from Saturday’s victory and the fact that it contained four players making their debuts: Luca Ashby-Hammond, Tom Wilson-Brown, Mika Mandron and, most remarkable of all, Arttu Hoskonen. The Finnish international’s time between signing and making an appearance in a competitive game must surely be some sort of record. Making Lewis Fiorini captain for the night is a mark of his improved status under the new regime, it would have beggared belief six months ago.

Only the Bergara Stand was open for the game but it was pretty well filled.

County were soon into their stride, talented though Everton’s players were, they couldn’t match the strength of seasoned professionals like Mothersille and Madron. The French forward set up the first goal after eleven minutes, Callum Camps couldn’t capitalise but the ball fell to Mothersille who put it away over the keeper. Everton appealed for offside, and I had some sympathy with them, but from the single camera view it was impossible to be certain. The home team were always on top but were prone to giving the ball away at times in the face of the opposition’s energetic pressing. Just when it looked like all our dominance would only produce a slender lead, Callum Camps was first to a loose ball and slid the ball home. There was plenty of time added due to a head injury to an Everton player early in the game and in the fifty-second minute Mika Mandron latched on to the rebound of an Adigun shot to make it 3-0.

The restart saw a major reshuffle in County’s lineup. Mandron, Camps, Hoskonen, Dacres-Cogley and Wilson-Brown were replaced by Gardner, Astles, Ilara, Edun and Bailey. Everton remained unchanged and while County took a while to adjust to their new formation, the Merseysiders began to prosper. First, the dangerous Graham put Catesby through to score on fifty-two minutes, then two minutes later Moxon tripped Matos to concede a penalty which Graham scored to make it 3-2. Everton were on top now and started to throw their weight about, two of their number receiving cautions for nasty tackles. A hospital pass from Ashby-Hammond to Ilara allowed Graham, him again, to fire the visitors level. While all this was going on, County were gradually sorting themselves out and within two minutes they had retaken the lead through a stylish move down the left involving Gardner and Adigun. The latter’s ball across the box was a cracker and was met by Edun who fizzed it home from a tight angle. That goal and their last three subs seemed to take some of the wind from Everton’s sails and County were in the ascendancy again. County’s fifth was the result of a foul on Adigun, who found Mothersille with the free kick while the defence were still getting organised and County’s 11 wasn’t in the mood to miss an opportunity like that. The sixth and final goal was another involvement for Adigun, who brought the ball out of defence, passed to Bailey who sent it on to Astles and he in turn found Mothersille who claimed his hat trick.

6-3 was a superb result considering how many of these players were making debuts and how many subs we made at half time. That disrupted the team’s rhythm for a while but they recovered it magnificently in the end.

It takes a performance of major quality to be named Man Of The Match ahead of a man who’d scored a hat trick, but Jason Adigun’s was every bit of that. It was a splendid performance all round, the new players all looked capable and it’s good to know we have some backup if they should be required.

I think I heard today’s tune played over the PA before the match, if I’m right someone ought to be buying a lottery ticket. It’s “Six To Go” by The Pogues:

Wednesday, 19^th August 2026.

The highlights of last night’s game are now up on You Tube:

The TSBW main pod was back tonight. With Andy stepping back for a bit, Russ was back at the helm with Waggie acting as First Officer. This cleared the way for a welcome return by professional podcaster Lauren Hedley. As usual, all County life was there, including this:

• Plymouth (A): A statement win against a team expected to do well this season. Even their own podcast were impressed by the way County beat their press and kept them under pressure at all times.
• Is it too soon?: Dare we reclaim the word “culture”? Goebbels said that that he reached for his revolver whenever he heard it and Jim Gannon was sacked because his was different, but are we seeing signs of a new one at County? Even with eleven changes, the team against Everton U21s played the same style as the first XI against Plymouth. Rene Meulensteen has apparently been appointed to keep a “Golden Thread” going throughout the club, so perhaps we’re seeing the start of something. There are signs, too, in the interviews with Mark Stott and Jimmy McNulty, both speak well are obviously full of enthusiasm for the season ahead.
• 3^rd kit launch: It seems GroFu, the club’s shirt sleeve sponsor, had a lot to do with the video that featured wossname and some DJ. You would hope someone at club would have had a word, though.
• Everton U21 (H): A chance for some of the second XI to show what they could do:
  • Arttu Hoskonen: A good forty-five minutes, 393 days after he signed for the club. A great breakthrough for him and all of us who wish him well.
  • Lewis Fiorini: One of a number of players seeming to benefit from the clean slate under Jimmy McNulty, being made captain is a measure of the trust the manager has in him.
  • Callum Camps: A welcome return from injury, he seemed to mesh well with Fiorini.
  • Malik Mothersille: He still had a face like a bulldog licking piss off a thistle despite scoring a hat trick. Speculation is rife that he’s on his way out, either on loan or permanently. There’s obviously a footballer in there somewhere but his body language suggests a terrible attitude.
  • Jason Adigun: Deservedly made Man Of The Match, hasn’t looked out of place at all, despite the jump in levels.
  • Tom Wilson-Brown: Looked solid, could maybe do with more game time to really get match fit.
  • Mika Mandron: A promising debut, showed some nice touches and took his goal well.
  • Owen Moxon: Did OK despite playing out of position but was clumsy in giving away a penalty.
  • Ryan Rydel: He’s clearly bulked up while he’s been away but it remains to see if it’s made him any more robust. Gave the ball away on a couple of occasions.
• Ethan Ennis: The new signing looks exciting and the protections built into the deal by United suggest they hold him in high regard. As Russ said, it’s a great sign of progress that we’re signing players from Manchester United rather than FC United of Manchester.
• The end of pod quiz was based around the rewind feature of the new Rival app. Waggie and Lauren attempted to fill in the missing players from last year’s home game against Blackpool.

A splendid pod, well worth a watch if you haven’t already seen it:

It’s only very early in the season but the positivity train is very much on the move. Today’s tune is from Wilko Johnson’s Solid Senders, “All Aboard!”

Thursday, 20^th August 2026.

As a member of the Supporters’ Co-op board, I’m delighted that the day has arrived to announce our partnership with the Stockport Credit Union. The full details of our collaboration are available on the Co-op’s website:

I’ve already become a member of the credit union and I’ve started saving for our 2027-28 season tickets.

Steve Bardsley talked to John of the Seasiders’ Podcast about the prospects for Saturday’s match against Blackpool. Here’s how it went:

• Pre-season: Unlike his predecessor Steve Bruce, Ian Evert is happy to use friendly games to bring the players up to match fitness. Unfortunately for them, they seem to have used the games to incur a huge amount of injuries instead. Fraser Horsfall is still out with an injury from last season, Dale Taylor has done a hamstring and Niall Ennis has hurt his back. Dion Charles is still recovering from a foot problem and Tom Bloxham has only a 50/50 chance of playing.
• Transfers in:
  • Dion Charles: On loan from Huddersfield.
  • Ilmari Niskanen: Finnish international defender on a two-year deal from Exeter.
  • Karoy Anderson: Jamaican midfielder on a four-year deal from Charlton.
  • Jordan Williams: English defender on loan from Portsmouth.
  • Finlay Munroe: English defender on loan from Middlesbrough.
• Transfers out:
  • James Husband: Former captain now at Doncaster.
  • Ashley Fletcher: Striker now at Huddersfield.
• Expectations for the season: The massive injury toll has dampened the fans’ initial optimism, it’s looking like playoffs at best now.
• Key players: Fitness permitting, Josh Bowler, Dion Charles, Tom Bloxham and Finlay Munrow.
• Formation: Evatt would prefer three at the back but may be forced to play 4-1-3-2 by their injury crisis.
• Attendance: They’ve sold their allocation, so it should be a decent atmosphere.
• Prediction: John isn’t optimistic; a win for County, perhaps another 3-1.

See for yourself:

Today’s tune is “Oh Blackpool” by The Beautiful South:

Friday 21^st August 2026.

The latest badges from Pennodraws arrived today. On the left is Tiger Bowles (ask your great-grandfather) and Jimmy McNulty.

Here’s my stab at a team for tomorrow.

Supporters’ Co-op calendars are on sale from 1pm at the Blackpool game tomorrow outside the ground. Still priced at £10, with half the profits donated to SPARC, a Stockport based mental health charity. Includes all fixtures for County’s men and women’s teams, internation break dates, &c. &c. This man in a hat, among others, will sell you one:

At the time of writing, there are still seats available on the Fingerpost Flyers for Wigan and Luton. For details, see the Fingerpost Flyer Facebook page and other County-related socials.

This County Squad Tracker is a splendid piece of work. Three cheers, kudos, BZ and every other form of congratulations to Phil, the county fan behind it:

Today’s tune is Paul Ronney Angel with “Don’t Mess With The Hat”:

See you at Edgeley Park!

Animo et fide.