Saturday, 5^th September 2026.

Matchday: Wigan Athletic v Stockport County, League 1.

Before we get into today’s doings, County’s U21s played Stoke at Stalybridge last night in the Premier League Cup. These games are becoming important for giving the fringe players game time, notable starters this time included Callum Camps, Ryan Rydel, Jay Mingi and Arian Allen. The latter is on loan to Halifax but available to play for County if required.

The result was a 4-0 win for County, with two goals each for Joe Astles and Che Gardner. For those of us who remember the days of playing them every other week in the 1990s, it’s always pleasing to put one over on the old enemy.

An interesting pre-match snippet from Sam Byrne regarding Adama Sidibeh confirms that, despite some conspiracy theories that were doing the rounds, he is injured and that if he wasn’t, he might well have moved on:

Getting back to the present, it was important to put on a good show after Wednesday’s defeat to Luton. My ankle was giving me severe grief, so I reluctantly decided to forego my match ticket and seat on the Flyer to watch the game at home. I was pleased to see that Jimmy McNulty had taken note of my predicted team on FanHub and reverted to the starting XI from the win over Wycombe, reinstating Ben Osborn and Ryan Glover. Tayo Edun was given a day off and Josh Dacres-Cogley took a place on the bench. Also on the bench for the first time were new recruits Ethan Ennis and Mamadou Jobe.

As usual on TV, it was all County fans coming over loud and clear, with nary a peep from the home contingent. County were on top right from the start and ahead after just eleven minutes. Under pressure from Jack Diamond, Wigan’s Max Power inexplicably put in a perfect cross for Kyle Wootton to volley home superbly from the edge of the penalty area. Those who were calling for Wootton to be dropped after Wednesday might want to think again. The second came just eight minutes later, when Jack Diamond ghosted past the hapless Wigan defence and put Harry Wood through on goal.  Harry kept his cool and expertly lobbed the ‘keeper. Three things struck me about this goal; first that Diamond’s decision making has improved massively this season, second how comfortable our current crop of strikers look when through on goal and third that Wood didn’t punch the corner flag in celebration. I was particularly glad about that, we don’t want any broken bones. Having created the second, it was Jack Diamond’s turn to score the third, having been put through brilliantly by Lewis Bate. Once again, the calm assurance with which he put the ball away was magnificent to see.

Going three goals behind after twenty-two minutes would knock the stuffing out of the best teams but Wigan didn’t have much stuffing to start with. They weren’t entirely without threat, they hit the post and Ollie Whatmuff had to make one fine reaction save in particular, but they were never going to score three goals, never mind four, and although County didn’t maintain the earlier pressure for the entire game, they didn’t need to. From the hour mark onwards McNulty made his full quota of substitutions. Off came Wood, Norwood, Wootton, Osborn and Diamond to be replaced by Adigun, Fiorini, Mandron, Dacres-Cogley and the new boy, Jobe. The Hatters’ superiority deserved a fourth goal and it came in the ninetieth minute when Ryan Glover picked up a Jason Adigun shot that was parried by the ‘keeper.

A terrific performance and one I was sorry to miss seeing at first hand.

A victory in Wigan deserves a tune by a Wigan band, so today’s tune is “Drunken Serenade In The Rain” by Merry Hell:

Sunday, 6^th September 2026.

Matchday: Stockport County Women v x, FAWNL.

Here are Sky’s brief highlights from yesterday:

Now the game is over I can spare a bit of sympathy for the Wigan fans, rattling round in that huge stadium watching a hapless team crying out for investment that the owners have said isn’t coming. They’re getting restless:

County went back up to third as a result of the win but with most other games kicking off at three o’clock, I was expecting us to drop a place or two. As it turned out, only Bradford finished on the same points but our excellent goal difference kept us above them.

PPG Prophet’s graph is following a familiar saw-toothed pattern as a result of our win-defeat-win-defeat-win sequence, but we’re just below the automatic promotion places at this early stage, so all is well:

Here’s how County Women lined up for today’s FAWN League Cup Group S tie against Barnsley:

Compared to last Sunday’s team, Tash Shepley and Abi Podmore dropped to the bench, replaced by Yaz Ahmed and Meg Parker.

County were ahead after just five minutes, Ellie Fletcher latching on to an exquisite through ball from Ruby Scott and making no mistake with the finish. Fletcher and County’s second came in the thirty-third minute after good work in midfield by Meg Parker and Em Bradshaw. Both teams had chances as the half drew to a close, Abbie Smith doing well to thwart a Barnsley free kick deep into injury time, but it remained 2-0 at half time.

County worked hard to keep the away team at bay in the second half and had the assistant referee to thank for halting one attack eight minutes in. Both managers made changes just after the hour, Abi Podmore replacing Meg Parker for County. Further substitutions followed, Tash Shepley replacing the injured Livvi Turkington, Tas Unwin and Millie Tutton coming on for Em Bradshaw and Meg Boydell. Neither team troubled the scorers any further and County ran out the victors.

Club president Steve Bellis named Ruby Scott as his Player Of The Match.

Here’s how the table looks now:

County Women’s next game is next Sunday against Leeds United away in the FAWNL North.

TSBW’s Match Review pod went live at seven o’clock to discuss the win at Wigan. The panel tonight was Jimy Harmer, Dan Culverwell, Dave Whitehead and Nick Reid. Dan declared that it was wrong for everyone to be positive, even after a 4-0 win, so he declared he was going to play the role of Eeyore for the duration of the pod. The discussion went like this:

• How good are we?: Wigan were very poor, so it’s very difficult to make a judgement. Have we got the ability to defend a narrow lead or break down a low block? Do we get beaten 2-0 by anyone half decent but thrash Fodder FC by four or five?
• More than four?: Once we had a commanding lead on Saturday, we adopted a game management approach. We should bear in mind that we played Luton only seventy-two hours before and still scored again later on.
• Sign ‘em up: Now that the transfer window has shut, the club will hopefully be turning their attention to players like Wootton, Diamond and Bate, to name but three, who only have a year left on the contracts. It may be in the players’ interests to hold out in a Horsfall stylee, in the hope of getting a better offer; don’t forget that Woots joined us on a free transfer from Notts County…
• That kit: Like it or loathe it, we’re doing well in the orange kit. Is it a coincidence or does it help the players see each other better?
• Standout players:
  • Kyle Wootton: That superb opening goal showed that he’s more than a six-yard bully. He’s always getting plaudits from opposing managers and supporters, how is it that some of our fans still can’t see his value to us?
  • Harry Wood: Some signing, him. Never stops running and a stone-cold finish. Usually gets subbed early but he came straight from the middle of the Irish season to the start of ours, so he hasn’t had a rest like everyone else.
  • Ben Osborn: Another who doesn’t get the credit he deserves. When he went down clutching his ankle after a clumsy tackle by a Wigan player it looked like he’d have to go off but he recovered to play a full part in the game. He’s one of the best at acknowledging the fans before and after games, too.
  • Ollie Whatmuff: It’s hard to believe he’s only eighteen; he displays a confidence and ability well beyond his years.
  • Lewis Bate: The though ball to release Jack Diamond for the third goal was an absolute corker and typifies his return to form this season.
  • Mamadou Jobe: Didn’t get many minutes but looked decent and he cuts an impressive figure.
• No ‘keeper on the bench: Who goes in nets if Whatmuff gets hurt? Kyle Wootton is the team’s Swiss Army Knife and he has the height for the job but it was suggested in the chat that the nominated stand-in is Ethan Pye.
• Big games to come: Jimmy reckons we will batter Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday. Paste that in your hat for future reference. Eeyore Culverwell sounded a note of caution, he thinks the game at Hillsborough will be a sterner test.
• Man of the match: A choice between Jack Diamond and Ben Osborn.

That was just the bullet points, watch the full pod to get the whole experience:

I was dismayed to miss George Thorogood and the Destroyers on their latest (and apparently last) tour. Today’s tune is a live version of my favourite Thorogood song, “Move It On Over”:

Monday, 7^th September 2026.

County’s version of the highlights are out with Jon Keighren providing the commentary:

The departure of Arttu Hoskonen from County was announced last week, bringing to an end a sorry saga for the club and the player. Some good news this week though, Arttu has joined Lyngby in the Danish top flight. I always wish every player that leaves County great success but this is more true than ever in Arttu’s case.

From a happy story to a disappointing one. It seems County have a new gambling sponsor in the shape of betTOM. I smelled a rat when I saw their logo circulating on the electronic display boards at the Wycombe game. In an era when there are over four hundred gambling-related suicides in England every year and 1.4 million people addicted to gambling in the UK, getting involved with a bookmaker is the very last thing County should be doing. It’s bad enough that we have Sky Bet as the league’s sponsor but this is far too close to home. If fans want to get a little frisson by handing their hard-earned over to bookies that’s up to them, but the club shouldn’t be promoting it.

I should have seen that coming; minutes after I paid for my seat on the Fingerpost Flyer for Oxford (A), County announced that the game had been postponed due to international callups for the home side. I’ll still have that seat when the game is rescheduled of course, all I’ve got to do is remember not to buy another one…

Today’s tune is “Gamblers – We Do Not Do That Anymore” by the Oysterband:

Tuesday, 8^th September 2026.

Tickets are now available for Ben Hinchliffe’s testimonial dinner via the “Events” tab on County’s ticket portal.

Sam Byrne tweeted County’s squad list today, something the club haven’t done yet, as far as I can see. Ryan Rydel and Jay Mingi are noticeable by their absence, which will limit their opportunities for the first half of the season. They both played in the Premier League Cup last Friday, so perhaps that and the EFL Trophy might be possibilities, but loans into the National League seem more likely. Brad Hills’ name isn’t there either but he’s unlikely to be back before January anyway and there’s still a vacancy as things stand if the prognosis improves. The inclusion of Joe Astles is interesting, it’s assumed he’s the Club Developed Player to give us an extra sub on the bench, I’m not sure we’ll see him make many league appearances. It begs the question why the CDP isn’t Che Gardner, perhaps he’ll go out on loan to get some game time and continue his development. Luca Ashby-Hammond’s name isn’t there because ’keepers don’t count towards squad numbers.

The list of contracted U21 players contains some familiar names, including some potential starters:

Steve Bardsley was joined by Jamie from Leicester Fan TV for The Scarf Bergara Wore’s preview of Saturday’s game. We all know they’re in a mess, but it’s good to get the inside track:

• A rare encounter: The two clubs have only played each other twice in the league in the last 100 years, both games ending in a draw.
• The decline: It started with the death of the owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, in a helicopter crash in 2018. His son now owns the club but seems to have lost interest and the club has faced major financial issues. Players on Premier League salaries have stayed with the club during back-to-back relegations, while those who left have done so at the end of their contracts rather than being sold to recoup money for the club. The problems have been exacerbated by borrowing against expected parachute payments while income was falling but expenditure was still sky high.
• Expectations: Before the season started, the fans were hoping for the playoffs, perhaps even automatic promotion.
• Transfers: Jamie quotes figures of twenty-two out and fourteen in, an astonishing level of churn. Those coming in have failed to cut the mustard. Among the arrivals are:
  • Conor Chaplin: Attacking midfielder on a free from Ipswich. Has been injured but may be back on Saturday.
  • Liam Cullen: Attacking midfielder from Swansea who flattered to deceive in pre-season.
  • Emil Riis: Centre forward from Bristol City.
  • Wes Burns: Right winger from Ipswich.
  • Harry Howell: Young attacking midfielder on loan from Brighton.
• The manager: Russell Martin is accused of failing to take responsibility for results and throwing the players under the bus. His recent record is astonishing, and not in a good way; he’s won three games in the last twenty-seven, one each at Southampton, Rangers and Leicester.
• Formation: A rigid 4-1-4-1. Martin makes changes eventually, but only on a like-for-like basis, there’s no sign of a plan B.
• Who to watch: Conor Chaplin, if he plays.
• Predictions:
  • Jamie: 2-2.
  • Steve: 2-1 to County.

Based on all that, you would expect another 5-0 on Saturday. If, that is, you ignore the fact that every time an away fan tells us they haven’t got a hope in hell, they end up leaving EP with all three points. See what you make of it:

Today’s tune, in an attempt to capture the mood at Leicester, is “Exhilarating Sadness” by The Saw Doctors:

Wednesday, 9^th September 2026.

In the continued work-enforced absence of Russ and Waggie, tonight’s TSBW main show was in the hands of Jimmy Harmer, Toby Culverwell and fan guest Stephen Wright. They left no stone unturned in their examination of the week on planet County. It went like this:

• Wigan(A):
  • The complete performance: 3-0 after twenty minutes followed by an hour of game management and a fourth goal near the end as the icing on the cake. It’s hard to disagree with Steve’s suggestion that this is the most entertaining football County have played for years, if not ever.
  • Which was the best goal: They were all belters but perhaps Woots’ was the best of them. Our new style is allowing him to get opportunities denied to him when he was just a target man.
  • Jason Adigun: Always brings something different, he’ll get the goal his play deserves sooner or later.
  • Are they terrible or were we just better?: Perhaps a bit of both, but unless they improve rapidly they could be in danger of going down.
  • Wigan – Whelan = trouble: The bloke with the most famous broken leg in Wembley history financed the Latics’ rise to the top division and an FA Cup win but since he sold up, it’s been a gradual decline. The fans are now rattling round in a huge stadium that could accommodate the whole crowd in just one stand, which does nothing for the atmosphere.
  • Post-match bother: A group of County fans, including a woman in a wheelchair, were attacked by local meatheads in the town after the match. It seems an investigation is underway, let’s hope they can track the offenders down.
• The season so far: Five games in, have expectations been met? With a complete new coaching staff taking a big leap up the leagues, there were some concerns but even in the two games we lost, the performances have been excellent. The expansive style might catch us out occasionally but it’s going to be an exciting ride. We’re yet to find out what the plan is if we’re 1-0 up with twenty minutes to go, or if we have plans B and C, but so far, so good. The addition of Jobe and Ennis will give us more options and we still have Sidibeh and Hills to come back from injury too.
• Leicester (H):
  • They seem to be a good passing side but without a reliable cutting edge.
  • EP is sold out so there should be a decent atmosphere with no need for a DJ, inflatable foxes or other gimmicks.
  • Leicester put a laughably low bid in for Jack Diamond during the transfer window so you’d expect the cosmic scriptwriter to have our No.7 score at least one.
  • Predictions: The panel all thought we’d win; Jimmy reckoned 3-0, Wrighty 2-0 and Toby would be happy with three points however they came.
• The squad list:
  • A young team: Steve pointed out that the list contains only four players over thirty years of age.
  • Missing names: Ryan Rydel and Jay Mingi are still at the club but not on the list. Opportunities to play will be few and far between, perhaps they will go out on loan to a National League team.
  • Club developed player: Joe Astles makes the list, giving us the opportunity to name an extra substitute. This may suggest that Che Gardner is going out on loan somewhere to get more minutes.
  • The U21s: There are some notable names in there; Beno Andrésson, Ollie Whatmuff and James Bailey, among others, emphasising the youthful nature of the squad.
• Chasing contracts: Some important players, Messrs Wootton, Diamond and Bate to name but three, are in the last year of their contracts. It’s to be hoped that we have money available to sign them up so they can’t just walk away at the end of the season.
• Arttu Hoskonen: We know his mental health was suffering after his series of injuries and failure to play but one game for County. Everyone at TSBW wishes him well in his time at Lyngby.
• The next five games: With the postponement of Oxford (A), our next five are Leicester (H), Sheffield Wednesday (A), Peterborough (H), Barnsley (H) and Bromley (H). Wednesday away looks the toughest challenge, even without Louie Barry, but what points can we hope for? 12/15 would be brilliant, 10 or 11 would be decent.
• A close league: Will anyone run away with it this season? Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield are showing well so far, but aren’t invincible. There are plenty of goals being scored, could this be due in part to referees letting more trivial fouls go unpunished?
• The quiz: A “Guess The County Player” affair with five levels of clue. Jimmy took the unusual step of announcing the answer to one of them before asking the question, which was an unexpected innovation, not least by him.

A splendid hour of County chat, watch it in full here:

The postponed game against Oxford (A) has been rescheduled for Tuesday, 27^th October:

Talk of Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, brings us naturally to today’s tune, “Itchycoo Park” by the Small Faces:

Thursday, 10^th September 2026.

Today, and every 10^th September, is World Suicide Prevention Day. This powerful video from Norwich City reminds us to check on our friends and relatives:

The Scarf Bergara Wore has made the FINAL of the 2026 Football Content Awards in the category “Best Club Content Creator – Football League.”

Someone nominated us. You lot have supported us. And now we need one last favour…

If you like what we do, please vote for TSBW. 💙

https://footballcontentawards.com/voting

Here’s my latest piece for the Supporters’ Co-op:

https://www.countysupporterscoop.co.uk/from-america-to-uganda-two-stories-one-county

Today’s tune, which sprang to mind while I was looking at Wigan’s fans rattling round in that massive ground, is “All Fur Coat And No Knickers” by Chumbawamba:

Friday 11^th September 2026.

Here’s my stab at a team for tomorrow. I’ve gone unchanged again, there seems no reason not to. I can see Jobe and Ennis getting some minutes towards the end if all goes well.

I often see posts on social media asking for the winning half-time draw numbers. For future reference, they are given on COWS: https://www.stockportcounty.com/tickets/half-time-draw

It’s fair to say that away fixtures in the EFL Trophy and the Cheshire Senior Cup are towards the niche end of the County spectrum, but if that’s where you are, the Fingerpost Flyer will get you to Shrewsbury and Sandbach when the time comes. Once the details are made public, I’ll let you know.

Just as I was about to post the blog, news came through that Che Gardner has committed to a two-year contract. Excellent work by the club to get an exciting young player signed up.

Today’s tune, prompted by the club hitching up to a bookmaker, is “Sell Out” by the Levellers:

See you at EP!

Animo et fide.