Saturday, 13th December 2025.
Matchday: County v Stevenage, League 1.
The best news from Dave Challinor’s pre-match interview that there was no ongoing issue for Brad Hills after he had to be substituted on Tuesday and that Tyler Onyango was available for selection. That was tempered by the news that Callum Connolly has tweaked a hamstring and will be out for four to six weeks. Beno Andrésson and Callum Camps are both aiming for a return in a few weeks.
I made my way to the ground for half past one so I could have my mugshot taken by John Giles for the Co-Op’s new website. Co-Op and Wellspring volunteers were well to the fore with collection buckets for the homeless charity’s Christmas Dinner Appeal.
I’d predicted nine of Dave Challinor’s team selection, he’d gone for Onyango and Gardner instead of my O’Keeffe and Hills.
After a bit of awkwardness over wanting to keep the cap on my bottle of pop, I took it and my James* pie down to my seat behind the goal. I was soon joined by young Teddy and his family and the chap who sits next to them. It was Teddy’s sister who noticed that I’d sat on the wrong row and everyone else had followed me. Let that be a lesson to them.
Leon Berry was lauded for his curation of rain-related tunes when play was suspended at the recent Wigan Vertu Trophy game but I have a bone to pick with him now; I’d survived Whamageddon for thirteen days but to be despatched to Whamhalla by my own football club was very disappointing. If you have no idea what I’m burbling on about, the rules are here:
This was the first outing for my heated waistcoat in my quest to avoid hypothermia at the football. It must be a ‘me’ problem, because some people are still wearing shorts, but I was actually shivering at Peterborough and Crewe, which detracts from the enjoyment somewhat.
From kick-off County looked as though they meant business, Malik Mothersille in particular driving down the left only to lose the ball in what is rapidly becoming his trademark fashion. In an extraordinary moment after four minutes, Jack Diamond was through down the left and was taken out by Boro’s ‘keeper in the most cynical fashion. I thought a red card would be the obvious outcome but the referee went for a yellow instead. From there on, Stevenage were pretty much on top and the inevitable goal came on twenty-two minutes through Chem Campbell. We weren’t without opportunities for the rest of the half but failed to take any of them.
DC shuffled the pack at half time, bringing Fevrier, Moxon and Dodgson on to replace Mothersille, Bailey and Edun. Again, things looked promising for a few minutes with some useful-looking build-up play from Diamond and Fevrier. It wasn’t to last though, and Stevenage exploited some poor defending down our left to double their lead on fifty-three minutes. Hope springs eternal however, and just after the hour a cross from Dodgson was headed home by Wootton and we were looking lively enough to make a game of it. Unfortunately, more comedy defending on our left allowed Boro a third a few minutes later and the die was cast.
Another dispiriting defeat, further proof that our second string aren’t up to the quality required when played in numbers and some of the new recruits haven’t really hit the ground running.
Today’s tune is a live version of “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” by the Mavericks. Bring me down, boys….:
* If I hadn’t seen such riches I could live with being poor…
Sunday, 14th December 2025.
Matchday: Wythenshawe FC v County Ladies, FAWNL Division 1.
A tough assignment for the Ladies today, on paper at least, with the short away trip to the third-placed team at Hollyhedge Park.
Here’s how County lined up. Two changes from last week’s draw against Chester-le-Street, Gemma Lancaster and Shaunna Jein replacing Paige Cole and Livvi Turkington, the latter dropping to the bench.
Kick-off was delayed by ten minutes by the late arrival of two officials and the need for a pitch inspection. County struck just eight minutes in when the home defence failed to clear a Kenedy Owen corner and Em Bradshaw was able to tuck the ball away. There was a touch of fortune about the second after half an hour, a Bradshaw shot taking a deflection to fly over the home keeper’s head. County’s number eleven secured her hat-trick just before half time when good work down the right by Jess Battle and Shaunna Jein culminated in a cross which Bradshaw fired home.
The Ammies started the second half with renewed vigour, putting County under pressure for prolonged periods. They petered out eventually though, and a flurry of substitutions allowed Steve O’Hara’s side to ensure that the goalless second half secured the points for County.
Photo of Em Bradshaw by kind permission of Andrew Machin at @machinsports.
The splendid win sees County Ladies move up a place to fifth in the league:
County Ladies’ next game is at home against Chorley on the 4th of January.
Today’s tune is Falkirk’s finest, Brògeal, with “Sunday Morning”:
Reading (A) tickets went on sale at lunchtime for those with sufficient loyalty points. Fair play to the ticketing system, it seems to have got the hang of giving me front row tickets.
TSBW’s Match Review Pod, shortly to renamed as “On The Psychiatrist’s Couch” came along at breakfast time to ease the pain of the defeat to Stevenage. The men in white coats this week were Jimmy Harmer, Dan Culverwell, Steve Bardsley and Lee Rowley. The consultation went like this:
- “Highlights”: Jimmy opened proceedings with a clip illustrating the defensive failures that contributed to the three Stevenage goals. That wasn’t the whole story of course, they worked harder than us and we failed to take a number of chances.
- One of our men is missing: Things have gone to pot since Ollie Norwood’s injury but surely the lack of one player can’t be the whole story?
- Red or yellow: The ‘keeper’s tackle on Jack Diamond was never going to be a red, there was defensive cover and Jack was heading away from goal.
- Malik Mothersille: Is he trying too hard to do it all himself? He makes promising runs but loses the ball at the end of it all. Having lost it, he doesn’t press hard enough to recover it; he’d do well to take a leaf from Kyle Wootton’s book, he chases lost causes just on the off chance.
- The case for the defence: Ethan Pye had a bad day, culminating in his poorly-aimed header that resulted in the third goal, but everyone’s entitled to one or two a season. Joe Olowu isn’t at his best in the middle but hopefully he’ll be able to resume his rightful place on the right when Brad Hills starts next Saturday.
- Che Gardner: One of the few bright spots; his ball control, passing and decision making put many of the more experienced players to shame.
- Subs: The three subs who came on at half time upped the tempo a bit and Jayden Fevrier should have scored but was determined to get a boot on a Dodgson cross that was crying out to be headed home. Kyle Wootton took the opposite approach later when he stooped to head a ball at knee height that desperately wanted a boot applying to it.
- This early momentum had a dent put in it by Stevenage’s second goal, but even then we might have got something out of the game after Kyle Wootton headed home to halve the deficit. Seconds later, however, the third goal and the manner in which it was conceded put the tin hat on any come back and our fate was sealed.
- We’ve had a change of philosophy: We got out of the National League and League 2 by investing in players from higher tiers. Wrexham and Birmingham have continued with this effective but increasingly expensive model but we’re now looking to recruit young and promising players who will get us to the Championship and make us a profit when we sell them. That’s a cracking idea but it places a huge burden on the recruiters, especially when it’s combined with our time-limited plans to reach the Championship and, now, the Premier League. I’m not convinced the two are compatible without massive strokes of fortune.
- January is coming: I think we’ve all got a list of players who haven’t grasped the opportunity to play in the first team when they’ve been offered it. Most of them have decent contracts though; will we get teams willing to take them off our hands? Can we afford to pay them off? Do some of them already know they’re on their way? Are some of the replacements already at Carrington?
Watch here, it’ll do you good:
The club have introduced a half-season ticket, it’s bound to be attractive now that it’s getting difficult to get seats for some matches. Details from the club website:
https://www.stockportcounty.com/news/2025/december/11/last-11-season-tickets-now-available-
Today’s tune fits in nicely with the weather we’ve had today; Eliza Carthy’s version of “Cold, Wet And Rainy Night.” Some cracking fiddle playing on this and I’m not sure there isn’t a bit of hurdy gurdy going on as well:
Tuesday, 16th December 2025.
Here’s how the League table stands after Saturday’s defeat:
PPG Prophet’s graph shows us still hovering round the lower end of the playoff places despite a couple of recent setbacks:
I mentioned my newly-acquired heated waistcoat earlier. It was a definite success; in fact it was a little too warm on the lowest setting. Now I’ve read the instructions, the last resort as usual, I’ve found that I can use the USB connector rather than the jack plug to lower the voltage slightly, which will reduce the temperature a bit. There seems to be plenty of power in reserve, the battery indicator suggests I’d only used a quarter of the available charge. Its long-term durability obviously remains to be seen but so far, so recommended for the nesh among us.
One of County’s recent signings is getting terrible stick from one Yellowboard expert in particular at the moment, so today’s tune is a plea for a bit of understanding from Peat & Diesel, “Say You Love Me”:
Wednesday, 17th December 2025.
The club’s Junior Supporters’ Party at The Light cinema looks to have been a great success if the photo’s are anything to go by. Plenty of players in attendance and getting involved with the games and entertainments.
The Supporters’ Co-Op are going to launch a new website early in the new year, and I had my picture taken for my profile by our Vice-Chair, John Giles, before the game last Saturday. It’s a good job he took it before kick-off, I wasn’t feeling quite so cheerful afterwards. Whether my mugshot will bring new members in or drive the existing ones away isn’t for me to predict…
Wednesday is TSBW main pod night, the panel this time was a flu-stricken Russ Johnson, Waggie, Andy Reding and Steve Bardsley. Their exploration of Planet County went like this:
- Stevenage (H): The team didn’t give us anything to get us up off our seats until our goal but even that fell flat because we neglected the golden rule of concentrating when you’ve just scored. The atmos from the County fans was flat but it’s difficult to generate anything without a spark from the players. Stevenage were well drilled and efficient despite having to play some square pegs in round holes.
- County songs: We’ve lost of the best ones because the players involved have moved on. The modern generic offerings, typified by “Football in a library” are universally dire, so perhaps it’s time to revive some of the classics. One suggestion, and it’s a favourite of mine, is “Streets of Stockport.” I like “Those Were The Days My Friend” as well, I haven’t heard that for donkey’s years.
- Mansfield (A): We haven’t won there since 1983, our record stands at a shocking D2, L10. They have loads of injuries, and we may have Hills and Norwood back, so perhaps it’s time for a change in fortunes. Predictions ranged from a 2-1 loss to a 2-1 win.
- Christmas fixtures: We have three games before the transfer window slams open, or whatever it is it does. Would six points be a decent haul?
- In the absence of the usual weekly pod next week, the video of the Evening With Antoni Sarcevic, held in conjunction with the Supporters’ Co-Operative, will be released.
- Rumours: With the window opening next month, possible signings are being bandied around:
- Louie Barry: This one is gaining momentum day by day but is there anything to it? Can we expect an announcement video on Christmas day?
- Keeper incoming?: Jack Bonham from Stoke on loan. Hasn’t played much for them but was first choice for Gillingham five years ago.
- Keeper outgoing?: Corey Addai to Crawley.
- Corey O’Keeffe: Returning to his parent club, Barnsley.
- Roman Dixon: the young right back was supposed to be coming on loan from Everton but got injured at Pinatar. Sources close to his parent club suggest the deal might be back on.
- Random Shit Of The Week: Steve led this excellent iteration of the genre, based on The Price Is Right.
- Highpoints of the pod year:
- Russ: Winning the Northwest Football Award for Best Podcast.
- Andy: Learning about the meat raffle phenomenon.
- Waggie: The Tony Dinning event.
- Steve: The Stevenage match preview pod.
Another belter, available to watch in full here:
Today’s tune is one I mentioned in the section about old County songs: “Those Were The Days My Friend” by Mary Hopkin:
Thursday, 18th December 2025.
TSBW’s Match Preview Show for Mansfield (A) was introduced by Steve Bardsley, who discussed the prospects for the game with Craig Priest of the Mansfield Matters podcast. The pod is approaching its tenth year, so it’s seen a few ups and downs. The discussion went after this fashion:
- Ownership: The club has achieved stability in fifteen years under John and Carolyn Radford’s stewardship. Despite a reputation for whizzing managers out of the door if they didn’t make the grade, they’ve stuck with Nigel Cough for five years.
- The ground: Field Mill, now known as the One Call Stadium in honour of John Radford’s insurance company. The Bishop Street Stand, which was out of use for years, has been partially rebuilt and can accommodate 727 supporters.
- Current season: After last term, when they started very well then tailed off, the aim this time is to stay in league 1 and avoid becoming a yo-yo club. Recruiting well, selling players for a profit and enjoying the occasional cup run will be key to achieving their aims.
- Squad: This is going to sound familiar; they recruited well at the start of the season but they’ve been ravaged by injuries and some of the recruits haven’t kicked a ball in anger yet.
- Players to watch, depending if they’re fit or not:
- Deji “Dave” Oshilaja: A striker converted to a centre back by Clough.
- Jamie McDonnell: Northern Ireland international central midfielder on loan from Nottingham Forest.
- Rhys Oates: You may remember this forward, he tried to cripple Ben Hinchliffe last season, hurt himself in the process and was out for weeks. The twat. He was sent off against Bolton last week so he’s probably suspended.
- Ryan Sweeney: Republic Of Ireland international centre half on his second time round with Mansfield.
- Baily Cargill: Central defender. They seem to have a lot of those.
- Will Evans: Welsh striker, apparently playing with an injury.
- Kyle Knoyle: Ex-County fullback, probably still injured.
- Prediction: Craig is quietly confident, they seem to be on a bit of a run, so he’s expecting a 2-1 win for Town.
An entertaining and informative half hour, watch it here:
After last week’s brief respite, it’s back to watching the highlights from behind the sofa:
As a special Christmas treat, and in a break from his usual schedule, Jonathan the Geordie Hatter brought us his Awayday Show tonight instead of Saturday morning. All the usual features were present and correct, the chat was well-populated and lively and this week’s County was author, actor, stand up comedian and blogger, Des Hinks Junior. The tunes were well to the fore as usual, I was particularly impressed with Scotstown Dance Band who were new to me. If you missed the live event, it’s still available here:
https://the-geordie-hatter.mixlr.com/recordings/2979798
Today’s tune is from the above mentioned Scotstown Dance Band, “Last Drink”:
Friday 19th December 2025.
Luton lost 3-2 to Reading last night, which is good because the other Hatters would have gone above us into the playoff positions if they’d won. Some Luton fans didn’t take the defeat very well:
Here’s how the top half of the table looks as a result:
County players, bear and staff have paid their annual Christmas visit to Stepping Hill Hospital:
Here’s my guess at a team for tomorrow. I’ve taken a leap of faith by including Ollie Norwood but the other ten should be nailed on.
Assuming I get the blog out as scheduled, you’ll have time to get down to Stockport to catch these lads. These rituals are vital if the sun is to return again after the solstice, so they need our support. You know it makes sense.
I learned today that Dave Schofield, County fan of note, organiser of marches, star of TSBW’s Dark Days series and all-round bolshy devil is facing some serious medical issues. He’s confident it can all be resolved but it’s not going to pleasant for the lad, so I wish him all the best for his treatment.
As the mummers are out tonight, today’s tune is Kate Rusby’s version of the Pace Egging Song:
See you all at Field Mill and have a smashing Christmas!
Animo et fide.
