Saturday, 21^st March 2026.

Matchday: Luton Town v County, League 1.

Too late for last week’s blog, it was announced on Friday that Steve O’Hara has stepped down as manager of Stockport Ladies. It’s obvious from the tributes paid on social media by fans, players and the club itself that he’s held in great esteem, as befits a man who has led the team to two Cheshire County Cup victories and two Super Cup wins.

Steve’s assistant, Chris Brown, has been named Interim Manager until the end of the season.

Thanks to Sky Sports it was a six o’clock departure for the Fingerpost Flyer this morning, so I was up at three to allow time for two cups of heart starter and a bowl of cereal. I hate those mornings when there’s no left-over take away and I have to resort to something sensible. I’m not sure Floricel was keen on such an early walk but he put up with it like the trouper he is. Janice, trouper that she is, dropped me off at the back of the Fingerpost to await the charabanc.

We were fifty-one on board all told, including a number of first-timers keen try our hallmark sedate atmosphere. Nevertheless, I was able to secure a pair of seats to myself, my reputation must be spreading, and set my stall out.

The journey was uneventful, we stopped at the uninspiring Corley Services near Coventry, until we got near the ground. Oak Road, where the away turnstiles are and the coaches park, is supposed to be clear of cars on matchdays from 08.00 to 20.00. That’s not how we found it, though, it was lined with parked cars and a regiment of parking wardens were dishing out tickets and knocking on doors to get the vehicles shifted. Those that couldn’t or wouldn’t move were being lifted by a recovery truck and dropped some five miles away. As pre-match entertainments go, it beat fireworks and light shows hands down as far as I’m concerned.

Cue the obligatory Luton turnstile shot:

The stewards were a mixed bunch; the ones outside checked my ticket and sent me through the gate, only for the ones inside to try to send me out again for being in the wrong place. Eventually, one with a clue put them straight and escorted me to my seat. Some of them were insistent on people sitting in the right seats, even when the seats were labelled wrong and some had been sold twice.

Before kick-off, the Hatters To Hatters walkers were stood pitchside, waiting to be photographed with the team. I’m in awe of their achievement in walking the 145 miles to the game but what amazed me was that they were still stood up!

DC’s team only differed from my prediction in that I thought Josh Stokes would play and he’d been replaced by Tayo Edun.

The game started pretty evenly, Tanto Olaofe and Ethan Pye just failing to profit from crosses while the home side’s Clark and Palmer looked dangerous. An Ollie Norwood free kick caused chaos in the Luton box but the ball was eventually smuggled away. Things took a downward turn just before the half hour when Lawrence, on loan from Manchester City, picked up the ball on the edge of the area and sterred the ball past Corey Addai. The to and fro continued for the rest of the half without any more scoring.

Kyle Wootton finished the first half in obvious discomfort and was replaced at half time by Adama Sidibeh. Dave Challinor’s exhortations plainly had an effect on the team as they came out in a much more positive frame of mind, pinning the hosts back for long stretches. The optimistic mood was dented by the loss of Brad Hills, who stayed down after a tangle with an opponent and had to be half carried down the tunnel. His place was taken by Joseph Olowu. Both sides had chances, a Norwood shot hit a defender and went wide and Addai did well to palm a header over the bar. DC attempted to pep things up on sixty-eight minutes by replacing Tayo Edun with Malik Mothersille. This change was greeted with great enthusiasm by a small section of the crowd, who I suspect were members of either Tayo or Malik’s family. County’s equaliser shortly afterwards was an Ollie Norwood special, a free kick from the left curled unerringly into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. A further double change after eighty-five minutes brought Josh Stokes and Lewis Bate on to replace Tanto Olaofe and Odin Bailey. A superb run and cross from Malik Mothersille almost provided a winner but the ball was deflected away from Adama Sidibeh. As seven minutes of time added turned into ten and beyond the nerves increased but the referee eventually put us out of our misery and we had a valuable point. The true cost of that point will only be made clear once the extent of the injuries to Wootton and Hills are known.

The journey home passed easily enough, I listened to football commentary on the radio, stretched my legs at the services and we were back at Lowndes Lane by twenty past six.

The point was enough to keep us in fifth  place with a game or two in hand over our rivals. Here’s the League 1 table after the later games had finished:

PPG Prophet’s graph shows us bouncing along the bottom of the projected playoffs line.

Today’s tune was brought to mind by Luton’s rabbit warren of a ground; it’s June Tabor guesting with the Oysterband and doing her best Grace Slick on “White Rabbit.” Janice and I were at the gig where this was recorded, I fancy I spotted the back of my head at one stage…

Sunday, 22^nd March 2026.

Matchday: County Ladies v York City, FAWNL Division 1 North.

Here’s how the ladies lined up for their first game since Steve O’Hara’s departure. There were two changes from the midweek defeat by Huddersfield, Em Lysons and Maria Figueiredo coming in for Gemma Lancaster and Jess Battle, both of whom dropped to the bench.

County took the lead in the third minute after a botched goal kick by the visitors. Em Bradshaw won the ball, passed it to Maria Figueiredo and she found the bottom corner of the net. The Minsterbelles fought back from this early setback, only the bar preventing Eliza Benson from equalising. The blues were well on top at this stage and were only denied further goals by the woodwork and a splendid save by York’s ‘keeper, Annie Mildenhall. There was almost a repeat of the opener ten minutes later when Bradshaw latched on to a loose clearance by the ‘keeper but couldn’t quite capitalise. County continued to press, forcing free kicks and errors from the York rearguard but couldn’t increase their lead before the break.

The Ladies went into the second half unchanged and kept up the pressure, Em Bradshaw’s forays down the right posing a constant threat to the team in red. York weren’t entirely out of it though, and it took a good save by Freya Heap to preserve the blues’ advantage. Seconds later Maria Figueiredo was only denied a second by the post. Chris Brown made two substitutions in close order just before the hour, Natalie Watson and Jess Battle replacing Levi Rathburn and Em Bradshaw. Battle was soon to the fore, forcing the keeper to parry a fierce shot. Mildenhall was called into action again shortly afterwards to deny Ellie Fletcher with a fine save. York made their first substitution on sixty-six minutes, Amelia O’Flaherty replacing Rosie Bell.

County doubled their lead on sixty-nine minutes with a fierce shot into the bottom left-hand corner by substitute Natalie Watson. The seventy-eighth minute saw the arrival of a third sub, Gemma Lancaster replacing Olivia Wilson. City replied with a double change, Megan Atkins and Bella Marshall replacing Katie Varley and Eliza Benson. They raised hopes of a comeback with a goal after eighty-four minutes but such thoughts were quelled soon after when a foul on Ellie Flethcher resulted in the award of a penalty. Player of the match Fletcher took and scored the penalty herself to make the score 3-1. The action was completed by two late substitutions, Olivia Thompson and Nefa Douglas replacing Liv Greenhalgh and Maria Figueiredo.

Thanks to Andrew Machin of @machinsports for the use of his photograph of Ellie Fletcher scoring the third from the spot.

The win takes County above Wythenshawe into fifth place in the Division 1 North table:

Today’s tune goes out County’s three goal scorers today, “Blues Attack” by Roddy Radiation and the Skabilly Rebels:

Monday, 23^rd March 2026.

TSBW’s Match Reaction Pod gang met last night to discuss the draw against Luton. Jimmy Harmer was in the chair, assisted by regulars Dan Culverwell, Lee Rowley and Steve Bardsley. The lively discussion went like this:

• Hatters to Hatters: Jimmy opened by paying a fulsome tribute to the walkers and the reception they received from Luton Town.
• Kenilworth Road: The entrance looks more like a branch of Domino’s Pizza than a football ground but once you find your way in it’s a treat for those who like an old-fashioned intimate stadium.
• The team: Difficult to say if it was three or four at the back:
  • Addai.
  • Edun, Pye, Hills, Dacres-Cogley.
  • Osborn, Bailey, Norwood, Diamond.
  • Olaofe, Wootton.
• First half:
  • Our lack of legs in midfield stood out again, we struggled to get the ball forward and ended up passing it from side to side for long periods.
  • Ethan Pye was more like his old self than of late, although his effectiveness was limited by the need to cover for Tayo Edun, who is prone to getting isolated up front.
  • Their goal was a corker and, despite what at least one fan has suggested on the socials, Coey Addai carries no responsibility for it. He had an excellent game in fact, made some important saves and got us moving forward with his impressive short game.
• Second half:
  • It was a surprise to some to see only one substitution at half time, Adama Sidibeh replacing Kyle Wootton who had suffered a dead leg towards the end of the first half. Perhaps DC was waiting to see how the starters went on, as they seemed to do much better in the second period.
  • Brad Hills’ injury is a serious concern, especially as it wasn’t the result of a tackle. Joseph Olowu did very well in his stead though, which gives us some cause for hope if Hills is going to be missing for a while. Perhaps we may even see Arttu Hoskonen!
  • Malik Mothersille showed some encouraging signs during his cameo, perhaps he’s due a start on Saturday.
  • Ollie Norwood: Teams must surely be expecting his variety of free kicks now but if they are, he’s scoring from them anyway.
• Man of the Match: various candidates were put forward; Norwood, Pye and Addai, with one vote for the outstanding Olowu, despite him only playing forty-five minutes.
• Referee: Bobby Madley did an excellent job, as befits a former top-flight official. He was stretching in front of where I was sitting during the warmup and chatting happily with the fans, took some gentle stick and gave it back. He seemed to have a confidence about him that a decent official needs.

As ever, a thought-provoking and entertaining watch. Get it here:

County have announced that the home game against Mansfield, postponed because of their heroics in the FA Cup, will now be played on Tuesday the 21^st of April. It’s looked inevitable for a while, as we’re running out of free Tuesdays, but it’s good to have it confirmed.

Corey Edwards, the very promising young midfielder on loan with County from Rochdale, has been called up for the Grenada national team. I didn’t even know he was a grenade! If gets a game, I hope that Seppo commentator doesn’t have him playing for “Stockport United” like he did Myles Hippolyte.

Talking of Myles Hippolyte reminds me of his song, one of our best in recent years. It was a reworking of “So High” by German outfit SXTN, so that’s today’s tune:

Tuesday, 24^th March 2026.

It was Nick Powell’s birthday yesterday, I know this because Bradford City, his current benefactors, wished him many happy returns on their socials. The comments from Bradford, Wigan and County fans are everything you’d expect for a player who has appeared in just four games for a grand total of eighty-five minutes all season.

County are running a Family Fun Day on Monday the 30^th of March. It’s a working day, so that might limit attendances, but anyone with children at home during the school holidays might find it attractive. It starts at nine o’clock in the Courtyard with food, drink and divers entertainments, then moves into the ground to watch the team train. Once that’s done, there’s stuff going on pitchside and a signing session from 1PM. It’s free, apart from use of the inflatables (it’s at this point that my mind wanders towards Sammy The Snake from Phoenix Nights) but advance booking is required via County’s ticketing site.

https://tickets.stockportcounty.com/events

TSBW’s Match preview pod for Saturday’s game against Wimbledon was presented by Steve Bardsley, talking to Mark Lewis of the “Same Old Wombles” podcast. Here’s how it went:

• Ownership: The club is still fan-owned and but there seems to be a limit to how high clubs using that model can rise. Just this week they have met to decide that they should sell some equity to a commercial partner so they can pay off some debts and use some money to progress up the table. The fans will retain a majority share.
• The manager: One of the longest serving in the league, Johnnie Jackson has been in charge since May 2022.
• Expectations for the season: After gaining promotion through the playoffs last season, the objective on the pitch is to stay up. Off the field, financial stability is paramount and the importance of remaining higher in the pyramid than MK Dons is impossible to overestimate.
• Players in common: Ryan Johnson, Joe Lewis and Myles Hippolyte all played for County in recent years with varying levels of success. Mark suggested they might all be injured, which would be a blessing.
• Key players:
  • Matty Stevens: A boxer in his youth, now a striker and has twelve goals in thirty-one games this season.
  • Marcus Browne: ex-Oxford and Middlesbrough midfielder, eighteen goals in thirty-eight appearances this season.
  • Junior Nkeng: Young Spanish winger pressed into service as a wingback. Very rapid, better going forward than in defence.
• Strengths: They like to play on the front foot and press well. They don’t concede many.
• Weaknesses: Can struggle to get back if they’re turned on the break.
• Prediction: Mark would be happy with a 1-1 draw.

I’ve only skimmed the surface with this precis, get the whole thing here:

Today’s tune, prompted by next Monday’s doings at Edgeley Park, is “Fun Day In The Park” by Half Man Half Biscuit:

Wednesday, 25^th March 2026.

Bad news from County this morning; Brad Hills did his anterior cruciate ligament against Luton on Saturday. He’s going to be out for months with that and he’ll be badly missed. A particular class of Cardiff City fan has been all over the socials gloating about Hills’ injury, which is nice of them but goes to prove that his song is accurate, he really is “in their heads.” Joseph Olowu will step up, of course, but we’ll be looking a bit thin for defenders on the bench. It’s being suggested that we recall Christy Grogan from loan at Aldershot as back-up.

Rumours from the Sponsors’ Event held at The Loft Social in Warren Street today:

• Artu Hoskonen: Back in training on Friday after a groin strain and raring to go. He does a lot of raring but not much going so far.
• Louie Barry: Back training at County next week, may make an appearance at Bolton on Easter Monday. I suspect “make an appearance” probably means he’ll wave at us from his seat in the stand, but I don’t suppose Villa would have released him to train with us unless he was physically, if not match, fit.
• No plans to recall Christy Grogan at the moment, players like Olowu, Dacres-Ogley and Dodgson will be expected to fill in for Hills as required.

TSBW’s main show tonight was an absolute corker, featuring Russ Johnson, Waggie, Andy Reding and fan guest Rob McCloy. As usual, their review of happenings on Planet County over the last seven days was thought-provoking and at times comical:

• Luton (A):
  • The McCloy Effect: Rob was confident that the match would end 1-1, even when we were under the cosh, because that’s what always happens when he watches County there.
  • Corey Addai: Some save that was when he tipped that shot over the bar. Nobody less than six foot twelve would have reached that.
  • The County fans: They could be heard loud and proud on the TV as well as in the ground.
  • Malik Mothersille: Another excellent cameo, his run and cross to Adama Sidibeh deserved to provide the winner and was only foiled by a superhuman intervention by a Luton defender.
  • Oliver Norwood: His fourth goal from a direct free kick this season and the third from the touchline to the bottom left-hand corner of the net. The point was made that perhaps we shouldn’t be relying on worldies to get us three points all the time and the occasional conventional goal might be a good idea, but thank goodness we have the option.
  • The toss: It appears we won the toss and chose to swap ends, which we don’t normally do away from home. The mere suggestion that there’s some sort of advantage to be gained by doing this drove Andy to the point of apoplexy.
  • Top performances: Ethan Pye, more like his usual self; Corey Addai, faultless when called upon and Joseph Olowu who stepped up when Brad Hills had to go off.
  • Brad Hills: The injury looked bad straight away and it’s typical of the bloke that he refused to be carried off on a stretcher.
• When we get behind closed doors: There was a BCD friendly against Wrexham U21s this week, players thought to be involved included Lewis Bate, Malik Mothersille and Roman Dixon.
• Adama Sidibeh: Should he be getting more game time, or are we better starting with Tanto Olaofe and Kyle Wootton and bringing Sidibeh on when defenders are tiring? My opinion is that Tanto is starting to get going now, having been obviously out of touch when he first returned, and I think the current arrangement is best. If Wootton is injured or needs a rest, it would be interesting to see how defences cope with Tanto and Sidibeh running at them.
• Louie Barry: With him rumoured to be back in training with us next week, the obvious questions were raised:
  • How soon will we see him play?
  • Is he any good at centre half?
• Jack Diamond: He’s one of those players who divide opinion. He’s a superb ball carrier but does his end product justify his place in the team?
• Wembley:
  • Support: We’re going to be outnumbered around three to one by Luton fans as things stand, could the club be doing more to promote ticket sales? You could almost ask if they could be doing any less, but they do seem to be coming round to the idea of doing some marketing at last.
  • TSBW: There’s an El Hattico Special Pod and a fan-made documentary in the planning stages.
• Season Tickets:
  • How much: Other clubs have released prices for next season but County have been typically reticent. This perhaps understandable with an outside chance of promotion still on the cards but that hasn’t stopped other clubs in the same position.
  • Pay on the drip: Fans have been asking for a way to spread payments for years and there may be some movement on this at last. There’s always the option to save money up in a personal scheme, either in a teapot on the mantlepiece or better still in a bank account, with the Vernon (the building society, not the bear, he’d only spend it on drink, kebabs and lady bears) or with Stockport Credit Union. In fact, and I might be getting high on my own supply here, I’ve just started the process of joining the Credit Union to save for season 2027-28. All done over my phone and, assuming it goes through OK, a painless process.
• Random Shit Of The Week: A fiendishly difficult quiz, based around County squad numbers over the years, devised by Dan Culverwell and presented by Waggie. I was so busy laughing at the contestant’s reactions that I failed to get any right myself and I disturbed the dog in the process.

An excellent pod with an excellent fan guest and I commend it to the house:

Today’s tune, brought to mind by the injury to Brad Hills, is “Another Nail In My Heart” by Squeeze:

Thursday, 26^th March 2026.

We need to have a serious talk about the Vertu Trophy final at Wembley. Think upon these things if you aren’t already going:

• As things stand, we look to be taking around nine thousand fans and if that’s the case, we’ll be outnumbered around three to one. Now there’s some comfort in the fact that our number will be committed fans who know the songs and aren’t just there for the day out but we really need more bodies.
• You might be saying that you’re waiting for the playoff final but there’s no guarantee we’ll make the playoffs, never mind win the semi-final, so April 12^th might be our only visit to Wembley this season.
• You might think the Vertu Trophy has been fatally devalued by the inclusion of Premier League U21 teams but they’ve all been seen off now, and we’re up against a club from our own division.
• To quote the sea shanty, times is hard and the wages low. While that’s true, a trip to Wembley doesn’t have to be a Bacchanalian orgy of massive proportions; the tickets aren’t madly expensive and if you grab a seat on a coach and take a packed lunch it won’t cost an arm and a leg.
• County’s ticketing system is a faff but I’m in my seventh decade and I’ve managed to navigate it. If it’s beyond you, get a teenager to help.
• Did you go to the two finals we played in back in the 1990s? Do you remember the Stoke fans taking time out of their busy schedules making pots to taunt us with banners as we came back up the M6? Don’t you want to exorcise those ghosts by seeing us win the thing?
• County have never won a national trophy. Don’t you want to be there when we finally get some proper silverware from a knock-out competition? The Cheshire Senior Cup is great but it doesn’t get many headlines in the national press.

The highlights from Saturday’s match against Luton are well worth a watch:

Jonathan the Geordie Hatter was back with his Thursday Show tonight, the theme of the show being tidiness. I joined the rest of the gang in the live chat to be serenaded by the usual panoply of indy tunes, tonight’s crop included Lily Allen, The Pastels, Echo & The Bunnymen, Heavenly, the Fly By Night Rounders, Katie Melua, Parquet Courts and Billy Bragg. We heard comments from Dave Challinor, we had the lowdown on AFC Wimbledon, we discussed things we should get loyalty points for other than buying tickets, we wished Ian Dowden a happy birthday and we talked about how common Wombles were. If you missed the live version catch up with the recording here:

https://the-geordie-hatter.mixlr.com/recordings/3076626

Today’s tune is one I suggested in line with the show’s theme; it was the first punk single I bought, “Neat Neat Neat” by the Damned:

Friday 27^th March 2026.

Get down to EP this Sunday for Edd Powell’s Stockport Football Fair in the 1883 Suite from 10.00 to 1.30. Stall holders from all over the country will be there with their wares, there will be refreshments, a raffle and a warm welcome for everyone. Just £1 to get in, all monies raised go to @ParkinsonsUK.

County have released this video of a day in the life of Liam Cash, the man responsible for the impeccable Edgeley Park lawn:

County Ladies Club Secretary, Jane Morley, has been nominated for a Grassroots Football Award, long overdue recognition for her years of selfless voluntary work for County and women’s football in general. The club will find out in the coming weeks if she has been shortlisted.

Here’s my guess at a team for Saturday; no Brad Hils Hills Hills, alas, so I’ve gone four at the back. I see Sid and Tanto as interchangeable starters, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see the one start instead of the other. It’s as well I don’t do this stuff for a living:

Today’s tune is a live version of “Baby Jane” by Dr. Feelgood:

See you all at Edgeley Park!

Animo et fide.