Post by sandbachhatter on Dec 1, 2013 18:25:33 GMT
...County Heaven's very own Two Ronnies (but you can call us Maccie and Sandie!), as interviewed by our hosts
for their match magazine's 'visiting fans' section.
A double-page spread for us there, too. Which is nice.
Happy pre-match reading!
*******************************************************************************************************************
‘Macc’ and ‘Sandy’ write for the Stockport programme, on behalf of the County Heaven online fans’ forum (www.countyheaven.maxforum.org) - being, respectively, Hatters based in Macclesfield and Sandbach. They have both been supporting County for over twenty-five years.
How would you assess your season so far?
Macc: Well, it started brightly – with some sunny intervals – but has been stormy for the most part since. We currently find ourselves stuck in a(n all-time) low, and will need to go like the wind to get out of it!
Sandy: I think ‘disappointing’ best sums it up for me without swearing! I don’t think any County fan, hand on heart, expected us to be pushing for promotion this season, but a top-half finish and a season without relegation fears would have been a welcome change.
It’s fair to say that, like Luton, Stockport have had more downs than ups in recent years. It gets a bit wearing doesn’t it?
Macc: Without a doubt! Four relegations in the last eleven seasons have left us feeling world-weary to say the least. I’m all for roller coasters over merry-go-rounds, so far as life in general is concerned, but I’d sure welcome a few consecutive years of steady progress in my world of football.
Sandy: Yes, it’s all pretty exhausting being a Hatter isn’t it?! I wouldn’t change my club for the world, and at least it doesn’t get boring, but I would gladly take an uneventful end to the season right now. Taking survival to the last few games, again, doesn’t bear thinking about.
After two seasons down here, what are your thoughts on the Blue Square Bet Premier?
Macc: A testing league to negotiate, with very little to choose between most teams in it – a good number of whom would thrive comfortably in League Two. It’s also no respecter of ex-League reputations...sadly!
Sandy: Most County fans were well aware how tough a league it was going to be to get out of, so there were no delusions of grandeur in that respect, but we hope to leave the BSP eventually - and at the other end to the one we’re now facing
There aren’t too many foreign managers in the lower leagues but you’ve got one in Darije Kalezić, who previously led De Graafschap to the Dutch Second Division title and into the Eredivisie. Is he the man to keep you up?
Macc: We shall let you know in a month and a day’s time! His continental pedigree is good, and he likes to play a passing game, but, hopefully, there will also be in our remaining performances that necessary grit to help grind out the right results.
Sandy: Yes, I think it’s fair to say Darije has been on a steep learning curve since joining us and I just hope we’ll see a sufficiently prompt turnaround in our recent fortunes to keep us in this league for next season.
Who's your player to watch?
Macc: Sean Newton, our left back. He likes to go forward, and, when he gets the opportunity, is mesmerising in a dead-ball situation.
Sandy: I’d second that. I also think Alex Kenyon and Jon Nolan in midfield can, on their day, be real assets.
What are your memories from playing Luton in the Football League?
Macc: We went for a good few years without playing each other, while County languished in the bottom tier during the 1970s and ‘80s. When the games did come along, they tended to be draws at Kenilworth Road and Luton victories at Edgeley Park. A particularly happy memory was that of the carnival atmosphere here on the final day of the 1996/97 season, by which time County were already guaranteed promotion and Luton had a place in the play-offs. Both sets of Hatters’ fans marked the occasion by sporting a dazzling array of headgear!
Sandy: Well, whilst we’ve both supported the club for a long time, I should explain that Maccy is (considerably) older than me and I wasn’t around for the ‘70’s! I’d agree that the final game of that memorable ‘96/’97 season is the best I can remember.
What’s the best Stockport match you’ve witnessed since you’ve been supporting them?
Macc: Claiming a top-flight scalp with a 2-1 FA Cup win over QPR in 1994. Big Kevin Francis and - with a volley worthy of the Premiership - Andy Preece scored our goals, and the game enjoyed top billing on Match Of The Day. Heady times!
Sandy: This is the problem with Maccy going first each time, he nicks all the best answers! He’s right, though, the QPR game was special. I’d say that the play-off win at Wembley in 2008 would also be up there for me.
Macc: Age before beauty, remember, Sandy – although in this case...
What’s your club’s favourite song?
Macc: ‘Arthur Brownlow’, a lengthy eulogy to a late County fan who resembled the Crossroads character of the same name - and was equally, if not more, curmudgeonly. Usually to be heard towards the end of away games, when County are either winning comfortably (rare) or beyond hope of a point.
Sandy: ‘The Scarf My Father Wore’ is bound to get an airing a few times today, as is ‘Here’s to the Man from Uruguay’ which is our tribute to former manager and County legend Danny Bergara who sadly passed away in 2007.
What’s the best thing about being a Stockport fan?
Macc: Feeling part of an extended family and, whenever necessary, knowing that there are like-minded lost souls with whom to share pain and suffering.
Sandy: I think it’s our gallows humour. Our fans have the ability to find something to laugh or chant about in the worst possible footballing situations! Any group of fans who can make you smile when 6-0 down are something special.
If you could change one aspect of modern football, what would it be?
Macc: Creating success for clubs by throwing senseless amounts of money at them.
Sandy: Yes, most of the things I’d change would be in the top flight – Premier League greed, the astronomical wages, players falling over like they’ve been shot... I’d also like to rectify the vast difference in the standard of refereeing between the top and the bottom of the football pyramid. Of course, if today’s ref is reading this I don’t mean him! If I can only pick one, I’ll say Burnley. Can we get rid of them, please?
It’s Hatters vs Hatters today – but do your fans actually refer to yourselves by that nickname? You’re County really, aren’t you?
Macc: In day-to-day conversation, perhaps, although a great many of us do cherish the more historical nickname, based on Stockport’s hat-making, and like to trot it out on a regular basis. Just witness our County Heaven monickers!
Sandy: I think we were here first, weren’t we?! It’s just a geographical thing really. If you asked most Northerners who the Hatters were they’d most likely say us, and similarly down South they’d say Luton.
What’s the score going to be today?
Macc: I would certainly like to think that County might improve on a lamentably shot-less performance at Edgeley Park earlier this month - which, hopefully, shouldn’t be impossible - and revive our previous tradition of grabbing a share of the points here: 1-1...fingers crossed!
Sandy: I don’t think I remember the game at our place. I know I was there, but my recent counselling sessions seem to have erased it from my memory. I hear we were awful, though. I’d like to think that, as the second biggest Hatters in the country, and a team unlikely to make the play-offs now, you might do us a favour for old times’ sake?! I’ll say 1-0 to the Hatters!
Macc: Whatever the outcome, any Luton fans wishing to join in the post-match debate and banter on County Heaven will, of course, be made most welcome. No excessive gloating if things happen to go the way of your Hatters, mind!
for their match magazine's 'visiting fans' section.
A double-page spread for us there, too. Which is nice.
Happy pre-match reading!
*******************************************************************************************************************
‘Macc’ and ‘Sandy’ write for the Stockport programme, on behalf of the County Heaven online fans’ forum (www.countyheaven.maxforum.org) - being, respectively, Hatters based in Macclesfield and Sandbach. They have both been supporting County for over twenty-five years.
How would you assess your season so far?
Macc: Well, it started brightly – with some sunny intervals – but has been stormy for the most part since. We currently find ourselves stuck in a(n all-time) low, and will need to go like the wind to get out of it!
Sandy: I think ‘disappointing’ best sums it up for me without swearing! I don’t think any County fan, hand on heart, expected us to be pushing for promotion this season, but a top-half finish and a season without relegation fears would have been a welcome change.
It’s fair to say that, like Luton, Stockport have had more downs than ups in recent years. It gets a bit wearing doesn’t it?
Macc: Without a doubt! Four relegations in the last eleven seasons have left us feeling world-weary to say the least. I’m all for roller coasters over merry-go-rounds, so far as life in general is concerned, but I’d sure welcome a few consecutive years of steady progress in my world of football.
Sandy: Yes, it’s all pretty exhausting being a Hatter isn’t it?! I wouldn’t change my club for the world, and at least it doesn’t get boring, but I would gladly take an uneventful end to the season right now. Taking survival to the last few games, again, doesn’t bear thinking about.
After two seasons down here, what are your thoughts on the Blue Square Bet Premier?
Macc: A testing league to negotiate, with very little to choose between most teams in it – a good number of whom would thrive comfortably in League Two. It’s also no respecter of ex-League reputations...sadly!
Sandy: Most County fans were well aware how tough a league it was going to be to get out of, so there were no delusions of grandeur in that respect, but we hope to leave the BSP eventually - and at the other end to the one we’re now facing
There aren’t too many foreign managers in the lower leagues but you’ve got one in Darije Kalezić, who previously led De Graafschap to the Dutch Second Division title and into the Eredivisie. Is he the man to keep you up?
Macc: We shall let you know in a month and a day’s time! His continental pedigree is good, and he likes to play a passing game, but, hopefully, there will also be in our remaining performances that necessary grit to help grind out the right results.
Sandy: Yes, I think it’s fair to say Darije has been on a steep learning curve since joining us and I just hope we’ll see a sufficiently prompt turnaround in our recent fortunes to keep us in this league for next season.
Who's your player to watch?
Macc: Sean Newton, our left back. He likes to go forward, and, when he gets the opportunity, is mesmerising in a dead-ball situation.
Sandy: I’d second that. I also think Alex Kenyon and Jon Nolan in midfield can, on their day, be real assets.
What are your memories from playing Luton in the Football League?
Macc: We went for a good few years without playing each other, while County languished in the bottom tier during the 1970s and ‘80s. When the games did come along, they tended to be draws at Kenilworth Road and Luton victories at Edgeley Park. A particularly happy memory was that of the carnival atmosphere here on the final day of the 1996/97 season, by which time County were already guaranteed promotion and Luton had a place in the play-offs. Both sets of Hatters’ fans marked the occasion by sporting a dazzling array of headgear!
Sandy: Well, whilst we’ve both supported the club for a long time, I should explain that Maccy is (considerably) older than me and I wasn’t around for the ‘70’s! I’d agree that the final game of that memorable ‘96/’97 season is the best I can remember.
What’s the best Stockport match you’ve witnessed since you’ve been supporting them?
Macc: Claiming a top-flight scalp with a 2-1 FA Cup win over QPR in 1994. Big Kevin Francis and - with a volley worthy of the Premiership - Andy Preece scored our goals, and the game enjoyed top billing on Match Of The Day. Heady times!
Sandy: This is the problem with Maccy going first each time, he nicks all the best answers! He’s right, though, the QPR game was special. I’d say that the play-off win at Wembley in 2008 would also be up there for me.
Macc: Age before beauty, remember, Sandy – although in this case...
What’s your club’s favourite song?
Macc: ‘Arthur Brownlow’, a lengthy eulogy to a late County fan who resembled the Crossroads character of the same name - and was equally, if not more, curmudgeonly. Usually to be heard towards the end of away games, when County are either winning comfortably (rare) or beyond hope of a point.
Sandy: ‘The Scarf My Father Wore’ is bound to get an airing a few times today, as is ‘Here’s to the Man from Uruguay’ which is our tribute to former manager and County legend Danny Bergara who sadly passed away in 2007.
What’s the best thing about being a Stockport fan?
Macc: Feeling part of an extended family and, whenever necessary, knowing that there are like-minded lost souls with whom to share pain and suffering.
Sandy: I think it’s our gallows humour. Our fans have the ability to find something to laugh or chant about in the worst possible footballing situations! Any group of fans who can make you smile when 6-0 down are something special.
If you could change one aspect of modern football, what would it be?
Macc: Creating success for clubs by throwing senseless amounts of money at them.
Sandy: Yes, most of the things I’d change would be in the top flight – Premier League greed, the astronomical wages, players falling over like they’ve been shot... I’d also like to rectify the vast difference in the standard of refereeing between the top and the bottom of the football pyramid. Of course, if today’s ref is reading this I don’t mean him! If I can only pick one, I’ll say Burnley. Can we get rid of them, please?
It’s Hatters vs Hatters today – but do your fans actually refer to yourselves by that nickname? You’re County really, aren’t you?
Macc: In day-to-day conversation, perhaps, although a great many of us do cherish the more historical nickname, based on Stockport’s hat-making, and like to trot it out on a regular basis. Just witness our County Heaven monickers!
Sandy: I think we were here first, weren’t we?! It’s just a geographical thing really. If you asked most Northerners who the Hatters were they’d most likely say us, and similarly down South they’d say Luton.
What’s the score going to be today?
Macc: I would certainly like to think that County might improve on a lamentably shot-less performance at Edgeley Park earlier this month - which, hopefully, shouldn’t be impossible - and revive our previous tradition of grabbing a share of the points here: 1-1...fingers crossed!
Sandy: I don’t think I remember the game at our place. I know I was there, but my recent counselling sessions seem to have erased it from my memory. I hear we were awful, though. I’d like to think that, as the second biggest Hatters in the country, and a team unlikely to make the play-offs now, you might do us a favour for old times’ sake?! I’ll say 1-0 to the Hatters!
Macc: Whatever the outcome, any Luton fans wishing to join in the post-match debate and banter on County Heaven will, of course, be made most welcome. No excessive gloating if things happen to go the way of your Hatters, mind!