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Saturday 23 December 2023 - Coal For Christmas

Photo by Metin Ozer on Unsplash

Last time I rashly promised “a Christmas Cracker” for my final blog of 2023, but I suspect what I am about to serve up is more like turkey leftovers.  Merry Christmas.


On Sunday I put myself on Santa’s naughty list.  We were at White Post Farm for a dog friendly evening which, at this time of the year, meant a lot of it was spent stumbling around pitch black fields with only an inadequate torch for illumination.  It was great fun.  At one point an elf came up to me (I hadn't been drinking) and asked if my daughters would like their photograph taken with Santa, or as it appeared to me a tatty mannequin sat on a bench.  I gave the offer short shrift, rather presumptuously in hindsight, but was instantly overruled by my wife and I wandered off, tail between my legs, to inspect a pair of animatronic reindeer that were much more impressive (they did have real ones as well).  After the photos had been taken, my wife asked me why I had been so rude to Santa, but I genuinely had no idea what the problem was or why I had potentially embarrassed her.

        It hadn’t been a real Santa, but it had been a real person dressed as Santa.  You can’t take me anywhere seemingly.


Last weekend’s recommended double was scuppered by a penalty on ninety-eight minutes that robbed Derby County (and me) of a 1-0 victory and £41.50 profit.  My other selection Everton won 2-0 and never looked in danger of defeat.  It was the betting equivalent of your author buying a Flake 99 from the ice cream van and letting it slip through his fingers without taking a lick.

And then having the ice cream van run him over.

Despite a recent run of poor form, Stockport County (8/13) have remained top of League Two and won their last game 8-0 hinting at a return to winning ways.  On Friday night at seven forty-five pm the Hatters welcome Notts County to Edgeley Park and it wouldn’t surprise me if they put ten past their visitors.  It’s hard to believe that not so long ago Notts looked like they were about to boss this league, but if the season had started six games ago they would be eighteenth on six points and not currently hanging on to a play-off spot in sixth place.  If Stockport lose on Friday night it would feel like your author dropping that Flake 99, having the van run him over and then the driver getting out and nicking his wallet.  Six points behind Stockport County with a game in hand are Wrexham (2/5), who might themselves have been top had their away form been better.  On Saturday at three pm they are at home to yet another County, Newport, but it doesn’t really matter who they are playing as they just don’t lose at the Racecourse Ground.  But, if they were to lose on Saturday afternoon, it would feel like your author dropping that Flake 99, getting run over by the ice cream van, being robbed by the driver and then having them win £10k on a scratchcard bought with his stolen money.

My “hypothetical” £20 win double on Stockport County and Wrexham currently returns £45.23 with Sky Bet at combined odds of 1.26/1 for a profit of £25.23 after deduction of stake.  You never know.

I hope to see you next year.

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