www.county4life.com

You 'Avin a Lark? is a page dedicated to the inner workings of the brain of Chris Larkin, I will rant, rave and praise over the course of the season and if you miss any of my entries they can be found further down the page, or by simply clicking on the links below. Happy Reading.

Brits Cup goes Tits Up
Thank You Scotty
Fan-tastic
August Review
Brave Baker Bags a Brace
Go-Eng to South Africa
Curtains for Stanley?
Chelsea end Transfer Window with a Ban-g

British teams in the Champions League this year aren't doing amazingly, well of the 5 representatives we have this year, only 3 are looking any good being Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, whereas Glasgow Rangers have really let down Scotland in Europe, going into a comparitavely easy group they were expected to qualify and at the very minimum qualify for the UEFA Cup but now that is looking ever more unlikely as they now need wins against Stuttgart at Ibrox and then Sevilla in Spain both of which are unlikely to produce win for the 'Gers, they recently put the UEFA Cup in doubt as well after pissing away a 1-0 lead to lose 4-1 to Unirea and then only managing a 1-1 draw in Romania.

Liverpool aren't looking much better - with only 4 points from a possible 12 they are looking in danger of not qualifying for the knock-out phase of the competition either, they started with an unconvincing win against Hungarian side, Debreceni, winning 1-0 at Anfield, they then lost 2-0 in Italy to Fiorentina and then threw away a 1 goal lead to lose 2-1 to Lyon at Anfield and then looked to have done enough to pick up a priceless win in France but only to be devastated by a last gasp Lyon goal, meaning the need to beat both Fiorentina and Debreceni to go through but their hopes are hanging by a thread.

A little lower down the footballing ladder the UEFA Cup isn't looking great for British clubs either, as Aston Villa fell at the first hurdle losing on away goals to Rapid Wien following a 1-0 defeat in Austria, Villa looked to be on their way to the group stages when they went 2-0 up at Villa Park but conceded to Stefan Maierhoffer and Rapid went through on Away Goals.

Not forgetting Jim Gannon's Motherwell who after losing at home 1-0 to Llanelli in the first round stormed back to win 3-1 in Wales and send the 'Well through 3-2 on Aggregate and then in the second round they found themselves 1-0 down to Albanian part-timers Flamurtari before righting the wrong back in Scotland winning with a resounding 8-1 scoreline, before finally crashing out 6-1 on aggregate to Steaua Bucharest.

Celtic aren't fairing much better than Rangers in their UEFA Cup group needing to make up 5 points with 3 games remaining, having collected just a solitary point in a 1-1 draw at home to Villa's conquerers Rapid Wien.

Fulham and Everton look like the only 2 clubs capable of going through to the knock-outs so of the 10 realistic representatives only 5 are doing well, it is a shocking statistic and could possibly spell the end of British dominance in Europe as surely the United European success has to end soon and Arsenal just don't strike me as a strong enough team to win the Champions League or even make the final.

This is the least I feel I could do for our owner Scotty who is sadly stepping down as full time editor of County4life, Manchester born and raised, Scotty turned his back on the big teams of Manchester at a young age and has since been supporting Stockport County and even finds a place in his heart for little Altrincham.

A veteran of 2 promotions, 2 relegations and 5 Wembley visits, Scotty has a vast knowledge of all things Stockport County and has put them to great effect in his witty columns every week until recently when due to a full schedule, have been constantly on time and although the website has slowed down in the last couple of weeks as soon as I learn a few more things of Scott in the coming days it will be back to normal.

County4life's debut came in October 2004, against Port Vale as a simple bit of banter and a match report, the site has since gone from strength to strength and is widely regarded as one of the best fansites on the internet for any team even getting hits from our friends down at Yeovil Town from their messageboard CiderSpace, he has also managed to break away from the pack and avoid joining the MK Dons' of the interhighway and stayed away from the disgraceful .rivals franchise scum.

In recent years we have been brought scoops and exclusives through reliable and not so reliable sources, most just end up being WUMs looking for a little recognition for nothing but every now and again one slips through the net that is genuine and because of it we have been informed of a pending transfer or change of management days before it has happened, possibly the most high profile being the arrival of Johnny Mullins.

To wrap this up I just want to say one last thanks and well done to Scotty who has worked so hard to give us the website we all know and love since 2004 and I will hope to keep it as popular and entertaining for many more years to come, you can help by emailing us

Since the early 90's and the re-birth of the Cheadle End, Stockport County fans have been widely regarded as some of the loudest and most loyal fans in the country despite the small fanbase and we have won acclaim from players and managers all around the country, but ever since the dreaded fall into administration over the Summer the promotion honeymoon was well and truly over and the atmosphere at the games has died away.

We have always been regarded as some of the most underrated fans in the country and plenty of fans of 'big' clubs have been blown away by the passion of our fans, in 2006 we got nationally awarded by Coca Cola as the most passionate fans in England after taking over 800 to Torquay on a Tuesday night and then taking well in excess of 1,500 to Barnet the following weekend, rewarded with survival in the Football League in May in front of 10,006 fans at Edgeley Park for the arrival of Champions Elect Carlisle United.

So why is it that since Administration our fans have actually stopped getting behind the team when they need us more than ever, well partially it's the bandwagon crew who have seen our slide and have jumped off and I say good riddance and maybe some fans have just stopped caring, however I must say I was very impressed by the atmosphere at the Southend game and I think that now we have filtered out the 'glory hunters' the atmosphere is slowly starting to filter back and it is getting better with each passing game, yes the attendances have gone down but the atmosphere seems to be getting better.

So I urge all real County fans to get behind the team and support the lads be it in the Barclays Premier League or the Unibond Premier League.

AUGUST REVIEW

Oldham Athletic - Where it all began:

We travelled to Oldham on the first day expected to lose quite considerably, but we battled for a point in front of a massive traveling army of County fans, due mainly to a massive performance from Michael Raynes and Owain fon Williams. So our season started brightly and near enough every fan went home happy with a point from Boundary Park, which can be a tough place to go but more importantly the season had officially begun and the talking stopped and the action started.

My Man of the Match - Michael Raynes

Crashing out in Yorkshire

After a hard earned point at Oldham the season looked like it could be quite positive, a trip to promotion favorites Huddersfield Town in the Carling Cup saw us go crashing out in unconvincing style, I was actually traveling back from Alton Towers as the game was being played and it wasn't long before my friend text me with Rhodes 1-0 Hudds and that's when I just knew that it would just not be our day, not surprisingly I shortly after got a text saying Rhodes 2-0, I then turned off my phone, but the lure of a possible comeback proved to much for me so I had to switch my phone back on resulting in another text saying 3-0 game over, it was whilst on the train back to Stockport just after Macclesfield I got a text saying 3-1 WE CAN SCORE in our inebriated state we decided this was reason for a little train party, that was the end of our Carling Cup dreams, so a point and a loss in the Cup in what can only be described as a baptism of fire for Gary Ablett.

My Man of the Match - Paul Gerrard

Plundered by The Pirates

League One football finally returned to Edgeley Park and it wasn't long before we we're all thinking has it come a little to soon, an awful ball by Michael Raynes left Rovers with a simple tap in, and then not to long after it was 2-0, a good second half performance from County was ultimately not enough to stop Bristol taking the points as well as a clean sheet, but a worrying start to our home league season, Ablett will need to have words with certain people.

My Man of the Match - David Poole

Carlisle snatch lucky victory

Stockport County were desperately unlucky to not come away with anything from this game, we had by far the better of the play and were easily the dominant team and I feel most Carlisle fans would admit this, it was after some great link-up work from Carlisle that they scored a fantastic goal through former County loanee Kevan Hurst who was making his debut having just signed for the Cumbrian outfit, but the Carlisle fans had barely retaken their seats when Richard Keogh of Carlisle scored a cracking header, a looping bullet than gave the 'Keeper no chance, unfortunately for him, it was his own 'keeper.
The second half was much of the same but Carlisle snatched a goal in the second half and held on f or a scrappy win but certainly a performance the County fans and players should take heart from.

My Man of the Match - Johnny Mullins

Oh I do love to be beside the Seaside!

Stockport County still in search of our first win made the long journey south to lowly Brighton and Hove Albion, Nicky Forster, the man who ensured their survival last year against Stockport County gave The Seagulls the lead but this lead was soon canceled out by Carl Baker who's first goal of the season took County into half time level following some good work by Chelsea loanee Liam Bridcutt, into the second half and Brighton had a penalty but Fon Williams tipped it on to the post and to safety, shortly after, that man Baker doubled his tally and gave us a 2-1 lead, the first time County have led this season, but the lead only lasted 7 minutes before County legend Liam Dickinson scored a cracking equaliser and much to his credit didn't celebrate the goal against his former club, the Albion were shortly after reduced to 10 men and then shortly after that 9 having fouled Peter Thompson in the box when he looked certain to score giving Baker the chance to score from the spot which he did and completed his first County hat-trick, Bridcutt was then sent off for County meaning a nervous finale for County but Oli Johnson wrapped up the point with a good run into the box and rounding the 'keeper to make it 4-2 to County and confirm our first 3 points of the season.

My Man of the Match - Carl Baker

Oh when the Saints go marching in.

Our final game of the month was Southampton at Edgeley Park, Saints still looking for their first points of the season and looking frightfully into League Two on -8 points, they got a debatable penalty just before half-time with Dick.. sorry Rickie Lambert who converted to send County in fuming at the ref, just after half-time County had a stonewall penalty appeal turned down even though Mullins couldn't run due to having his shirt held but justice was served in stoppage time when Southampton handballed and Carl Baker gave County a point, unfortunately a good game of football was overshadowed by an inept referee.

My Man of the Match - Danny Pilkington

Final Word on August

After starting so well the month took a turn for the worse with three consecutive losses two of which were at home in the league but we seem to have picked up now and Ablett seems to have found a system that the County players are enjoying and adapting well too giving some great performances, now with a respectable number of points on the board we can push onwards and upwards.

August Player of the Month for me - Carl Baker. (Not necessarily the County4life player of the month.)

I know this topic has been previously touched upon by Scotty in the Match Report but I feel the bravery and courage of Carl Baker to play this weekend despite the death of his brother earlier in the week.

Carl's younger brother Mike finally succumbed to his fight with Leuikimia on 10th September 2009 and Carl showed incredible courage choosing to play on Saturday against Yeovil having been offered the choice to stay in Liverpool with his family or travel to Somerset to face Yeovil he chose the latter, he also showed incredible composure to score from the spot, in what is almost an identical situation to what Frank Lampard found himself in a couple of years ago faced with a penalty shortly after his mum had passed away.

After scoring the goal he was quickly over to the bench where he got a shirt that simply read "This is for you Mike" a touching but simple tribute to his brother, that wasn't it though he also scored again just before half time which almost saw him break down in tears as the emotion finally got to him and it was probably too much for him to all take in at once and half-time probably came at a good time for the lad.

At the end of the game Gary Ablett encouraged a tearful Baker to make his way to the travelling County contingent that had signed a condolensce card for him and he seemed very grateful for the gesture, a small token of the appreciation the County fans show for him bravely coming through this difficult period.

Carl certainly did his brother proud with a cooly taken penalty and a fine goal on half-time and I am sure that his family and his brother are proud of him, all the County fans are and I think even the Yeovil fans were inspired by his bravery.

On behalf of the entire County4life team condolensces and best wishes to Carl and his family and anyone else who knew Mike.

Rest In Peace.

REVENGE IS SWEET FOR FIVE STAR LIONS

Cast your mind back 2 years to the shame and humiliation our proud footballing nation suffered, our record was abysmal for supposedly one of the 'elite sides' crap results included;

Croatia (Away) Lost 2-0
Isreael (Away) Drew 0-0
FYR Macedonia (home) Drew 0-0
Russia (Away) Lost 2-1
Croatia (home) Lost 3-2

We we're a pisspoor excuse for a football team and we had to grit our teeth and sit through Euro 2008 as the usual suspects, France, Italy, Spain and Germany etc. took up there positions but with us being the only major casualty of the qualifiers.

Although our World Cup dreams under Fabio Capello kicked-off with a win it was in much the same vein as the previous campaign, beating Andorra 2-0 in Spain but being held until 60 odd minutes before finally breaking the deadlock in what should've been a routine win we were upstaged on the World stage once again, cue the night we knew we had turned a corner, Zagreb, where we had lost 2-0 last time we won 4-1 with a stunning hattrick from Theo Walcott and absolutely cruised to victory.

We picked up wins over Belarus, Ukraine and Kazhakstan en route to our glorious Wembley moment when we got revenge on Croatia, with Belarus and Ukraine drawing earlier in the day a point would've seen England secure qualification to the Finals in South Africa next year, the game started in the best possible way with Fat Frank dispatching a penalty after just Seven Minutes, then Stevie G doubled the lead after 18 minutes, shortly after the break Fatty scored again, this time with a header after good work from Glen Johnson down the right to book England's place in next years cup, just a short while later it was 4, fantastic work from Rooney allowed Gerrard in for his second of the Evening.

The Croats did pull one back through Arsenal man Edurardo but there was still time for England to ensure the revenge didn't have the bitter taste of the concedeing the last goal to it, when an error by the Croat 'keeper that would make a schoolboy blush allowed Rooney in for the easiest of tap-in's to end the game 5-1 to England.

What ever Capello has done since taking over as England boss has worked, he has us playing with confidence and flair and notching up resounding wins when it counts, hopefully he will stick around for a good long while.

Well done England!

Over the Summer plenty of clubs have been flashing the cash like nobodies business, Real Madrid and Manchester City have both spent scandalous amounts of money on players this year, £80,000,000 for Ronaldo sums it up, but no one pays attention to the other end of the spectrum, many clubs have felt the Credit Crunch this summer, Stockport County, Southampton, Weymouth, Chester City and others but have all come out fighting in someway or another, however one club may have played their last pre-season.

Accrington Stanley 'The Club that would not die' a truly proud tagline if their ever was one, Accrington have gone bust once before in the old days of Accrington FC but then the fans rallied and formed with another liquidated club to form Accrington Stanley FC, they have shown fantastic fighting spirit and endevour to get back into the Football League after almost 50 years in the non-leagues by winning the Conference title in 2006, in my opinion a great day for English Professional Football as it got back one of it's most famous sons.

Now the club are in dire straits once again and where are all the moneybag clubs now, they should be offering their players on season-long loans for free to these clubs so they can cut the playing costs, it's not ideal but it keeps them afloat but no, big clubs don't care about us little clubs and never will they are too self-involved in trying to outspend each other they have forgotten the ideals of the English game, Football at any level should be good football, foul play should never be encouraged and most of all no fan should ever have to lose their club.

When all is said and done however, you can't point the finger at every 'big' club as some are trying to forge good relationships with 'small' clubs in bad times, Wolves for example have often loaned players to County and in terms of Stanley, Manchester United legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs have agreed to appear as guest speakers at a fundraiser for Accrington Stanley free of charge and Blackburn Rovers have offered Stanley use of their training facilities if they can't afford to use their own and finally as much as I hate them Burnley are being incredibly self-less in agreeing to arrange a friendly at Turf Moor with Accrington keeping all the gate reciepts.

So hats off to some clubs who do care about the plight of small clubs, but the rest of the footballing world should be ashamed by spending all these ridiculous amounts of money on players they are taking away every little clubs dream that perhaps one day it would be them holding aloft the famous Premiership trophy or walking out at Wembley to contest the FA Cup Final because no little club will ever be able to sustain themselves in the top flight now as all these big clubs are ruthless and give absolutely no chance to any of the smaller clubs of England and it has made football somewhat of a joke now, English Premier League, best league in the world, My Arse!!

In the German Bundesliga there have been several champions in the last 10 years, in Serie A until April of last season anyone of 7 teams could have won the league, these both sounds far more competitive that a 4 horse race to me, and lets face it every season one of the big four has a bad season so really it is narrowed to a 2 or 3 horse race maximum.

It is facts like these that make me feel sick that teams like Accrington are looking likely to go bust when other teams are eating from the preverbial trough that is the premiership and the bullshit they call Parachute Payments, what the hell are they for to make the Championship as bad as the Premiership, The FA make me sick why they don't just put a transfer and wage cap on the premiership is beyond me.

With Rugby Union's bloodgate incident taking up the majority of Sky Sports' time I was relieved to see Football back as the main focus point of the channel and was shocked to see that Chelsea had been ban from making any transfers until January 2011.

I do have sympathy towards Chelsea's case in the way they appear to be singled out but if I'm quite honest I find it hard to actually feel sorry for teams when so many Stockport County players have been poached over the years for pittance, it's disgraceful we spend time and money training quality players that could get County to the next level and then get sold on for alot of money but the 'bigger' clubs always come in and coax the naive kids into coming to the bigger team, when in actual fact all it does if deprive County of a player that could've really helped us and in many cases will ruin the players career.

Yes we will get a small bit of compensation, but totally disproportionate to what we actually spent on developing, a disturbing fact, in 2007 FA Youth Cup final 6 of United's 21 man squad we're former County trainees and 4 of Man City's 2008 FA Youth Cup Winning 21 man squad were also from the County centre of excellence.

I know proportionatily it is a small amount but the fact remains those 10 players may have gone on to be superstars at County, so this is why I struggle to muster up any sincere sympathy to the club, I just think it's unfair to target Chelsea specifically and I'm sure most lower-league fans will know exactly what I mean.

This isn't a dig at Premiership clubs as they also have fantastic academies as well I just really sympathise with La Havre as they are going through what is common in The Football League.

What really gets on my nerves though is when teams like West Ham United, Manchester City, Liverpool etc. claim to have fantastic academies and great youth teams etc., they do but they never give the little guys who helped them get there credit, who knew West Brom were the original owners of Micah Richards, City would have you believe he is a City Youth product, or that Nicky Butt was on County's books at Under 15's level, I'll tell you what I bet it isn't many!!

This is exactly why I hate the Premiership, it has ruined football, smaller clubs don't stand a chance of keeping hold of their bright young stars now as 'bigger' teams don't stop until they get their man, look at Ryan Crowther, Jimbo wanted to keep the lad but Liverpool just wouldn't back down and pressured him constantly until he handed in a transfer request and after two years of fringe Reserve football he is now out of contract and currently without a club.

I feel all premiership clubs need to take a long hard look at themselves and think if it wasn't for lower league teams who are often refered to as 'a joke' or 'shit' etc. would these clubs be where they are now?