Cod Almighty | Article

by Michael Shelton

28 July 2005

Big Bad Russ has signed several newies in the close season, but only one Newey. Tom, as his parents probably refer to him, was signed by Town on a free transfer, having failed to prevent Cambridge United's relegation from the Football League last season. The 22-year-old Sheffield-born player previously played for Leyton Orient, and has also had two loan spells at Cambridge, as well as one at Darlington, since leaving Leeds United with whom he was a trainee.

Should Sizable Sadist Slade continue to use three centre-backs this season, it would appear probable that Mr Newey, as his lawyer probably knows him, will play as the left wing-back. I say this since he constitutes just about the entirety of the left-sided element of the GTFC playing squad. This statement is not, in any way, speculation about his political allegiance. He has, to date, amassed 62 league starts, but with a distinct lack of cover or competition for his place there is no reason to think that with a relatively injury-free season he won't have broken the 100 barrier by the Northampton game on 6 May.

Mate, as his dustman probably calls him, will fill the boots of Town's previous left wing-back Ronnie Bull. Having just watched Mariners World footage of Newey being sent off for a truly horrendous diving lunge, it would be easy to suggest he might do this a little too well. However, in his 83 league appearances (including those as a substitute) a total of nine yellow cards and one red is by no means an excessively bad disciplinary record, so this observer at least is prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt by saying he's a young pro who has learned his lesson.

So let's conclude with a few wild stabs in the dark about what Darling - as his significant other probably addresses him - will do this season. Well, he seems to have pleased Enormous Evil Russell in the pre-season games, and as mentioned previously there isn't anyone who looks immediately likely to take his place. He's fitted nicely into the Grimsby mould having already missed a penalty, and is young but not a novice.

If he settles quickly into the role of wing-back without forgetting how to play left-back and left midfield he could be pretty useful to have in the squad. He won't set the division alight, but I think this newie, at least, goes down as a good signing.