Cod Almighty | Diary

Alone in a generic noise

22 June 2020

Trentside Diary writes: In a moment of controversy, or more accurately excitement, an "independent" arbitration panel decided it would give one more stay of execution for the somewhat tarnished Macclesfield. They suspended four points of its six-point deduction until 2020-21. I don't condone employees of football clubs not getting paid: they don't do it for love, even if we do. But the somewhat gleeful conclusion of this action left the bra fetishists hanging on to the cliff edge with their last digit before plunging into the oblivion of non-League.

Tee-hee. If this wasn't Cod Almighty, I’d probably put a row of grinning emojis here. Were there any Town fans on that panel?

Stevenage may yet be saved if the Conference decides it can’t go ahead next year. Their chairman is also threatening legal action. Unless he's ridiculously rich, maybe he should concentrate on preparing for next season where they belong; at the moment they couldn’t field a full team.

On a positive note, Adam Richman has become a shareholder. Good for him. There’s been much speculation about him one day gracing the stands of Blundell Park. That can only be good for our profile and a jumbo haddock and chips at Steel's would be a great way to round off the day. If ever there was a time to upgrade the catering offering at the ground, this is it. Come on Town, he presented Man versus Food.

Finally, I watched a bit of the "elite" football currently being offered on TV: not sure what to make of it. I tried some with the fake “noise”. It's not really realistic is it? A bit of a "satellite" delay in cheers or groans when anything major happens. The bit I heard was completely generic and could have been played for any passage of play. There was no suggestion of what was happening on the pitch apart from when someone scored. We live a about a quarter of a mile from the City Ground and when a game's on, we know what's happening. Any football fan would. What it isn't is generic noise.

Then I tried some with no noise. Better but it was equally weird. You would get more atmosphere when the under-10s battle it out on the ploggers. All I can say is whether you are a top-flight or lower league club or a TV station broadcasting matches, you need us. Football fans are your lifeblood both financially and to make it the spectacle it is; you ignore us at your peril.

UTM