Cod Almighty | Diary

Rest in peace Keith Jobling, a player well-remembered

22 September 2020

With the government already trailing that the decision to let fans attend games in October will be 'revisited' it seems clear that Town will have no match-day income anytime soon. Chair Philip Day has already stated the club can survive that situation to the end of the season, so it would appear that we are in a better position than others.

Football itself has already asked for government help in line with that given to the arts to see clubs through the current virus. Football in the top six tiers attracts more visitors than theatres throughout the UK and, unlike football, 80 per cent of theatre seats sold are sold in London. If these have a share of half a billion pounds then football should at the very least receive a similar sum. With the amount required at the fourth flight based on average attendance figures of 4,184 being around £2 million per club, a pro rata pay out to replace gate receipts should be the least Town should expect. We'll see.

Whether the 1,300 fans who purchased a season ticket prior to the latest government u-turn will view the prospect of following Town on iFollow as a fair substitute is doubtful. Casual Diary was among many who spent a third Saturday of utter frustration with the Football League's chosen platform. This week it claimed I'd input incorrect details despite the details being saved from the previous weeks. When I chose reset password, the link supplied directed me to Crewe Alexandra's website. Was some of Town's revenue thus directed to other clubs? I chose to set up a new account and shouldn't have bothered. Five minutes into the second half, online chat suddenly replaced the pictures and we could do nothing to remove it. We spent 20 minutes waiting for the agent to come along soon before again switching off. It felt like Groundhog Day.

So far Town still seek their first win and goal. The online reaction to the defeat by Salford was relatively calm. I do remain perplexed by the fact that forwards signed for their goalscoring record still aren't making the bench. If it's a question of fitness and not injury you have to query how they were fit enough to impress and gain a contract six weeks ago. It's bizarre that, taking that into consideration, after six weeks of being a full time footballer and training full time they are no longer fit enough to play a part.

I will not be judging our season until after the Christmas games and those few already throwing the baby out with the bathwater would do well to do the same. I am concerned that our attack is led by a player who scored twice last season, but I am equally encouraged by the performances of Owura Edwards, Danny Preston and Sean Scannell (before his injury.) With James Hanson, Luke Hendrie, Matt Pollock and Max Wright to return, and the alternative strike force yet to be viewed I remain optimistic.

Cod Almighty passes on its condolences to the family and friends of Keith Jobling. Jobling joined Town as a colt in 1949 and stayed, with an interruption for national service, until 1969, clocking up 493 league and cup appearances, a record eventually broken by John McDermott. It is a fine thing to have spent two decades representing your home town club. Write in with your memories of the player and the man.

UTM