Cod Almighty | Diary

Nothing is really sacred

14 October 2025

You'll have heard the joke about the man from an isolated community who complains: "I've been building all my life. I built all these houses you can see, but do they call me 'Jones the builder'?" No. But because, just once, they caught me with a sheep..."

Ebbsfleet United are one of those unlucky clubs remembered for a single, unfortunate, episode. Some 15 years ago, they were run as an internet venture with subscribers invited to vote on key decisions. The fan-run club has an honourable lineage, but this was a gimmick. It didn't last. Wikipedia suggests they are now owned by a group of Kuwaiti investors, and are middle table in the Conference South.

Grimsby played Ebbsfleet four times while we were coming to terms with the realities of non-League football. At their Stonebridge Stadium we lost and then drew, and at Blundell Park we won both times. The names of Will Antwi and Anthony Elding are no doubt engraved with dread in the souls of Fleet fans, so it augurs well for the weekend of 1 November, when we shall play Ebbsfleet at home in the FA Cup.

Talking superstition, Newbegin Diary's is that 2-0 is a dangerous lead, although oddly I only remember it when we are winning, not when we have just gone a second goal down. On Sunday Grimsby Town Women again proved that people who play the game are made of sterner stuff than those of us who merely fret on the sidelines, overcoming a half-time deficit to beat Long Eaton on penalties.

Congratulations to Beth Wharton on making her 100th Grimsby appearance in that game. And congratulations to you on getting through this diary unscathed. Treat yourself.