Cod Almighty | Diary

Been emotional, but it ain't over until we lose one (excluding Sunday).

12 May 2022

STOP PRESS: the breaking news, literally as I pressed send to submit today's diary is that yesterday's diary which told us when the play-off games were set has been superseded by this unexpected news. 

Basically, we thought our game was going to be Wednesday 25th and now, out of the blue, its most likely Monday 23rd May.  Who knows if that is at our club's request, other clubs' and/or the Bananarama's usual chaotic modus operandi. For some it might be good news, others not so good but, wow, eleventh hour.

Moving on. Kudos to Chairman Stockwood for telling Radio Humberside on Tuesday night in a lengthy two-part interview, that our CEO has pushed for a play-off final venue change, but not too hard, as they're just volunteers or something. (Without sounding as patronising as I've just accidentally made it sound...)  

GHF Diary here today, calling time upon the home element of the regular season, at long last. (Unless results go all weird on Sunday.) Personally I managed 24 of  our 44 non-League games; I'm not going to Eastleigh, certainly not cycling.  I hope all CA readers have managed a decent number of Mariners matches too.

A few weeks ago a friend asked me if I fancied going to Soccer Aid on the 12th June and I said: "Why would I want to go to West Ham's ground in June?" Whoops, who knew, fate tempted. But anything's possible, and JS's joke that we'd play in Timbuktu may yet come back to haunt us - the Bananarama could decide a play-off final in Mali is a good idea.

So, the 2021-22 regular season. A reflective moment. Yay for new owners, new food suppliers, electronic ticketing, the Fanzone and new portaloos. Come to think of it, most of the new players too. Oh, and the continued excellent work of The Mariner programme which tells me we've utilised 34 players.

It did occur to me to do a non-nostalgic recap, a Where Are They Now of Ollie acquisitions, as a comparison. You know, the likes of Kyle Bennett, Virgil Gomis, Bilal Mohsini. But, frankly, I can't be bothered. I nearly said that's apt. But that's not very nice. So I won't. Fair play to Duncan Idehen (Bristol City) and Joe Starbuck (Sheffield United) as they seem to be doing okay higher up in the second tier, both featuring in recent match-day squads.  

Our final regular season game at Eastleigh can be previewed tomorrow or even by Weekend Diary, given we play on Sunday. Then, as mentioned above, the play-offs start later this month. Wednesday 25th probably. No, stop press, Monday 23rd. Sorry. Meanwhile the 'Eliminators' in the Conference North started last night, with our Shop involved at York.

Scoreflash: York City 2 Chorley 1.

LJL scored the opener, and York proceed to the next stage. Tonight's 'Eliminator' sees Boston (who we beat in August, pre-season) travel to Kidderminster (who knocked us out the FA Cup back in November). I'm cheering on our Lincolnshire rivals, for the same selfish reason I'm cheering on York; it'd be a nice new ground to visit if they go up. I've been to Kidderminster already; remember the fish inflatables and their legendary pies?

Right, a quick look at our play-off squad, something like: Crocombe, Battersby, McKeown / Cropper, Amos, Crookes, Waterfall, Pearson, Smith / Fox, J.Jones, Holohan, Clifton, Maguire-Drew, Sousa, Wright, Burgess, Coke, Khouri / Taylor, McAtee, Abrahams, Dieseruvwe. The notable absentees are the injured Michee Efete (present at BP on Tuesday night in his protective boot) and Sean Scannell, out for a reported six months, sadly.

Play-off thoughts: 

1: Are we able to use any of our loaned-out lot: Luke Spokes, Lenell John-Lewis, David Longe-King? (And would we want to?)

2: Will the loaned-in Arjan Raikhy be involved in the play-offs at all? It has been mentioned he might, but surely he has to play against Eastleigh to have a chance?

3: Have you noticed how I omitted Danny Rose from this? Nothing vindictive, he's just not got a squad number, as per The Mariner. Oh hang on, I've found Rose is technically back. Sort of. I mean, I'm not expecting a tweet showing GTFC printing him a shirt number anytime soon. Perhaps Darlo want him but he's ours contractually a little longer? Incidentally, Darlo are negotiating with ex-Town youth Joey Hope too, apparently.

That's enough play-off-related ranting and rambling. This is Glass Half Full, next scheduled to post here on Thursday 2nd June; signing off until then. Fingers crossed, my next post will be immediately before our last game of the season, rather than soon after our last game. In other words, here's to progress in the play-offs, whenever they may be held!! UTM