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Diary - Tuesday 28 October 2003

28 October 2003

Sad news from GTFC, who announce that former vice-chairman and long-serving director Tom Lindley died at the weekend aged 84. Mr Lindley joined the board at Blundell Park in the 1960s and served as both managing director and vice-chairman during the eighties, continuing his association with the club until 1996. In an obituary on Town's official site current chairman Peter Furneaux describes him as "a lovely man who gave so much to the club".

Two doubtful Darrens are reported by the Grimsby Telegrumble as Town prepare for a first ever visit to Irthlingborough this Saturday to face Rushden & Diamonds. Mr Barnard bruised his foot - or had it bruised for him; it doesn't say which - in last Saturday's stalemate at Barnsley, while Mr Mansaram is suffering from that well-known footballers' complaint "illness" and could miss a reserves game tomorrow afternoon. "Darren needs games but we don't know if he'll be available," says Paul G, presumably of Mansaram and presumably not talking about Cluedo.

But, announces Town's official site in characteristic upper-case overdrive, there is "Great News for all Grimsby Town Supporters when you visit Nene Park this Saturday." Rushden, it turns out, are doing one of those 'kid for a quid' deals and it extends to away fans; which, far from being happy tidings "for all Grimsby Town Supporters", will surely bring gladness only to those accompanied in Northamptonshire by minors. Apparently they're selling Doc Martens for 20 quid a pair as well, which admittedly is pretty good, and opening a bar at the ground, probably because the nearest pub is in north London, but the Diary can't help feeling betrayed by all of this, and that life is a little sadder and greyer and less meaningful as a result.

But several of you have emailed the Diary with recollections of matches that provided tremendous entertainment or intrigue despite Town failing to collect three points. "Wembley, twice," writes smart-arse Tim Petty. "Lots of fun, no points whatsoever." Most contributors to this debate, though, have taken the meaning intended, including Mat Winn, who recalls: "Last season vs Ipswich away. Took my flatmate to his first ever Town game and made him sing all the songs all the game! The sight of an Arsenal supporter in a Grimsby shirt chanting 'We piss on your fish' to a load of fat tractor boys in the stand next to us will make me smile every time I think of it... Until some git had to go and ruin it by scoring a last-minute equaliser against us!! Which made it a horrible day out - and made it pointless writing this mail... I'll get my coat!"

"The season before last's visit to Stockport was hilarious," opines Miles Moss, "despite the Mariners leaving with only a point. Stockport badly needed the points, and saw us as easy meat, Town coming fresh from yet another 5-0 drubbing at Selhurst Park. Three times Stockport went ahead, three times Town scored almost immediately, putting the Edgeley Park home support through an emotional combination mill/rollercoaster. Great fun to watch," concludes Miles, clearly a man who never fails to find pleasure in the suffering of others.

Pat Bell, similarly, is tempted to nominate the away draw at Brighton in the 1987-88 relegation campaign, solely on the grounds that it produced a season-ending injury for legendary hate figure Scott McGarvey. "What I really want to recall," he continues, though, "is another last-minute missed penalty. It's off-topic, as we won, but as it involves John Aldridge, I hope you agree it's worth recalling...

"In the early nineties," begins Pat's tale, "we were on the edge of the relegation places when we travelled to Tranmere, who were up in the play-off positions. They had just been beaten by Aston Villa in the League Cup semi-final, on penalties, and played the whole game as though they were owed something. We led two-one, but were taking an awful battering in the second half, and the referee seemed to be playing ten minutes' injury time. Eventually, a loose ball scudded off towards our corner flag, and John Aldridge ran after it, his back to goal. In a position of no danger whatsoever, and with no Town player within a couple of feet, he naturally fell over, and won a penalty. To be fair, we were too far away to see if it was a dive, but it was pretty brain dead defending if it was, and as it was in the right-back position, where presumably John McDermott was, you can be your own judge. Aldridge lined up the penalty towards the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, but some combination of Paul Crichton's hand and the post kept it out and we held on for the win."

"I remember years ago in my MOD days going to a match with my girlfriend," writes the last of today's contributors on this topic, "and when she was cold lent her my parka (US ex-Army original). I stood behind her with my hands in the 'breast' pockets most of the game wondering why she had no bra on!! The pockets even had holes in. Don't remember the score but it mattered bugger all." And if you think that's a case of too much information then at least you benefit from the author's request to remain anonymous. I've got a bloody mental image here...