Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 28 April 2009

28 April 2009

Sorry about my absence yesterday, folks - but the Diary has declared 27 April to be a public holiday for Grimbarians from now on.

Guest Diary was spot on last Friday when he wrote here: "I have a feeling that we'll lose but that Chester will fail to win so our season may end in a damp squib sort of way." Only now, though, has the Diary recovered sufficiently to read about what happened at the Recreation Ground the other day: an injury crisis in the Shots' defence, with a midfielder at centre-half; a goalkeeper stretchered off with knackered ankle ligaments; chaos at the back with both Shots keepers making fine saves; and an unmarked Ritchie Partridge heading straight into the sub's arms in injury time from five yards.

So how, other than the heroics of Nikki Bull and Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz in goal, did Aldershot steal a draw and the Mariners remain in the Football League for a 99th consecutive season and a 116th in total? The answer comprises two words: Kirk Hudson.

Kirk Hudson was born in Rochford, Essex in 1986. He played for England schoolboys and made his debut for Aldershot against Basingstoke Town in a Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-final on 14 January 2006. He was on the books at Ipswich, Celtic and Bournemouth before joining the Shots; he was then loaned out to Ashford Town. He is five foot eight tall and weighs 10 stone. He describes himself as funny and outgoing, and he loves his mum and dad, Ian Wright, Thierry Henry and someone called Biggie. He had scored only twice in his last 20 appearances before Saturday. But on Saturday he scored two more. Two goals which will mark the end of the lowest and most wretched spell in the long and occasionally distinguished history of a sometimes proud football club from northern Lincolnshire. Because the Town are staying up - and this is where the fightback begins. Because of Kirk Hudson. And you can keep last week's St George's Day and stick it up your arse for all I care - because from now, Chez Diary, every year 27 April is Kirk Hudson Day. God bless you, Kirk. May your very being brim with victory and delight from now until your dying day.

Saying that, we really ought to stuff Macclesfield this weekend anyway.