Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 6 June 2012

6 June 2012

NEWS! There's so much happening down at The Building today that your West Yorkshire Diary doesn't know where to start. Well, first and foremost let's begin with the signing of Andy Cook from Barrow. He's 21, he's a striker and he's signed a two-year deal with an asterisk. The Grimmo Telegraph reporters are clearly being weaned off the cheesy headlines, so we've had to make do without "Mariners Cooking on gas", although the news did prompt a few folk on the Fishy to discuss Town players whose surnames double up as occupations. Only after Shorty and Shouty sign another Cook and we have another abject season can we say that too many Cooks spoilt the broth. The fact that the broth had already been laced with cyanide by the Topcon chef would be another matter, of course.

The signing has been met with a flurry of online activity and described as 'quite good' by Town fans. Only in North East Lincolnshire is the word 'very' substituted by 'quite'. This choice of adjective gives an insight into the deep-rooted cautiousness that only Grimsby fans possess - such is the dejection we've felt over the years when the Mariners sign another seemingly decent player, only for him to never fulfil his true potential.

So, with that in mind, it's quite good that season tickets have finally gone on sale today alongside the news of our first summer signing. Those savvy marketing gurus at Blundell Park didn't miss a trick there, although they couldn't be held to account for the news of Cook signing to be splashed right across the messageboards and Twittersphere days ahead of the official announcement, making it the second worst kept secret in the world. The worst kept secret in the word is, of course, the annual unveiling of the new home shirt, which is ritually leaked ahead of its launch date. Initial feedback from the fans seems to be "quite good". Hope they're keeping the red socks!

Lastly today, there's a short piece on the When Saturday Comes website which explains why former Town loanee Tommy Forecast is "no closer to making his Southampton debut now than when he signed from Tottenham Hotspur four years ago". I was amazed to learn that he's still at the Saints, and even more amazed to learn that he currently stands as their second choice keeper behind Kelvin Davis (due to circumstances more than choice, it appears). I'm absolutely astounded to learn he was ever on the books at White Hart Lane.

Some of you may say today's Diary has been quite good. I hope so. If not, then I'll be quite annoyed. Ciao for now!