Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 30 April 2012

30 April 2012

Miss Guest Diary writes: So that's it then: another season over. I missed the game on Saturday through illness but I suspect my afternoon of lying on the sofa watching DVDs (The Bourne Trilogy, in case you're interested) was more enjoyable than the cold, windy and pointless affair at Blundell Park. It sounds like Town were, once again, undone by a well-coached team who came to defend.

In his interview with the Telegraph, Shorty claimed that this season's 11th place finish is an improvement on last year's because "we've had more wins and scored more goals". Hmm, that sounds to me like a man clutching at a very small straw. He also forgot to add that Town lost exactly the same number of games this season as last. Why is it, I wonder, that Shouty mostly only talks to the press after a good result, leaving Shorty to explain away the bad ones?

Around this time of the year we are usually looking with anticipation at who is being relegated from the division above and who is coming up from below. This season the latter holds a particular dread: the prospect that Gainsborough Trinity might be promoted into the Conference Premier. I have nothing against them personally. But I'm sure many fans must share the feeling that Gainsborough, like Brigg, is somewhere you go for a jolly pre-season friendly, not a competitive match. For me, going to Northolme during the season would somehow make Town's current status as a non-League club more horribly real.

Long-time readers of my ramblings will be aware that I refused to buy a season ticket last summer but my partner bought one anyway. I ended up going to most of the home games on a pay-per-view basis of £10 a game with cashback for sub-par performances. I haven't kept a note of what I actually paid but, given that Town's record was 11 wins, seven losses and four draws, with goals scored 51 and goals conceded 28, what do you think those games were worth?

Whether I buy my own season ticket for next season might depend on who we have playing for us. My current favourite, Frankie Artus, is one of seven players still at the club who are out of contract this summer. The others are James McKeown, Andi Thanoj, Charlie I'Anson, Kiernan Hughes-Mason, Anthony Church and Gary Silk. Frankie has told the Telegraph that he hopes to stay - but the very fact that he's only hoping for, not expecting, "positive news" doesn't bode well.

To lighten the mood before signing off, I am pleased to report that Southport fan Colin Aindow successfully completed his 163-mile charity run from Haig Avenue to Blundell Park and received a warm reception from both sets of fans before Saturday's game. Let's hope Town can show similar determination next season. Cue some footballing cliché about marathons and sprints...