Cod Almighty | Diary

Latch on to the affirmative

24 February 2014

Miss Guest Diary writes: Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be, we're going to... Nuneatony.

Oh well, to be honest I'd rather be going to Nuneaton than Wembley. It'll be cheaper, easier to get to and the Town fans there will be regulars who know the names of all the players. This probably sounds a bit snobbish – well, I suppose it is really – but I'm fed up of the 'big occasions' which bring out of the woodwork thousands of people who claim to be Town fans but who wouldn't dream of going to Coalville or Nuneaton or, let's face it, Blundell Park.

I do feel sorry for the players who'll miss out on the chance to play at the national stadium. But maybe not getting to the Trophy final will encourage them to try even harder to make it to the play-off final. That match, if it happens, will be a different sort of day out. Looking back to the play-off final in '98, I recall that being one of the most tense and nerve-wracking occasions of my life: something to be endured rather than enjoyed. Only after the victory was it possible to savour that Wembley experience.

Despite Paul Hurst's appeal to the fans to show some patience, it didn't take some people long to start booing and shouting criticism at the players on Saturday. It was a boo-worthy performance at times but, though it might make the jeerers feel better, being jeered certainly won't make the side play better. As my mum used to say: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. The value of positive support was demonstrated in the second half when the crowd kept up a constant barrage of singing and cheering and were rewarded with an energetic performance and some really good passages of play which might have won Town the game.

It seems I am not alone in abhorring the negativity of some fans: the theme of the Mariners Trust blog last week was the benefits of staying positive. Away from the pitch, the trust is continuing to bring ex-players to mingle with fans in the bar before the game. On Saturday it was Kingsley Black, who didn't look any older than when he was one of the Wembley heroes in '98. If the trust can manage to bring another Wembley hero back to Blundell Park – I'm naming no names but I think you all know who I mean – I will be first in the queue to welcome him.

Another ex-Mariner in the news today is Curtis Woodhouse who has, apparently, won a lot of money in a bet. Oh and some boxing title as well.

Town's form has undoubtedly dipped in the last couple of months, but if you're feeling a bit down in the days to come, just be thankful you don't support Boston United. Another crooked manager and a game where they ended up with six fit players on the pitch – you couldn't make it up.