Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 20 December 2002

20 December 2002

With a full six points up for grabs (that's what the phrase means, yeah?) in tomorrow's match against Sheffield Wednesday, the last thing Paul Groves needs is further injury problems. The last thing I need is a bag of brussels sprouts, then I'm set for Christmas.

But anyway, Paul Groves gets the last thing he needs as Galli and Livvo pull up in training. Stace, Macca and er... Jaso Gavvoey are already out with strains to various parts of their anatomy. If this were a film, Groves would be now be kneeling on the Blundell Park turf in the rain, looking skyward and screaming: "Why, God, whyyyyyyy?". Alternatively, he'll have to make use of the three players who have now become uninjured and are training again: messrs Ford, Barnard and Campbell, arise ye and walk. Or 'arise ye and run around a lot, tackle and shoot', actually.

Veteran full-back David Burrows will miss out for the Wendys tomorrow with a hamstring thing, while Derek Geary and Leigh Bromby return after suspension. All eyes, though, will be on new loan signing Adam Proudlock. The Wolves striker turned down a similar move to Town last season on the grounds that he didn't want to play for a club involved in a relegation dogfight; so presumably he thinks Wednesday are already down.

312 - everyone's favourite Ceefax page - runs a story about a Mansfield player today, and then tersely adds at the end: "And Mark Lever is not going to Lincoln". Aaaaaalright, Ceefax, keep your hair on!

In other news, the BBC and the FA have decided to return the FA Cup draw to Monday lunchtimes. Traditionalists are going to be delighted, apparently, basking in the warm glow of their wonderful memories of gathering round the radio to listen to it. That's all very well, but the Diary used to be able to watch it on Sundays - I'll be at my desk in the office on Monday lunchtimes, and so will miss all the excitement of two footballing b-celebs doing great impressions of bingo callers on Mogadon. Hmmm... maybe not such a bad thing.