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Diary - Tuesday 3 February 2004

3 February 2004

When the top bods at FIFA aren't inventing ludicrous new cup competitions or fixing up lucrative football sponsorship deals for their own companies, there's nothing they enjoy better than pointless tinkering with eligibility regulations, and Darren Barnard's international career could be over now that one such alteration has allowed Wales to call up Leicester left-back Ben Thatcher - a former captain of the England under-21 side. The Welsh FA has announced its squad for the friendly with Scotland on 18 February, and the Town defender retains his place, but with all those recent "hey, they have to use a Grimsby player, but they're still quite good" angles fresh in Mark Hughes's mind Barnard may well be denied the chance to add to his 19 caps. "We need as many Premiership players as possible," says Hughes, disappointingly appearing to buy into the bullshit that surrounds England's top division. I mean it's not like Thatcher's any good, is it. Wales will discover this afternoon, meanwhile, that UEFA will still allow Russia to play in Euro 2004 instead of them, despite midfielder Igor Titov failing a drugs test after the first leg of November's play-off between the two nations. Well, have you seen the size of Russia and the size of Wales?

The GTFC directors' wish for Paul Groves to play less and manage more may soon be granted, their fairy godmother being Stacy Coldicott, who is reported by BBC Humber to be ready for some kind of run-out for the reserves (and receives the obligatory extra 'e' in his first name into the bargain). "He's getting to the stage where he's wanting to play in some sort of competitive game, or practice game," says the Town boss. "It's not one we want to rush, but if we can get him back that'll be a bonus. How much are those new Predators, by the way?"

Stacy's return from that busted leg has come too late for an appearance in yesterday's hastily arranged friendly with Lincolnshire neighbours Boston, but promising Premiership youngster Lee Thorpe made his Mariners debut in a (presumably dour) goalless draw. Town's best chance fell to Phil Jevons, who ought to have put it away from close range but instead strengthened his claim on the old 'scorer of great goals not a great goalscorer' tag by dobbing it up a right treat. Fondly remembered Blundell Park alumni Ben Chapman and Steve Croudson returned to their venue of former stomps, while the Grimsby Telegraph hails Thorpe as looking "like a striker from the Alan Buckley school with his ability on the ball." That'll be one goal every 29.3 matches then.

The postponement without which yesterday's kickabout would not have been possible has been resolved, with Bristol City now scheduled to make the daunting long journey north on a weeknight (and east, but that doesn't sound quite as daunting): Tuesday 17 February, to be precise. The club is still allowing two kids in free with every 'responsible' adult, as was planned for the original match, "and with it being half term, the club are expecting larger than average crowd," announces Town's eternally optimistic official website. With any luck, Mark Hughes will release Barnard from the Wales squad too.

Kevin Donovan is to follow Wayne Burnett back into footballing limbo after Rochdale decided not to retain the services of the former Town jellyfish. The player moved to Spotland on non-contract terms on 24 December, only for Alan Buckley to be ushered out of Lancashire while Father Christmas was still getting his breath back. Donovan made seven appearances for Dale but could now face a struggle to remain in the full-time game; although, thinking about it, Marcel Cas was still on Town's books when Kev left Barnsley.

"This thing about 'Lee Thorpe' becoming 'Cleethorpes' with a letter at either side of his name," writes a Diary reader. "Coincidentally, I noticed the same thing at the weekend regarding electropoppy composer Vangelis and the word 'evangelist'. Not as apposite or exciting as the one about Town's striker, but it still works. Have any Diary readers got such names? I have. Yours, Mr Ucking Cun."

On a less profane but ultimately more wholesome final note, John Arrand has emailed with a series of pub 'n' grub (heh heh, that rhymes!) recommendations for Guest Diary, who is this week hauling his progeny around Whitby. "I read last night in the Rough Guide to England that the Tap and Spile (near Trenchers and the train station) is a popular real ale haunt in Whitby. Middle Earth, which is on the same street as the Duke of York but down the other way, is also supposed to be good. For eating I can recommend the White Horse and Griffin - fantastic gourmet fish dishes - and the Magpie Café is great for fish and chips. Trenchers is also supposed to be good." Marvellous stuff, John; I will thank you on Guest Diary's behalf, and only hope the information superhighway extends to the North Yorkshire coast so that he can actually read all this stuff.