Cod Almighty | Article

by Alistair Wilkinson

24 August 2025

The Pontoon's Poet Laureate has emerged from his garret and delivers a prose picture for the fixture we've waited generations for. When the hurly-burly’s done,
when the battle's lost or won we'll still have Al Wilkinson's pre-match poem

This is the now, the time before
When the east coast itches for more.
Before Manchester United -
Smaller now, fit to be slighted -
We wait, save our noise for the night
To come. We're restless for delight
Ready to sing, to sail, to wish
To hook the strongest, biggest fish.

We'll show that we can be a match
We've got the nets to scoop the catch.
There'll be just one beautiful red
As the sun sinks and nods its head
Smiling its fading brilliance
Spilling its red-hued prominence
A halo behind the Pontoon,
The Grimsby Reaper coming soon.

You Devils, you’re not used to this
Imagine a trawler’s steel kiss:
It's Mariners v Red Devils
Blundell men raising your troubles
The Humber v Manchester’s Hell
Black and white will ring your red bell.
We will not let you like it here
We will not show you any fear.

We're brave because we know fear well
Its pain, its spite, we can repel;
If a devil slips through our guard
Sows seeds of doubt till hope is marred
We will seal the breach, scream and yell
Till devils’ teeth we can expel.

You'll see the kings of our desires
You'll be the kindling for our fires
Silver prows will cut through lava
Pushing till you would rather
Run home to Bath, London or Fife
Hide from the worst night of your life.

When you try your black voice of doubt
When you Red Devils try to shout
Your noise will be dismal, woeful
Tridents' scrapings against our hull
And we will remember the past
The days of a catch from each cast.

Remember St Mary's, Anfield,
Goodison and the Blundell shield:
West Ham, Leicester, we've kicked them out
Tottenham, yet another cup rout.
Yeah, you're the biggest here in years
And on the night there may be tears
But there'll be no heartbreak, no loss
A night for the free, there's no cost
And this new Grimsby, this new Town
Is set fair to bring giants down.