Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 6 August 2009

6 August 2009

So Peter Beagrie doesn't recognise the Re-Newell effect and thinks Town might struggle this season. Anyone would think he associates the Mariners with couldn't-care-less journeymen strolling round the ground to take the fans for a final few quid before their legs go.

There are two days to go until the beginning of Town fans' most keenly awaited season in yonks; Mr Love is fully aroused, and the Mariners' superb new official website is setting out its stall for the months ahead. In its Ref Watch feature (for which it basically nicked both the concept and title from Cod Almighty) the SNOS introduces the adjudicating official for this Saturday's visit to Cheltenham. Mr Darren Sheldrake, it says, took charge of 11 games last season, issuing 19 yellow cards and one red. Which is all very well, except that he took charge of 16 games last season, issuing 54 yellow cards and two reds. The SNOS has given you Mr Sheldrake's stats from the season before. Another day of getting absolutely everything wrong, another dollar out of your ticket money.

This is why you're better off coming to Cod Almighty for your pre-match coverage, where the original and correct Refwatch will retain its place in the stupendously comprehensive CA pre-match factfile. The Cheltenham edition should be online tonight (or maybe tomorrow morning), free of charge and free from advertising. Don't miss it!

The SNOS can at least take comfort from the fact that it isn't the only local institution that doesn't know what year it is. Sarah Cook has emailed the Diary to say: "There may only be three days to go until we finally get our fix, but, since you have asked for emails, I thought I'd share something with you. Two years ago, I took my now ex to the National Fishing Heritage Centre. After looking back to my photos of this trip out, I noticed something odd on the big plaque thing dedicated to GTFC - it says we went to Wembley in April 1988. Which is strange, as I swear I was nearly 10 when we originally went to Wembley, not minus one month old. Well, this photo was taken two years ago, so it may have since changed. If not, I guess we can confirm that it isn't just the club that can't get their details right!" Well, if any Diary readers work at the NFHC, or fancy popping their head round the door to check, it'd be very interesting to find out whether they've realised their mistake. The Diary is very grateful for you pointing out this error, Sarah - though one suspects that the SNOS team may be even more grateful than me.

Sarah adds a PS with some very kind words about the Diary, which I'd be much too embarrassed to publish, but am very happy to receive. Maintaining this website seems to have become harder and harder work across the seven years or so since we launched it, and with the new season about to start we need all the encouragement we can get. Thanks for reading, and keep saying nice things about us!