Cod Almighty | Postbag

Fousands of 'em

27 July 2026

We're getting worse at postbagging. This one dates back to the Wolves game ffs. We're sorry, we'll do better.

The Tuchel Twonk

Is my memory at fault, but didn't the Mariners a few years ago under Paul Hurst often concentrate on defence when ahead, inviting the opposition to attack, with the result we lost our lead. Did we call this the Parslow Point, Parslow being the defence substitute brought on with disastrous results? Do we now call it after Tuchel? Or is my memory completely at fault?
BW and UPM
Antony Chapman

from Antony Chapman

Letters Ed responds: Antony your memory is correct as always. The Parslow Point was coined at Chester in 2015 when Paul Hurst's rampant Mariners surrendered a 2-0 lead and were lucky to escape with a point after Danny's introduction as sub for Ollie Palmer.

GTFC Accounts

Thanks to Mr B for the detailed analysis of the latest accounts. Wish I was as sanguine about the Regulator sorting out a distribution to clubs lower down the pyramid. Premier League clubs are already bitching about the levy they'll be paying for the annual revenue costs of the Regulator. Am not holding my breath about untold largess coming Town's, indeed the other 71 clubs in tiers three, four and five. Hope I'm wrong but we'll be looking for more loans converted into shares in the future.

from Patrick Conway

Play-offs defeat

I'm reflecting on the 2025/26 play-offs semi defeat. Something didn't feel right to me, really.

Too many pundits online suggesting Town were the front runners. Too much talk from Town fans about 'tin-pot opponents' and how many fans they had (Salford). The Sunday 'walk to the ground'. Too much optimism, not enough 'keeping it real'. Town are an under-dog team. Unfashionable. Always a surprise to outsiders. Yes Town travel well, we have a good away following to generate an atmosphere, all of that. But ultimately, our success is and has been on the pitch. The results. The benchmark being the Notts C, Wrexham, Solihull trilogy.

This season though was a false dawn, in my humble view. The play-offs were a heck of an achievement, especially after the pre-Christmas slump. Smith and Cook made the difference after Christmas, seemed to galvanize the team a little bit. Kacurri another addition that was timely. But, and it is hindsight I know, but those games that got away from us this season, the ones where it was all Town possession and no end result, is where the difference between a lottery and full promotion lies.

Two wins short, ultimately? I just wasn't feeling the play-offs with excitement this year. Too much fuss, too many fans talking the talk before the team had walked the walk. That's not what we usually do. What we usually do is turn up, worry, get agitated, go a goal down, grind it out, and get a result. This time, less than 1 min in, we are 1 up. Too early. That's not the plan. Then some bad refereeing. From then on, it was always a challenge.

The second leg was more typical, how it should be, although we then had the rub of the ref's whistle, we shouldn't forget that. For me, if we hadn't taken it to ET, I could have lived with it easier. That first half was hard to watch, but getting it back to 2-2 was the whole reason for the Town team to be there, competing. To be 'Grimsby-ed' with minutes to go before penalties summed it up. Full circle. We'd been done over by our own benchmark of 2022. We switched off, Salford didn't.

The players looked cooked, I have to say, they probably were. I'm as gutted as anyone, but I'm philosophical too. Deep down, we are overdue a full promotion season, a season where we are one of the best teams (of 3 or 4 in the division) and destined for the top 3 places by merit, week in week out. Alan Buckley style 1989-1991 run. Peerless.

Maybe, just maybe, this note to Cod Almighty now, in May 2026 will be referred back to, with this play-off in the history books, as Town's own Nostradamus Octopus predictor of pseudo meta science, and we get it right for full promotion. Finally, 26 years later from the last one.

With humility, in a humble unfashionable way. The Town way, maybe?

Ian Jackson

from Ian Jackson

Letters Ed responds: Thanks Ian. Readers, with a new season dawning do you agree or disagree with Ian's thoughts?

Salutation sign offs!

20th May Diary signed off with a Howzat!

Earlier in the piece there was mention of Cricket? I suppose that is the connection to the salutation, however, since 28 Years Later : Bone Temple in early 2026, Howzat! is not Cricket phrase in the forefront of my consciousness nowadays. Eeek

from Ian Jackson

My letter to DA and the boys

Dear all at CA towers,

For what it is worth, I put finger to text pad and wrote to Dave and the boys after the Sky Sports Salford FC game last night. He/they may never see it but it made me feel better (slightly). Feel free to use it as filler during the long, lonely summer.

Cheers,

Ben

To David and the lads

I have been supporting the Mariners for over 40 years and have seen the ups and very many lows. From the dark days of the Mike Lyons era and the fall into non-league, to the highs of the two Buckley eras. These last two seasons are the first for a long time where I have felt the belief and togetherness that you and the boys have brought to the club and town.

Unfortunately, for me, I am an exiled Mariner, having lived in the Greater Manchester area for over 20 plus years. I don't get to as many games as I'd like but the bug that is Grimsby Town FC has never left me and now, more than ever, do I feel that I must tell you how much this club means to me. I could literally write my life story around Grimsby Town.

Mr Artell, or DA, Dave, David as we affectionately refer to you, you, sir, are a natural leader but one that goes about his work with humour, humility and compassion. Yes, you want to win, but you want to do it the right way. I think I can speak for most Mariners in saying that you are, hands down, the best manager we have had since Alan Buckley. I have no doubt that you can replicate and surpass the achievements of the great man.

Not only have you progressed the team season upon season but you have bought into the ethos of the club under our fantastic owners. You are the perfect fit and exactly what the club needs to continue the progression on the pitch. Please, do not go to Rotherham. They don't even have a beach.

To the boys, where do I start? I know you will be hurting like the rest of us but in a few days, hopefully, you will realise just what a great season you have had. And hopefully, you will realise that you have unfinished business. We all do. This is project Grimsby. We are not done yet. Enjoy your summers but keep the hunger and desire you have shown all season and chomp at the bit to come back next season and complete the job. You may be tempted by other offers but hear this, you will not be loved anywhere else as much as you are here.

On behalf of all Mariners, thank you for your efforts this season. We have lived and loved every minute and we hope we can do it all again with you next season.

UTM

from Ben Gresswell

Letters Ed responds: Great stuff Ben, and a lovely reaction to a defeat in an age where such an outcome often inspires reflexive head loss. Did DA or the club respond?

Wolves

The forthcoming game against Wolves reminded me of the first time I ever saw the Mariners. Wednesday 3rd September 1947 at Blundell Park, attendance 21,173! At the age of 11 I cycled from Fryston Corner down Weelsby Road on to Grimsby Road, and left my bicycle in a nearby garden.

It was the Mariners last season in the real First Division, and apart from George Tweedy, that great goalkeeper, few if any from the wonderful pre-war team were left. We had started the season by beating Aston Villa 3-0, but this was followed by losing 8-1 away at Wolves and 4-2 to Sunderland at home.

The next game was at home to Wolves, they scored three in the first nine minutes and eventually won 4-0. We did win a few games but at the end of the season were relegated along with Blackburn Rovers. We had just 22 points from 42 games, scored 45 but let in 111. And so ended our many years in the real First Division, never since to be repeated and, given the state of the game at present, unlikely if not impossible in the future.

Here's hoping that on Sunday 15th Feb we can exact a little revenge for those 1947 defeats.
Antony Chapman

from Antony Chapman

Letters Ed responds: A privilege again to read your memories of Town's golden era, thank you for sharing Antony and our apologies for talking so long to publish. All the best and UTM.

Language in today's Diary

The very last sentence of today's Diary is coarse language and unbecoming of our superb Cod Almighty.

from Derek Turner

Letters Ed responds: Thanks for getting in touch Derek, it is a bit blue when we read it back. We will pass on your comment to ChatGTFC Diary.