Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 11 November 2002

11 November 2002

Captain John McDermott's absence from Saturday's win over Stoke was down to a calf injury picked up in training last Thursday, reveals today's Grimsby Telegraph. "We had to be very, very cautious," explains manager Paul Groves, "because he would have been out for a very long time. We are hoping it is not too serious and he can be back fairly quickly." Macca's scheduled appearance at the Britannia would have been his 600th in all competitions since the one-club man signed full-time for the Town in 1987.

A deal to bring Georges Santos back to Blundell Park is looking 'increasingly unlikely', according to Town's official website, although negotiations are ongoing. Paul Groves said at the weekend: "You never say never in football. We're still talking." Santos is currently chilling out with his family in the south of France while the club rap with his agent, but the dangerous but gifted midfielder has expressed a strong wish to return to north-east Lincolnshire. Well, you would, wouldn't you.

The Grim Telegraph's report on the Stoke game goes in for some tasteful World War I imagery to coincide with Remembrance Day - a nice touch, and sensitively handled throughout. All those wild, lawless Grimsby youngsters that the Riby Square newspaper tells us are terrorising the town's senior citizens will be sure to look on and learn a lesson in respect for their elders.

A member of the Cod Almighty team phones GTFC to order a ticket and is greeted with the message You're now connected to Grimsby Town ticket office. If you've come through to the wrong department, key 1. If even the club's first assumption is that people only ever contact the ticket office by mistake, then we really are in trouble.