Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 24 March 2003

24 March 2003

Hello! It's your regular Diary back again, and a hundred thanks to Miles for filling in for me over the weekend. Didn't he do well? So well, in fact, that we have only one complaint from a reader, namely John Arrand, who has emailed to say: "Contrary to the impression given in the Diary, Oster's loan would have expired before the Wolves game even had it not been rescheduled." Hey, I'm sure you didn't miss me too much though. Oh, and sorry we're running a bit late today - Mrs Diary was indulging in a rather large download.

Now the Diary, as you know, has been quick to defend Stacy Coldicott from some of the rather excessive 'treatment' he has received from fans this season; but were the Diary a gambling man, he wouldn't take tips from the shiny-bonced midfield scapegoat. Because whatever attributes Stacy has, luck is not among them, as it emerges that the new injury that cruelly curtailed his defiant and magnificent show against Burnley on Saturday is nothing short of a broken leg.

And with Darren Barnard crocked and Alan Pouton already expected to miss the rest of the season with injury and suspension, Paul Groves will have to move quickly for midfield reinforcements if he wants to retain the 4-5-1 formation that has been instrumental in Town's four-match unbeaten run. Efforts are continuing to bring John Oster back to the club for a fourth time (I think it'll be four anyway - the Diary is losing track) but Groves is looking to the loan market again for a central midfielder ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline. "It leaves us a little bit light in there," comments the Town boss with characteristic restraint.

In a new bid to inform the people of Grimsby that their town gives its name to a professional football club - and raise a few pounds for charidee, mate - said club has announced a 'Wear Your Shirt Party', whereby fans are invited to quite liderally show their colours, by donning Town tops this Wednesday night. Supporters can enjoy a range of special offers and GTFC-related fun, while also bringing in cash for the worthy cause of St Andrew's Hospice, beginning at 8pm at the Chicago Rock Café. A win-win situation for the club and the hospice, then, but perhaps a tad harsh on the punters, who have to spend the evening in the Chicago Rock Café.

Were the Diary a gambling man (if a betting obsession is good enough for the official site, it's good enough for me), he would wager that the Chicago Rock Café is not the sort of place one might find Gullivers veteran Stuart Morton, who has emailed with praise for our efforts. "Felicitations," begins Stu polysyllabically. "After Tony [Butcher]'s reports having become the web highlight of the week, the Diary has now become the web highlight of the day. Brilliant stuff." Awww - cheers, Stu! "Maybe see you at the Palace or Wendy game," adds the very lovely Mr M, "as I'll be over." The Rutland it is then, Sir!

And your random question for this week: what is a hospice, exactly? Answers to codalmightydiary@yahoo.co.uk, if you please.