Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 3 July 2003

3 July 2003

Steve Livingstone is a Mariner no more. After ten years at Blundell Park, during which he scored just 51 goals, the iconic striker has clinched a deal with third division Carlisle despite talks with former boss Alan Buckley at Rochdale. As Paul Groves closes in on a replacement target man, a new GTFC contract for Livvo has looked increasingly unlikely; and the 34-year-old frontman has accordingly agreed a one-year deal with the Cumbrians. "It was us against the world and that was the Grimsby attitude that I loved," reads the player's memorable farewell in today's Grimsby Telegraph. "Every game was like a cup final and if we dropped a bit we'd get beaten." Groves is quick to pay tribute, speaking of Livingstone's "fantastic service". I suppose this is how it will feel when Ken Barlow leaves Corrie.

The Telegraph adds that Groves is set to finalise a deal with the new Livvo today, describing the player as "a much sought-after striker from the lower leagues" and the Town boss telling Radio Humberside that his target is "somebody who's slightly different to somebody we've actually got at the football club." Which could mean anything, if you think about it.

Elsewhere it looks like the rumours might be true for once, as Danny Coyne's replacement could well be Aidan Davison, whose return to Blundell Park has been whispered of by fans for weeks if not months. The former Northern Ireland international - who, at the age of 35, has made only 215 league starts for his 13 clubs - is thought to be in talks with Paul Groves following Coyne's free transfer switch to Premiership Leicester. Arguably the finest hour of the keeper's career came in Town's 1998 play-off final win over Northampton, when Davison suffered a concussive clout on the head as the Mariners faced six minutes of injury time to defend their 1-0 lead but continued to keep the Cobblers at bay with a stunning display of agility and courage. Like I say, though, he is 35 now.

What with all these new players, the Diary hasn't been this excited since that episode of Corrie where Richard Hillman - "Norman Bates with a briefcase," as Gail superbly described him - tried to murder his entire family; and a small minority of the Grimsby public, God bless them, are feeling similarly giddy, with season ticket sales passing the £200,000 mark this week. The club has issued a reminder that the initial discount period ends this week, with the ticket office opening from 9am to 3pm this Saturday to accommodate fans chasing savings of £56 to £64 by purchasing before the deadline.

Another keeper on the move is Steve Croudson, who the Diary still can't believe Town released on a free a few weeks ago, and is having a very convenient trial just down the road at Boston. If he fails that then I'll maybe get over it.

Diary readers are remaining tight-lipped on the issue of pay-as-you-talk mobile phone deals, but Dan Humphrey has a thought to share about one of Town's new acquisitions, which I suppose is a bit closer to my remit, after all. "Despite all warning signs to the contrary - all Newcastle fans begging us NOT to sign him, the nickname Disco Des and the fact that Lennie Lawrence rated him enough to play him earlier in the season - I have decided to become a Des Hamilton fan, on the basis that he has a very similar name to mine. At least in a crossword style: Grimsby Town midfielder (3,8) D-- H-------." It's as good a reason as any, Dan.

And finally, part seven in our series Reasons I Hate Wimbledon is that - through no fault of its own, admittedly - the name reminds me of franchise football. Death to the Milton Keynes scab club and power to the real fans.