Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 14 October 2003

14 October 2003

Nick Daws and Iffy Onuora will have to wait and see whether they can stay at Blundell Park beyond the term of their month-long loans, assuming, that is, that they want to. Daws has impressed but his central midfield position will be contested by Alan Pouton and Stacy Coldicott on their eventual return from injury, and by reluctant wideman Stuart Campbell, now that Iain Anderson is back; while opinions are divided on the merits of Onuora - between Paul Groves, who seems to think he's OK, and most fans, who don't. That said, the Diary notes with dismay that there are actually supporters advocating that Michael Boulding be dropped in favour of Phil Jevons. Anyway... it says in the paper that a board meeting yesterday discussed whether the duo could be kept on, but a decision won't be made until after their temporary moves end after Town play Notts County next Tuesday.

The scourge of Serbia, Mr Darren Barnard, will be strutting off onto the international stage again next month after impressing in his country's latest Euro 2004 defeat at the weekend. Town's reborn left-back will miss out on the visit of struggling Stockport on 15 November as Wales take on Russia to play off for a place in Portugal next summer. This is the down side of a charming interview in today's Grimsby Telegraph in which the starstruck defender observes: "It's great to play with people like [Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs]. They're the big boys of the Premiership and I'm little old Darren Barnard from Grimsby Town." Awww!

Having returned to training after the stitches in his knee were removed, Marcel Cas will be relishing the prospect of depriving another Sheffield Wednesday left-back of his livelihood. So effective was the lively Dutch right-winger in Town's visit to Hillsborough last month, until he was carried off injured, that the Owls' Jon Beswetherick was not only subbed off after 15 minutes but actually released on a free shortly afterwards; and Cas is now in contention for a return to the scene of his crimes in tomorrow night's LDV Vans Trophy tie, according to our lexically challenged chums at BBC Humber. "The stitches have now been removed and he available for selection," reports the site. Me Diary. Me take piss.

Reproduction is Pollution was the title of a 1995 single by short-lived Bristol indie pop combo Shelley, but there are plenty - not least among the Cod Almighty team - who would beg to differ. If you are of their number and have spawned a sprog or two, then a new offer from GTFC may cause you some excitement. At the Colchester game this Saturday you can be accompanied by two juveniles at no extra cost. "For every adult, TWO children will be admitted for nothing," confirms Town's official website. "Absolute zero. Zilch. That's got to be the best bargain in football this season!" And if you don't count Sky getting the Nationwide rights back for ten bob and a bag of spanners, they could be right.

"Eh up," writes Stu Morton, who clearly hasn't been in France long enough to forget his native dialect. "Talking of quizzes (Diary, Monday Oct 13th), who won the last one? You know, the one with the impossible questions abut Disco Des? The one I spent half the night trying to find out who he scored his first goal against. Eh? Eh?" The answer, which the Diary spent 12 seconds trying to find out, is Mr Ian Fitzgerald, as this page makes clear. While you're here, Stu, please accept the Diary's compliments on your first piece of writing for Cod Almighty. Super.