Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 10 November 2003

10 November 2003

The local media are pointing out that Saturday's win over QPR was Paul Groves' first cup victory as a manager, so I thought we ought to begin with that. With events at Anfield two years ago perhaps looming larger in his thoughts than next month's second round tie at Peterborough, the Town boss is now burbling dreamily of a big draw in the New Year, telling the Grimsby Telegraph: "We have to get through so that we've got the possibility of drawing one of the big guns."

Contingency plans are in place, however, to send Graham Rodger to Baghdad with a sketch pad, as it would appear that neither Town nor Peterborough will progress to the cup's third round proper. Oh yes. As if it were not bad enough having Owl-like livery annex the Diary's monitor when I try and fill in that registration form thing on Town's official website, BBC Humber is now reporting: "Grimsby Town's reward for their win over QPR is an away trip to fellow Divsion [sic] Two side Peterborough. Scunthorpe will face the winner Sheffield Wednesday in the second round of the FA Cup."

Jonny Rowan, who has acquired the additional forenames Forgotten Striker by deed poll, is likely to be sidelined until Christmas with the sedimentary knee hopscotch he picked up in the Mariners' home defeat against Swindon in September. The luckless forward had just been granted a run in the first team, nabbing his first goal for, ooh, absolutely pigging ages as Town's very small consolation at Hartlepool, when the injury struck; and the Diary is giving you these unnecessary background details because I left my copy of the Sports Telegraph in Swigs on Saturday night and can't remember anything else worthwhile about the story.

It's not that often Town win a cup game, so let's go back there for our next item, where Miles Moss has been reading the manager's post-match comments on the official site a little too closely. "We were somewhat unfortunate not to go in front at half-time," reflects Wavy Paul. "Surely that would have been cheating!" retorts the eagle-eyed Mr Moss.

Finally, a big Diary shout goes out to the housemate of Dave who had a date on Saturday night with Laura who is the cousin of Sonya who is married to Cod Almighty author Simon Wilson. We don't know your name but thanks for reading. Small world, eh!