Cod Almighty | Article

by Simon Wilson

25 July 2003

Have you seen the team photo on the supporters trust's website? While everyone's attention was trained on the minute Auction Winner and wondering what Stacy was peering at to his right, they seem to have overlooked Michael Boulding's mop-top hair-shop bouffant.

We scratched our heads. Amongst a collection of short-back-and-sides, Mick's rock 'n' roll locks stood out. While veering towards looking like he belonged in one of the multitude of 80s-influenced 'rock' bands currently swamping MTV2's playlist, Mick's stylish non-conformity (for a Town footballer) needs to be applauded.

It harked back to a bygone era. Well, Wayne Burnett. But before the original Rock Star? You'd have to go beyond Oster (in the days before he learnt of his divine fortitude) and Crofty's floppy fringes in the mid-90s. Bonetti's hair was merely the physical embodiment of his flamboyance.

And a few years before that, you can forget Gary Birtles. Although he was ahead of the times by displaying Mark Lawrenson's modern-day trim, Birtles went for a spikier approach.

Boulding's hair just drapes from his crown. If you're asking us to go any further into the past that'd mean looking at books, and we'd rather you, our readers, told us your memories of those barnets that stick in your mind, a bit like those little bits of hair that get stuck in your ears all day after you've had a lug-lowering session.

And it isn't just the hair. Mick's smile seemed to contain a welter of mischief ready to explode across his face. There is scamp in the Town squad and here he offers a tantalising glimpse of it.

Deeply set into Mick's face was a reminder to some of the Cod Almighty team of someone from our non-footballing past. We were thinking of a variety of rock and pop stars. Pictorial evidence dismissed a few of our candidates until we were left with a measly four people.

Could any of these have had an influence on Quick Mick? Or are we just being too hopeful? Or could it be that having long hair is actually more cost-effective and cheaper for a player scrimping to survive on the miserly wages offered by Town? Or is it that Mick watches too much MTV2? And if that is the case, what bands does he listen to? Or could it just be a wig to cover up an unsightly Hartson-esque receding hairline? Or even a Zidane bald patch?

Yes. You can tell it's a Friday afternoon.

Have you any further ideas as to who could have influenced Mick's choice of haircut? Let us know through the feedback page.