Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 1 April 2005

1 April 2005

Hi guys. Durham Diary here, as billed yesterday, except with it being the Easter vacation I'm in Waltham. Even worse, I left my dictionary in my under- bed locker at uni! So, you know, if any of you have suggestions for words beginning with W that I could use in my nickname while I'm home, perhaps you could send them to lennielawrence@cardiffcityfc.co.uk. Thanks.

Predicting today's dearth of exciting stories, your Regular Diary with fries sent Durham Diary a present yesterday in the form of a link to the BBC Forest Green Rovers page. Green, as they probably aren't called by anyone, have signed Paul Warhurst, the man who scored an own goal on debut for Town last season before progressing to look classy but well and truly past it in the rest of his games. Manager Alan Lewer claims "Paul has had injuries and I know people are sceptical about that. But he's been playing regularly with Blackpool and he's helped them with their relegation fight and he's come here to help us with ours." Like he did with ours, Alan?

Town travel tomorrow to Mansfield to play a team two points above them in the table. The OS inform us that Joe Cole wannabe Graham Hockless is a "slight doubt", although Simon Ramsden is likely to be in the squad. Bit late for all that really. Despite anyone who's anyone knowing that Ronnie Bull has played his last game for Town, the OS insist on pretending he's injured. Those official people write he "hasn't trained this week and will sit this one out with an ankle injury" which is clearly a load of Ronnie.

A quick venture to the BBC website, and I ask you to join me, friends, in a moment's silence to commemorate the tragic passing away of two Mansfield players. "Mansfield's Colin Larkin and Gareth Jelleyman (both dead" proclaims the Beeb. But wait! Only one week too late for Easter the next line reads "leg) and Alex Neil (concussion) are back in contention". Pheew! Luke Dimech, if you're interested, should also be available after the international programme.

As the campaign to get John a gong continues to stumble along, Brian Laws has added his support, report the Grimsby Telegraph. Despite being disliked by, well, all Mariners fans, Laws deserves a minute amount of credit for admitting "I played alongside him and, for two years, I was his manager. We were both right-backs but I had to make way for him in the team."

Before Town's season fizzled out into nothingness, Durham Diary and chums had been planning an afternoon of football and beer in Mansfield tomorrow. As it is, I'll tune into the match on Radio Humberside, and I encourage you all to do exactly the same, since listeners tomorrow will not have to endure the annoying drone of George Kerr, but will be treated to the unrivalled wit of Cod Almighty's "own" Tony Butcher. Tone is making his debut after impressing those guys in Hull. So come on, let him entertain you. And not a moustache or a trumpet in sight.

And so, having run out of relevant website to plagiarise I'll leave you to enjoy your Friday afternoons, readers. See you all at Wycombe, if you can be arsed.