Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 16 November 2005

16 November 2005

Day-off Diary here, ready to make good use of my morning by bringing you up to speed with what's happening at Blundell Park, rather than just trudging around in my slippers and dressing gown while drinking tea.

Good news everybody, as Gary Croft will take his first tender steps onto a football pitch today in the Mariners reserves match against Hartlepool at Blundell Park. The left-back had been out of action with a knee problem since September, but those magical scans have come back with a big thumbs up and hopefully it will not be long until he is at full steam. It certainly seems Graham Rodger has been cracking the whip on the former Blackburn Rovers/Ipswich Town/Cardiff City man. Rodger said: "Gary has been absolutely motoring in training." And it doesn't look like the torture will stop either, with Grazza adding: "It's a massive boost of us ahead of a busy schedule", which can only translate as "stop pissing well moaning and get on the pitch." Kick-off is 2pm for the Pontins Holiday Combination League clash against the Monkey Hangers with free entry through Harrington Street.

Talking off free tickets - segue master class there if ever there was one - the Grimsby Evening Telegraph reports that Wycombe Wanderers have designated Saturday's top-of-the-table clash against the Grimsby as a 'Kids for Free' fixture. Six youngsters can get in with one full paying adult when they get their ticket in advance at Blundell Park.

Now, as the Mariners prepare themselves for the freaky feeling of actually playing on a Saturday, it is good see that a Grimsby fan has been doing his bit to make the most of the Friday night shenanigans.

If these Saturdays without football have seen you being forced to do some DIY, then why not try and combine Grimsby Town with the tedious chores by taking up on their offer of sending a player or two round? Got to paint the ceiling and can't get hold of a decent extension? No worries, Rob Jones can use his towering presence. Or, as the deal is a Christmas time one, why not have a bit of a knees-up and get Sergeant Whittle to work the door at your place?

Of course if you want to get a longer-lasting Christmas present that is going to do it's bit for the Grimsby Town Supporters Trust then stick a bid in for their signed photo of England's greatest-ever goalkeeper Gordon Banks pulling off his greatest-ever save.

In other news, the Savage-signing rumour mill continues its slow annoying grind and I'm reminded of the question posed by yesterday's Diary about the nonsense of statistics and where they come from? Well the answer is Yorkshire. Well Howden, near Goole to be precise. The boys at the Press Association are the ones that collect all the alleged 'data'. The news gathering behemoth has a man in every League game across the country and he is there relaying down a phone to some bloke at a computer exactly what the team is doing. Whether or not all those men in the field at the games get the greatest view in the world is another matter. Post in view anyone?

And with that note of cynicism I bid you farewell until tomorrow's guest diarist takes up the helm. Cheers.