Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 25 August 2006

25 August 2006

According to the AA website, Bury is a mere 40 miles away from Stand-In Diary's Leeds abode. Consider then yesterday, when basking in the glow of several beers, I decided that what I really need is to commit to trips to Wycombe (195 miles) and Torquay (303 miles) later this season. But with successive weekends featuring home games (85 miles, times two), the line has to be drawn somewhere. So supping in the Fighting Cock in Bradford while watching the Challenge Cup final, and then taking in Pedro Almodovar's wonderful looking Volver seem more inviting prospects than making the relatively short trip to northern Manchester this bank holiday Saturday. If I sound nonplussed about the game, or even nonchalant, fear not. Sometimes stepping outside of the world of Town provides a little respite, perspective, and a touch of life, something a number of Town fans could do with at the moment. "Don't panic!" is the advice given by the Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy. And it is advice that a vexed Town fans could take heed of for the time being. Fingers off the big red PANIC button. Untill we lose at Bury that is.

Songs In The Key Of Life. Talking Book. Superstitious. To many these wonderous things aren't what Stevie Wonder will be remembered by. No. It's more likely to be I Just Called To Say I Loved You. Ebony and Ivory. Or even theme tune to the awful Gene Wilder film The Woman In Red. In the same insane way, there are people out there who have wept at the prospect of Fen Butcher's departure to Peterborough. "Oh," they start, with a pause for you to compose yourself for the life changing revelation that is to follow. "Who will be Town's emergency striker now?" And you can't help but smile, as Butch's role at the club was reduced to bench-warmer and occasional ineffectual target man, something difficult to justify for the remainder of his three year contract. The Grimmo Telepgraph reveals that the move was initiated by Son of Futch, while Chairman John goes into more detail, somewhat surpringly calmly, seemingly suggesting that Peterborough approached Futch directly.

Team news ahead of tomorrow's game shows that Macca's knackered, Whitts could be fit, Bolly should climb off Dave Moore's trolley, and Reddy should be ready, at least for an appearance from the bench. New signings Danny Boshell and Nick Fenton could figure, but going by David Pye's chat with Rodge Martin McIntosh will certainly be in after sitting out Tuesday's cup tie: "The defence will see changes with Tosh back in."

ntl recently posted a leaflet through my letterbox saying that I can have digital telly and a telephone line for "just 50p a day". My local gym promises me fitness (whatever that is) for "only £1.50 a day!" And now the club have got a hold of this marketing wheeze, pointing out that for "a mere 10p a day" you can have the club's Mariners World service. Carrying this on my Town-related expenditure brings my monthly Gold Bond to 14p a day, my season ticket repayment a quid a day, and writing the diary costs 50p for the can of Irn Bru from the Cod Almighty Towers drink machine. Still if you have 10p a day going spare...

"Big time snooker is back in Grimsby" the Grimmo Telegraph tells us with giants of the biege rolling in to the Auditorium. And all for fifteen quid and fifty pence, more or less the same price we get fleeced for to watch Town these days. The club can breath again - they won't need to move a game as this event cues off on Thursday 19 October.

And, finally, show a bit of pride in your local architecture and vote for the Dock Tower as Britan's unsung landmark. The tower is currently languishing behind Jodrell Bank, Cheshire in sixth out of eight positions, above the Hull's beloved Humber Bridge. And when you've voted, get everyone you know to do the same. Get to it people!