Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 9 May 2008

9 May 2008

Over the hills and far away Diary here. One little bit of sunshine and all the regular diarists are off like a shot. Looks very much like rain is on the way where I am, so ha ha.

Yesterday's news about the latest developments down Great Coates way is followed up on the SNOS by a video starring Positive John explaining some of the background to the deal with Castlemore Securities. It's a double act between Fenty and the managing director of the Birmingham-based developer, the brilliantly named Brad Critcher. Positive John bemoans the legal challenge made by the developer of an opposing retail scheme and says that this has set back the grand opening date of the new stadium by 12 months to August 2011. I'd like to bet that Castlemore Securities has made a few legal challenges itself in its time, being one of the country's leading players in the nasty, cut-throat world of retail development and would be aware that such challenges are not uncommon in the first six months of planning consent being granted. They appear not to have advised Positive John of this possibility, as the local politician expressed surprise that the club wasn't home and dry once the signed piece of paper from NELDC dropped through the club's letterbox last November.

Castlemore, it seems, will be seeking to alter the planning consent in some as yet unspecified way. The addition of a pig airport maybe?

Anyway, the video is worth a look if only for the expression on the face of Mr Critcher just before he is asked his first question. He's spent all night researching the history of Grimsby Town and is ready to answer the question about how many goals Matt Tees scored in the 1965-66 season, but instead is simply asked to outline his company's involvement in the scheme.

The SNOS also has news of the 13-goal thriller played out at Blundell Park last night. The Town legends side beat a sponsors' XI (well, we presume they had 11 players but they were still one short the other day) 9-4. Sir John McDermott, Gary Childs, Neil Woods and interestingly Steve Croudson all got on the Town scoresheet. Lord Buckley and Stuart Watkiss turned out and Positive John played in the Town defence. A DVD of the game will be available next week, which should be about as popular in the club shop as the signed photos of Peter Beagrie were.

It's always nice to hear of players marking the end of the season and developing team spirit by doing something special. It appears, though, that the Chester City end-of-season celebration got a bit out of hand. An all-day drinking session trip to Chester races on Wednesday ended up with the club's usually shy and reserved owner Stephen Vaughan being arrested in the town centre for a public order offence, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. According to the Chester Chronicle, club director Bob Gray insisted that the season had been very tough for the club and that this was "a gesture from Mr Vaughan to say thank you to everybody". Sounds like it. Chester Magistrates' Court will consider the matter today.

One of the regular diarists will be back on Monday, as long as it doesn't stay sunny. Have a good weekend.