Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 29 July 2008

29 July 2008

Sorry; I was just checking the Diary's recent sarcasm quotas. We've got standards to maintain, chiefly so our detractors stay away, you know. Welcome, as Idle Diary cracks one out, and please excuse the suit and tie - I've got a funeral to leg it to after this.

After last week's gruelling sequence of training and games, Alan Buckley has allowed his squad a four day break, from playing at least. Live action preparation for the new season resumes tonight as Town line-up for a Lincolnshire Cup semi-final against Lincoln City tonight. Visiting manger Peter Jackson has bolstered the quality of the Imps' squad with his summer acquisitions and will provide a stiff test for the Mariners, moreso with Boshell, Bolland, and North likely to miss out again, joined by Peter Till. You are reminded the game kicks off at 7pm.

The Town manager, whose post-match exasperation at Friday night's second half performance could be fleetingly heard in the stands, believes he doesn't know which eleven he will send out against Simon Ramsden's Rochdale for the season opener, and players have until the final whistle of Saturday's game against Scunthorpe to stake a claim. Buckley, not the best loser, doesn't sound happy at certain elements of the summer so far - "I wouldn't say I have been completely happy with how pre-season has gone so far" - but concedes preparation is paramount: "It is all about getting ready for the new season." Dave Chambers has emailed in along similar lines: "Given Alan Buckley's teams always start off slowly, do you think the old man is trying to make sure his squad are 'battle ready' from the off this season? I don't know if this pre-season is any tougher than previous attempts but just a thought..." A thought indeed, Dave.

To round up, two bits of fund raising. Firstly, a group of Town and Lincoln fans are biking the 40 miles from Blundell Park to Sincil Bank for the club's league fixture at the end of August, raising money for local charities in the process. As someone who huffs and puffs through a five mile bike ride to work most days, I'll be visiting their website and pledging a few quid. Secondly, there's a spare executive box going at Blundell Park for the coming season. If you're a Diary reader with a few quid to spare and nine other mates, give Dave Smith at the club a call. Maybe we can lend you Tom Newey on his games off to provide the bar service.