Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 1 July 2008

1 July 2008

It was Sergeant Whittle, in the boardroom, with the lead piping! Games of Cluedo probably won't be given a whole new dimension with the news that your favourite Shearer-bashing former GTFC captain is to train as a plumber while he plays part-time for Harrogate Town next season, but it's quite a good opening line for today's Diary, and happily for the Grimsby Telegraph, the plumbing profession also offers a tremendous line in puns about plugging leaky defences and new opportunities in the pipeline. "It's something I'm interested in after my time in civil engineering after leaving school," our Justin tells the Telewag, where the sports desk must now be ruing having missed the chance to chuck in a load of lines about quality delivery when Mark Lever became a postman. "I know I'll miss the day-to-day involvement when the season comes around but I'll be keeping an eye on the scores and how Town are getting on," concludes a wistful Whitster. Hard to imagine someone like Jason Crowe saying the same thing, somehow, isn't it?

Speaking of the totemic former Town captain, that omnipresent Cod Almighty T-shirt Man informs the Diary that sales of our new Justin Whittle summer fashion garment are going well, though I for one would like to see the T-shirt expanded into an entire range of Whittle wear, including cap, camouflage body warmer, combat boots and grenade holder. It's what all the cool kids on the Nunny are wearing this season y'know. Meanwhile, I can also inform you that other designs in the CA T-shirt range are now featuring in a super summer sale, offering you the possibly-once-in-a-lifetime chance to get your mitts on our anti-franchise football and Alan Buckley's black and white army designs for just a fiver apiece. All profits to GTFC, remember. Here's the link if you're interested.

One of the best-run clubs in England, Exeter City, have just returned to our level after a spell in the Conference, and as their fans look forward to a bright future in the Football League, taking on the likes of glamorous Grimsby, their local paper has run an interesting piece looking at the fortunes of the two clubs since the last time Town met the Grecians. "On November 13 2004, Exeter City beat Grimsby Town 1-0 at St James's Park," the Express & Echo reminds us, and two rounds later the Devon club were making history with a remarkable goalless draw at Old Trafford (albeit in front of just 67,551 spectators, some way shy of the 76,962 stadium record held by ours truly). "Finishes of 15th and 16th in the last two years may be the best a club with recent financial problems could hope for, but Buckley would have been conscious of an expectant Mariner fanbase used to success," is the outsiders' perspective on recent times at Blundell Park. I'm not sure I go all the way with the Express & Echo about a promotion challenge for Town in 2008-09 but it's an interesting read; and the Diary wouldn't be at all surprised to see Exeter promoted again within two or three years. What do you reckon?

Paddy Grant is one Town fan tempted by optimism if his email to the Diary last week is anything to go by. He begins with a quote from the excellent-looking Robbie Stockdale, who said after joining the Mariners the other week: "Alan sold me the club and his ambition and the unfinished business that he has to get the club promoted back up the leagues." Paddy responds: "If anything fills me with a small amount of excitement this year it is the fact that Mr Buckley really does wish to take the club places. Let's just hope he's good to his word."

Antony Chapman takes the hope a step further - by taking a step back in time. "The central heating system is being replaced," he writes, "the house is upheaved with carpets and floorboards up everywhere, and I have just been handed a small, wizened piece of newspaper found under the floorboards. Amazingly it contains the football results and league tables. Probably October 1927. The Mariners in the second division, 16th out of 22: P10 W1 D5 L4 F15 A21 Pts 7. Looks like a reasonable attack but poor defence. Charles Ekberg's book tells me that they finished 11th that season with 40 points: W14 D12 L16 F69 A63. They were promoted the following season. Chelsea and Man City were the top two in the second division after 10 games. Newcastle and Bury were top of the first division. South Shields, Nelson, Newport, New Brighton, Durham, Southport, Barrow and Ashington were all in the 3rd S or N. More important, Town's game had been at Hull, in front of 24,000, where we won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Jackie Bestall. Still the only Mariners player to have a road named after him. George Tweedy should have been similarly honoured. And how about that right-back who retired recently?

"I reckon the (real) second division is about our rightful place. Let's hope we get there soon. Keep up the good work," concludes Antony. Thanks for sharing your find. So how optimistic or otherwise are you feeling, gentle reader, about the season and seasons to come? Is the second division really our rightful place? Do we even have a rightful place? Let's talk! Email diary@codalmighty.com and spill your feelings all over the Diary.