Cod Almighty | Diary
Diary - Wednesday 10 December 2008
10 December 2008
A slow news day - Town aren't going to keep looking at trialist Adam Green and on Saturday you can read in the programme Positive John words on why he isn't a Scrooge - so let's open the postbag.
First up, Martin Robinson who takes to task some recent criticism, in the Diary and elsewhere, of the club's levels of support: "I've never been one to say our supporters are the best or better than other clubs, but I think the attendance for the Bournemouth game [4353] was pretty damn good for a team who are near the bottom of the Football League, having not won at home since the start of last year's cricket season, and it was a bloody cold night! Our attendance was the fourth best in the division that weekend and also beat the gates at third division sides Yeovil and Hereford. OK, kids were allowed in free but still a good turnout. So how about a bit of appreciation for the loyal few?" Give yourselves a round of applause?
A couple of weeks back the Diary was seeking out your non-league bit-on-the-side. Alan Dickens is one of the very few to respond: "I'm afraid mine are the Clarets." Before you pull Al up of supporting the Lancastrian League Cup semi-finalists, he clears things up: "My nomenclature on Town's site is 'Essexexile' and therein lies the clue - yes, you've guessed it Chelmsford City who, as some of you may already know are doing rather well at the moment in the Conference South - in fact, top of the league!!! Now this is all very nice for me you may be saying, but hang on a minute. It is in fact rather scary for me, very scary in fact. If Town, Cod forbid go down this season, which I don't think they will for one minute, and the Clarets go up, guess what?!" Erm... "Yes! Town will be coming down here to the Melbourne Stadium - a bit like playing at the local athletics track! Those of you that know Victoria Road, Dagenham will be wishing for those dizzy heights again!"
Al also knows of a link between Town and Chelmsford City: "Tommy McKenna, who played for Town in the 1948-49 and '49-50 seasons, went on to play for the Clarets. Chelmsford City in those days were doing very well in the old Southern League and could afford to pay very well - wages in non-league football were not capped and many decent players left the league to play non-league for more money. I know Tommy's son very well - he lives in the same village as me and goes to the same local and provides a heartwarming link for me to the old Barrett Stand where I used to watch Town with my dad in the good old days!" Great stuff. I'll save Al's face and edit out that his "other number two club" is West Ham, and not because they are poo.
A quick one from Paddy Grant regarding our recently signed Ivorian: "Akpa Akpro can score goals and everything! Well he can score a goal... Check it." Forget the goal - I'd like to see the fans in the Ponny peg it down to the front of the stand when he scores! Michael Shelton continues the Akpa Akpro theme asking "did anyone used to watch The Fast Show? " Yes. "More pertinently will anyone admit to having used to watch The Fast Show?" Gah, you got me there, Mike! But why are the questions? "For anyone that admits it, Jean Louis Akpa Akpro sounds to me like it should be sung to the 'Orgasmo Gizmo' jingle." Action pumpo indeed!