Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 24 December 2009

24 December 2009

Training on the beach sounds like enough of a throwback to the days of Lawrie McMenemy to warm the wintry hearts of Grimsby's nostalgists this Christmas. But it's borne of necessity, not choice: all the grass for miles around is frozen and covered in snow so, as Neil Woodses explains to the Grimsby Telegraph, "the Grimsby Institute let us use their indoor sports hall on Monday to do some football work and then on Tuesday we had a good session on the beach at Cleethorpes". Either way, this visit from the ghost of managers past evokes the glories of the early 1970s, reminding us that supporting this hobbled old football club hasn't always been desperate struggles for survival in the Football League and spectacular administrative cock-ups. Next thing we'll all be listening to Slade and - oh. OK, next thing the players will be getting up at 4am to visit the lumpers and filleters down dock, or they would be if there were any lumpers or filleters left. Or docks.

Let's keep the rest brief - you want to go to the pub, and I've got wine to mull. Whaddaya wanna know? Oliver Lancashire is back from being treated by the actual proper physiotherapists at Southampton, who refused to entrust their young hopeful to the fishbone-wielding witch doctors of Grimsby, placing him contention for a game at Notts County on Boxing Day. Joe Widdowson may have a chance to get his disappointing season back on track after returning to training, says the Telewag, which also reminds us of The Jarman's spirit-lifting return to fitness. Town fans can now pay on the gate for the match, which is nice, although the amount you will need to pay remains considerably less nice.

So that's all from the Diary (and indeed any other Diary, Guest or otherwise) until Monday, when we're hoping to bring you a special post-match, er, Diary, er, post-the Port Vale match. A very happy Christmas to all human beings, and Bastard Franchise Scum supporters as well. Cheerio!