Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 10 August 2010

10 August 2010

Apologies for yesterday's lack of a diary and the late appearance of today's. The Cod Almighty team are short on numbers at the moment and sometimes real life unavoidably gets in the way of our plans to bring you this daily burst of Mariners-related news and views.

So today should be a batch of the fresh and the not quite so fresh. Let's start at the top of the GTFC news loaf, and it's a ginger top at that, with the news that Nick Hegggggggggggggarty has left the club. A bit of a sad day for your Idle Diarist, who always wanted to see Hegs get a good solid run in the team, but he was always one of the first to be cast to the sidelines by any number of loanees or niggglesome injuries. There's time still for Nick, being only 24, so good luck, lad, and if you're ever passing through Idle - like fellow ex-Town player Paul Bolland does, cos he dad lives round the corner from here - drop in for a cuppa and a hello. (Which is a bit of an open invite to anyone really. You don't have to have been a Town player to have a brew and some malted milks put your way.)

Lee Peacock has the talk and strut of being the new fans' darling going by an interview with the Grimmo Telegraph. Peacock covers injuries, wanting to finish unfinished business, and how he's still only 33. However, let's pause and have a quick giggle at the automated process employed at the Grimmo Telegraph which produced this great piece of web copy:

"I know I'm getting older but still feel

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I've got a lot to give and a few years in my legs."

Despite his diplomatic offering of "I'll play anywhere", we all got the hint he'd rather play up front. Didn't you as well? After all, it's where we think he is best employed. What do you think? Let us know.

There's also an interview with Steven Watts, which basically amounts to: the fans are great, it's a tough season ahead, and there's some quality in the dressing room. What quality seems a little vague. Highland Spring water? Fenty has forked out for fine leather seats and new power showers? The complete box set of The Wire? It does need some consideration. What kind of quality can you imagine being in that changing room?

All this came after a hard-fought win at Halifax on Saturday, the last planned game for Town's pre-season before the real thing kicks off this coming weekend at Crawley (between Gatwick and Brighton, in case you were wondering). Youngster Nathan Dixon was the star, making and scoring a goal apiece, as Woods put out a mixed bag of presumed starters for the new season and fringe players. The Telegraph reckons the 'Fax's more brutal and direct approach was more of a real preparation for the season ahead than the players may have experienced so far this summer. Which is interesting to hear from the professional journos at Riby Square.

We've heard that the football, while a little tougher, is actually played more in the Conference. The Town boss thinks otherwise, that we're likely to see more Halifaxesque rough and tumble in the coming months. The fact it was an "eye opener" a week before the start of the season is a little worrying, but nonetheless, at least Woods is acclimatising the players. It's just whether the fans will be ready for this. Still, it's an exciting step into the unknown, steeped in some trepidation. Let's all go along with it, at least to start with, yeah?

And finally, if you've nothing better to do with your lunchbreak, are a confident writer (although not necessarily coherent), why not help us out and have a shot at penning a Diary? The email address is diary@codalmighty.com. We offer a number of perks unique to this fanzine ranging from being assured of your anonymity at all times, to the prospect of getting a telephone call out of the blue from a Town manager who takes particular exception to your thoughts. Of course you're tempted! Give it a go!