Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 30 September 2011

30 September 2011

I link this Telegraph article for you, gentle reader, because Shouty has said the right things in it, in the right order. Praise from your Guest Diarist to him has been scant thus far, but here's some, because it is due. I just wish he'd skipped that final tide-turn analogy though: that's copyrighted by the ex-chairman isn't it?

Tomorrow's home game against Alfreton is, well, it's just another Conference home game, really. They got promoted, lost one or two of their better players and have had a hard time of it so far this season. But they have a big, bruising centre-forward, frightening long throws and The Jarman. Someone asked me recently whether Jarman was still scraping into my all-time list of favourite Town players. I was crushed to admit that of course he wasn't. The Jarman was a flash in the pan who never delivered: that silky first touch and the ability to turn with the ball as he was still taking it down... well, he was born with those and, as the horse-racing fraternity would say - he failed to train on.

Jarman is back after suspension tomorrow, as is Drewe Broughton. But Alfreton have a lot of injuries too, as explained in their official site's excellent match preview.

Shorty tells us on the freeview match preview that he's worried about Artus's knee and Kempson's groin: both have sat out training in an effort to get them in contention to play. Wood is back from his suspension, but Green's knee-where-it-joins-his-hamstring hurty keeps him out again. Silk appears to have come through his substitute run-out OK but big man Spencer remains stubbornly crocked. Hearn is better from his tummy bug and will no doubt be champing at the bit to play against his old club.

Town's defence remains unsettled then. Injuries, suspension and mistakes remain the story. I think Pearson deserves to step down to let someone else (like Garner) have a go. But maybe not tomorrow given that Alfreton aren't blessed with a lot of pace, which is what generally does for Pearson.

In other news, Jamie Green has been offered a short contract until January, which was apparently agreed 'in principle' by both parties. And I heard on one dodgy grapevine or another that the Grimsby Town Supporters' Trust has been awakened from its near-twelvemonth sleep and is having some kind of public meeting at Blundell Park tomorrow. Potential new trust bloods can turn up and promise the Earth, the contents of their change jars and maybe more to reinvigorate the trust's profile.

The GTST website has had tumbleweeds blowing across it since last November. But, hang on, here's a statement that's just popped up there. Make of that what you will, but those about to muck in need to do it for the long haul and from a local base, it would seem. By the end of it I couldn't stop humming 'Puff the Magic Dragon', which has a similar downbeat ending.

As for that meeting, the trust board members haven't announced it, but if you want to wade through the messageboard thread that refers to it, take a very deep breath and click here. I think on about page 8 or somewhere it says a meeting will take place from half 12 until two, somewhere in the bowels of Blundell Park. Oooh, I just had a weird daydream that John Fenty turned up and pledged all his shares to GTST in return for being made life chairman of the trust. His loans, of course, remained, benign as ever. Time I woke up and smelled some coffee. See yer.