Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 14 September 2011

14 September 2011

The first team might be enjoying a whole week between games at the moment, but two other Grimsby Town sides were in action yesterday. Not that your original/regular Diary knew anything about one of the games until after it happened. At Blundell Park the Mariners' youth team drew 2-2 with Notts County in the Illuminated Landlock Knockout and won a penalty shoot-out to progress to the next round. But apparently over at Doncaster, a GTFC XI took part in one of those friendlies that are replacing the reserve programme this season. The side featured three mystery trialists, we were told by Town's superb new official website after the event, and they lost to the only goal of the game. "Anthony Elding had Town's best chance," adds the SNOS, "after being put through by [Rob] Eagle. With the goalkeeper advancing the Town striker dragged his shot wide of the far post." He'll find his feet soon enough, though, I'm sure, eh?

Off the pitch and toward the courtroom, the epic distraction of Boston United Football Club v. Deadly John Shelton Fenty (Topcon) rumbles on. Did Shouty's recent cat-out-of-the-bag admission that he and Shorty had been "headhunted" leave you thinking the Town chairman wouldn't have a leg to stand on? Me too. The former Five Star Fish supremo is having none of it, though. According to today's Grimsby Telegraph, Fenty "believes the Mariners did nothing wrong in approaching the pair after Boston announced their resignations". I'm sure they didn't; it's just the bit where the Mariners seemingly approached the pair before Boston announced their resignations that's the problem.

Still, if GTFC lose the case then there might at least be one positive knock-on effect. The Telewag says the appointment of Shorty and Shouty may end up costing Fenty £41,000 in compo. So when Town are languishing desperately in eighth place in the league come the middle of January, this time he might actually think twice about sacking the management.

Over to the Diary inbox now, where some of you have responded to West Yorkshire Diary's appeal yesterday to name pointless signings along the lines of Willie Falconer. Chris Beeley harkens back to the dark days of second division football to reel off Robbie Busscher, Alan Neilson, Michael Jeffrey and the unforgettable Vance Warner. Baz Rockliff, meanwhile, writes: "When I dug deep into my mind and remembered Nicky Rizzo, I didn't think it'd be beatable. Then I remembered James Lawson." Who? Exactly. Your original/regular Diary remains convinced that the left-sided midfielder signed by Russell Slade from Iceland or somewhere (but he was English) was not only a pointless signing but may not actually have existed. Did he ever play? Timothy Taylor? No, that's beer. Tommy Taylor? Some kind of tax dodge, surely.

"Hi Diary, good to see you in the Rutland before the game on Saturday," writes Sibbo. "Joe Murphy is at Coventry now and Super Al scored Swindon's first goal tonight. Not Town news I know." Great to see you too, Sibbo - it's been far too long, and I hope your gardening business goes from strength to strength. The rest of you can talk among yourselves.

Lastly today, have any of you ever been to the Haxey Hood? Email diary@codalmighty.com if you have the vaguest idea what I'm talking about, and we'll catch up in week or two's time. Toodles!