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Diary - Tuesday 13 November 2012

13 November 2012

Paul Hurst has taken the opportunity of the two goals scored by Sam Hatton and the one scored by Andy Cook against Woking to suggest that they are starting to vindicate his and Rob Scott's judgement in bringing them to the club. This follows a certain level of muttering among Town supporters. A muttering, by the way, is the correct collective noun for the home support at Blundell Park.

It leads your Middle-Aged Diary to reflect on players who have overcome difficult starts to their Grimsby careers to establish themselves as heroes. This does not apply especially to Liam Hearn; although the goals were slow in coming, there was always an appreciation of his potential so that when they came, the overriding sensation was of relief rather than of words being eaten. However, the old show business adage applies, sooner or later, to most who don the black and white: no turn unstoned.

Gary Childs, I recall someone expostulating in his early months, was "not a proper winger". Stacy Coldicott, who you will get the chance to admire again in the Chairman's Challenge match on 29 November, only finally emerged as a cult hero in his final months at Blundell Park when Graham Rodger dubbed him his yard dog.

The slow burner who first comes to mind though is surely Justin Whittle. Overcoming the disadvantages of coming from Hull and Russell Slade's experimentations with a back three, his worth was understood long before he sent Alan Shearer bleating about how he wasn't going to bleat about his cut lip. That was the moment that propelled him into our permanent affections. That Shearer scored the only goal of that game is long forgotten. It is his sly push on Whittle and Sarge's straightforward response that will live with us.

Send your suggestions of players who have overcome early doubts to prosper with the Mariners to the usual address.

The process can work in reverse of course. It was Richard Dawson who wrote that the more league experience Simon Ford gained, the less experienced he looked. If you fancy finding out whether he looks 13 or 30 nowadays, get along to Blundell Park for the reserves fixture against Chesterfield at 2pm today.