Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 12 November 2012

12 November 2012

Miss Guest Diary writes: Wow, wasn't Saturday's game a great way to end a dismal run of home form. Even that early goal conceded now seems like a good thing - dragging our spirits all the way down to our boots before lifting them sky high with five goals in reply. And up to second in the table.

I saw somewhere - probably on Twitter where I get most of my news these days - that the last time Town were second in any league was in April 2006, which immediately sobered me up. That, of course, was the infamous season in the Slade era when Town were in the automatic promotion spots more or less continually from September onwards but managed to screw it up in the last month. This was followed by the very long and outrageously expensive trip to the play-off final where Town played like robots with flat batteries. I hope it's not an omen for this season. I think I'd rather we slipped quietly back to mid-table than go through those agonies again.

Talking of play-offs, the club has announced that Kevin Donovan, the scorer of Town's winning goal in the Wembley play-off final of 1998, will be playing in a fundraising match at Blundell Park on 29 November. Also playing will be former yard dog Stacy Coldicott. No other Wembley heroes are mentioned by the club, but I have received an email from the Mariners Trust which suggests Kingsley Black and Wayne Burnett might feature. Any Town fan who knows me is well aware that Wayne is my all-time favourite Town player and so wouldn't be surprised to learn that, despite being too old, the wrong gender and never having played football, I'd be sorely tempted to pay my £200 to join in the fun if Wayne were to appear.

Talking of heroes, the club has said that Anthony Elding is free to leave "if there is a club out there who want to take him". Hmm, good luck with that.

And finally comes the news that Town will host Buxton, currently mid-table in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, on 24 November in the first round of the FA Trophy. I'm now expecting some terrible puns about spa-ing for a place in the second round. Sorry, I'll get me coat.