Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 5 December 2012

5 December 2012

If you want to go to the Boxing Day derby at Lincoln then you'll probably have to read the rules. Basically, unless you're a season ticket holder, or you attend the Tamworth match this weekend, you run the risk of missing out on the fun that's sure to occur at Sincil Bank. So get planning.

Captain Disley has gone all Paul Groves on us by declaring that he could see the positives in last night's postponed game at Gateshead. Your West Yorkshire Diary hasn't actually read the article since I'm sure he'll say something about extra time to rest, the boys will be fresh for Saturday, etc. Meanwhile, Heed boss Ian Bogie was just plain disappointed since he had, for once (we're told), a full squad to choose from. I imagine Bogie, like the character Ted Striker in the film Airplane, turned to the camera and gazed down the lens for three seconds before uttering: "What a pisser."

I know how Bogie feels. Several years ago we had a crucial game against Hardly Athletic to decide who would finish mid-table and who would finish just below mid-table in the university five-a-side second division. Three Hardly Athletic players came down with a sudden but serious case of pink eye and the game had to be called off. In fact I think it was forfeited. I can't remember because I was laughing so much. We were bound to lose, but sometimes you just want to play a game of football. It's a right pain in the arse when a game's called off and you've spent ages preparing yourself for it - mentally, I mean. Physically we were all a shambles.

So then, a game was called off, so there's no game to reflect on today. Everyone's had their say on the postponement so I really am scraping the barrel here. There is one more bit of news to report - the Mariners will face Havant & Waterlooville of the Conference South in the second round of the FA Trophy. I think the game's being played at Blundell Park a week on Saturday. Grimsby actually have something in common with the Hawks - we've both, at one point, been 2-1 up at Liverpool in recent years.