Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 21 January 2013

21 January 2013

Miss Guest Diary writes: Oh the weather outside is frightful and Town had two games postponed last week, but the club are confident that tomorrow's match against Hyde will go ahead. They're going to do that thing where they leave the snow on to insulate the pitch then get some mugs volunteers to help clear it at the last minute. I have a vague recollection the club tried this last year and, when the snow was removed, discovered that - surprise, surprise - the pitch underneath was frozen. I wish them luck but, whatever happens with the pitch, I know that I won't be venturing over the Wolds tomorrow evening unless there's an almighty thaw between now and then.

Despite no game for Town, there was some good news at the weekend. Though many of the Conference Premier games were postponed, two of Town's closest rivals - Newport and Forest Green - did play, and both lost. So Town are still only two points off the top of the division and now have a game in hand on the teams around them. Geoff Ford, writing in the Telegraph, has praised what he sees as a real effort by the board to get Town promoted by allowing the managers to bring in Devitt, Brodie, Marshall and Hannah until the end of the season. Let's hope it pays off.

Elsewhere the Shouty one of Town's management duo has been speaking about the comings and goings of players. He didn't rule out the possibility of Nathan Pond's return or that they might be looking at bringing in one or two others - but this will be dependent on existing squad members going out on loan. Louie Soares has already gone to Alfreton until the end of the season and now the names of Anthony Elding, Frankie Artus and Greg Pearson "have been circulated", which sounds a bit like being put on a hit list.

Many of us who have 'ordinary' jobs would be delighted to get paid while not actually having to do much work, but I suppose it's different for footballers. Taking part in all the training and fitness work while knowing you'll never be part of the main event - especially when the team are doing as well as Town are at the moment - must be very frustrating. So I hope these players do get a chance to play elsewhere this season, even though Frankie is one of my current favourites and I'll be sorry not to see him play for Town again.

Talking of Town favourites, Garry Birtles, my first ever favourite player, will be back in town on 7 February giving at talk at the Old Clee Club. I have to confess that I really only latched onto him because, having a beard, he was the first player I could recognise when I began going to games back in the early 90s. I'm pleased to see he's still got the beard.

But wait, what's this? The club has just announced that Marcus Marshall has been recalled by his home club, Bury. There is no official explanation for the recall, but rumour has it that he is going to be sold to Luton. Oh well, maybe I will get a chance to see Frankie play again this season.