Cod Almighty | Article

by Michael Shelton

6 August 2007

Saturday 5 May 2007. Everyone associated with Grimsby Town is hoping Boston United are relegated. Not because we dislike their fans, nor even their players, but because of their management, or, more accurately, total mismanagement. Everyone, presumably, except Peter Bore.

In 110 minutes against the bunch of bent Bostards last season, Bore scored five goals. Let me abuse that statistic for a moment: if he'd maintained that rate of goalscoring, and had been fit and selected for every minute of every match last season, we could have expected a none too measly return of 188 league goals. I reckon even Nicky Law could have got us promoted with a 188-goal hitman in the team. Actually, come to think of it, probably not.

Discount those five goals and Bore totalled a much less impressive three last season. But take away that nasty killing habit and Peter Sutcliffe posed no threat to Yorkshire women in the late 1970s. So let's take all the facts at face value: 21 starts, 11 sub appearances, eight goals in his first season as a pro. Here's an utterly ridiculous comparison: previous Mariners wunderkind John Oster managed three goals in his first season, and guess what, 21 starts!

Bore has potential, no doubt. While eight goals from midfield in a season is not quite Groves-esque, if he weighs in with eight goals every season he'll get somewhere. Soccerbase gives his height as six feet, which seems to be the minimum height for a footballer these days. He's quick, direct, and can hit the back of the net. At 19 he has the attributes required to make a successful career in football. But Bore would do well to learn the lessons Oster persistently hasn't so far in his career. The impression given in interviews by manager Alan Buckley towards the back end of last season was that Bore might not always have been as injured as he said he was – and, reading between the lines, that Bore lacked the desire Buckley expects from every player who pulls on a Mariners jersey.

Let's not be too harsh. If Bore plays consistently this season as he has intermittently shown he can, then Town will either have a good player on their hands or a sizeable amount on their bank balance from his sale. Bore looks good going forward, and is young enough to learn to improve his defensive and team play. Peter Till will provide competition for the right midfield berth, but I for one hope Bore, as a home-grown talent, pulls the socks up from his bright yellow boots and makes that position his own.

We've seen flashes of a very, very exciting player. Let's hope Bore finds a new Boston this season. In fact let's hope he finds 23 of them.