Cod Almighty | Article

by Various

1 July 2004

Hockless got the Town fans purring during his third start for the club in October 2003. The goal, scored in a home match against Colchester, was rare for its exquisite touch, grace, and bold finish. Furthermore, it contributed to Town netting three points, a rare enough occurrence during the last couple of seasons. Thirteen appearances throughout last term reintroduced us to the world of the footballing mullet. Hypnotic ball control, neat tricks, fancy flicks, deft turns, a youthful vigour - Hockless was our very own lower-league Joe Cole.

The bond between player and fan was strengthened further at Stockport, where a pitiful Town performance - marking the low point of Nicky Law's quarter-dimensional tactics – saw Hockless brought into the fray to bring a little craft and zing to the team. And craft and zing are what he brought. Within minutes, Hockless received the ball on the right wing and craftily ran square with it. No other option seemed apparent but to pull his foot back and zing the ball towards goal from outside the area. The ball arced round the flailing arm of the Hatters' keeper and into the net, prompting many ill thought-out calls for Hockless to be given his chance and to save the club from relegation single-handedly.

Town still lost, Town were relegated and the contracts of many Town players expired in the summer months, Hockless's included. Matters got out of hand.

The most fascinating phenomenon surrounding the mulleted one is his devout band of supporters. The Mullettes. The Hocklesslites. Call them what you want. Those cherished moments from Hockless were admittedly the lone glimmers in an otherwise dark season. But the chorus led by his fans wanting him re-signed verged on the irrational. The feeling of him being our relegation saviour swelled, and he became a talisman who would lead us straight back up. Somewhere along the line a few tried to claim him as one of our own, forgetting that by being born in Hull he isn't actually a Grimsby lad. But he duly re-signed, despite alleged (or self-proclaimed) interest from 'bigger' clubs.

There have been early-season cries to see him given another chance in the first team. But the debate continues: where would he fit into a 4-4-2 formation or into Slade's 3-4-3 system? He doesn't have the bite or work ethic to fit into the former, even out wide, and could he have the impact or cutting edge playing wide in a front three for the latter? It's the same problem that faces the aforementioned Cole, and the comparison between the two players extends as far as Hockless displaying Cole's less virtuous gifts: a tendency to shirk the team ethic, a slight frame, and a marked indecision at the vital moment. 

It is a make or break season for Hockless. The fans – or rather a section of the fans – have invested a lot of trust in the lad. He has to repay that and prove he truly is a golden Graham, and not just around to wallow and go soggy.