Cod Almighty | Diary

I wouldn't start from here

15 October 2013

There is not much news, and your Middle-Aged Diary has been toiling in other parts of the Mariners' orchard, so let me pick some fruit ripe for your edification this lunchtime (and if that isn't the worst introduction to a CA Diary of all time, I'm not trying hard enough).

Stuart Watkiss, to judge from the photograph, could teach Jeremy Paxman a thing or two about the late-flowering beard. He also teaches us all a thing or two about the forthcoming FA Cup tie against Rushall Olympic by reminding us to see it from their perspective as well as our own.

You might also want to take the chance to read Mike Worden's review of John McDermott's book. It's Not All Black and White is, as Mike says, unique among biographies of Town-interest (including books by or about Tony Ford, Keith Alexander, Chris Hargreaves, Brian Laws and Alan Buckley) in that Macca's book is likely to appeal solely to Town fans. We've also just published a book-themed quiz.

This literary phenomenon suggests the question 'what Grimsby figure do we hope is now preparing his memoirs ready for next year's Christmas market?' A quick look at the British Library catalogue suggests there has been no biography of Lawrie McMenemy. That would definitely be entertaining, though space for his Town career might be limited. 

Paul Futcher's sole contribution to the world of letters is, apparently, a book on electrical safety. Paul Groves could surely provide some valuable and trustworthy insight into the affairs of Blundell Park. Whatever he wrote about the Bonetti affair could be taken as gospel. Books by Gary Croft and John Oster would have to tread the fine line of not getting bogged down in tales of footballers on the spree. Both have tales to tell but the worth of their books would depend on their motivation for writing them.

A good book isn't just about reminiscence. Without necessarily believing you can avoid the mistakes of the past, it is certainly true that history can give insights into, and perspectives on, the present. For that reason, my final recommendation is to re-read Paul Thundercliffe's account of the season-transforming run of March 1990, just because the first few months of that ultimately triumphant season bear a certain resemblance to the way we have begun this one.

Happy reading.