Cod Almighty | Diary

Greece is the word

29 June 2015

Miss Guest Diary writes: I had the TV on last night with the sound off and I glanced up to see a newsreader sitting in front of a picture which had the caption 'Grout?' As the only meaning of that word is the filler you put between tiles it took me a while to realise the story was about Greece leaving the Euro: it was another of those ghastly portmanteau inventions like Grexit and Brexit.

This reminded me of an article I read last week about new words introduced to the Oxford English Dictionary which included things like carnapping, skort, twerk and webisode. Is it time to try and get some of the words from the Grimmo dictionary recognised? Or better still, invent and popularise a specific Town-related word; maybe something to do with Harry the Haddock?

If I could get something in the dictionary changed, it would be to expand the definition of mixed feelings to include 'something produced by supporting Grimsby Town'. In the past these feelings have arisen when enjoying a game and then having to listen to a section of the crowd singing the praises of the Yorkshire Ripper, or being sworn at and accused of not being a true supporter for asking someone not to shout racist abuse at the opposition.

On Twitter, to which I confess I am addicted, the contrasts are even more stark, the feelings even more mixed. Yes to the brilliant #OperationPromotion (the total on Crowdfunder currently standing at £61,565), to the opportunity to interact with players, to the messages of hope and celebration before and after games. No to the haters who think it's OK to insult players who join rival clubs or to call the location of any rival team a shithole (OED: vulgar slang An extremely dirty, shabby, or otherwise unpleasant place). And then last week someone calling, once again, for the club to sign Ched Evans. I wholeheartedly agree with the Cod Almighty tweeter's pithy response to that one: FFS.

Twitterati has also made it into the dictionary and I have a member to thank for drawing my attention to this article, which certainly raised a few chuckles in our house. We all love Lenny and are grateful for the goals he scored last season, but ripping defences apart? The new Jamie Vardy? Please.

Well this is the week when preparations for the new season start in earnest. The fixture list comes out on Friday, the players are back in training on Wednesday and Town have hinted at more signings when football league contracts end tomorrow. Get planning those trips and pledging those funds. Up the Mariners!