Cod Almighty | Diary

No more heroes any more?

25 February 2016

Devon Diary writes: Why don't we honour our footballing heroes? With a history stretching back nearly 140 years and many great players and managers having served the club, how many have been celebrated in a meaningful way by the town? After all, our club is such an integral part of the town.

Jackie Bestall, who captained Town to the second division title in 1934 and went on to earn an England cap the following year, has Bestall Road in Cleethorpes named after him – but why are no others commemorated in such a way? Surely we should recognise more of our alumni?

Harry Betmead spent 17 years at Blundell Park, was a teammate of Bestall and also earned an England cap but seems to have been overlooked. What about former captain Sidney Wheelhouse whose footballing career with Town was sadly cut short after eight seasons by the Great War? We've named a restaurant at the ground after fourth division title-winning manager Lawrie McMenemy, but couldn't we do better? Shouldn't we do better? What about Matt Tees, goal machine and championship winner with McMenemy in 1972?

At least McMenemy gets some recognition. What about Alan Buckley? Our greatest, most successful manager has to deserve a street named in his honour. What about John McDermott? I mean, come on! When we resort to the names of trees for new streets – and non-native trees at that – then is it time to petition the council to give the new roads on new estates names which actually mean something to us? (Apologies to any arborists offended by that.)

Who would you nominate, based on achievements, status and record with the club?

I'd like to think that some of the current squad might come to mean as much to us as the Tees, Buckley and other club legends but it's early days and there's still a way to go in this season.

Amond looked different class in the highlights I've seen of the Woking game. His header to set up JPP was sublime and the way he took his own brace made him look a class apart. I'd love to see him rewarded with promotion and to stay with us. Tell you what – smash a hat-trick at Wembley for us, Podge, and we'll get a street named after you. Deal?

I'd love to see Pearson, Disley and the rest of the squad rewarded for the efforts this year and last. But will they go on to achieve legendary status? It looks like the team have a little of their mojo back after a blip that lasted slightly too long and was in danger of becoming a slump, and another win against Woking this Saturday will do us a lot of good. Then of course it's Forest Green away next Friday.

I see the trip from Devon to Nailsworth as a local affair and have been looking forward to it since the fixtures were announced last summer. I was delighted to see that, as well as the famous veggie food, the club has arranged for a London bus to be converted into a bar for the Friday night. It'd be rude not to, hey?

This Saturday's Trophy quarter-final will see the club celebrating the work of Kick it Out, the organisation that promotes equality and inclusion in the sport and campaigns against all forms of discrimination and abuse. It's sad that it's still needed, but it is and I'm glad to see the club working with them and their wider brief – against all forms of abuse.

As Wicklow reminded us yesterday, alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Cut the abuse at Blundell Park and get behind the whole team and we've got this. Easy.

By the way, is it just me thinking that Jon Nolan is a hell of a signing? Touch, composure, goals, Elvis' sneer – the lad has it all, yeah?

Up the Mariners!