Cod Almighty | Diary

Football League? We're having a laugh

23 May 2016

Miss Guest Diary writes: Well, that was the furthest I've travelled and the most I've paid to watch a pre-season friendly, and no new signings on show either. But seriously...

I suppose it was a little predictable that the hoped-for double at Wembley – the celebration party for promotion – did not materialise. The fans, the players and the management gave everything there last week and after a long, and sometimes fraught, season, there wasn't enough in the tank to secure another victory yesterday.

The fans weren't helped by the incomprehensible decision by the organisers to leave the selling of the two blocks behind the goal till last, and to allow neutrals to purchase tickets there. What last week was a heaving mass of black and white hysteria, yesterday was a half-empty wilderness dotted with groups of local kids who didn't know or didn't care what was going on. The atmosphere was completely ruined: we couldn't lift ourselves, let alone the team. Thanks Wembley.

And the team was handicapped too. Would it be mean to describe as sentimental Paul Hurst's decision to leave our best centre-half and our most attacking player on the bench in favour of giving a game to a nice bloke and an old bloke who had not featured last week? Probably. Would it be accurate to say that doing so adversely affected Town's chances of winning the trophy? I'd say definitely.

Town once again played in that lopsided 4-4-2 formation, designed to accommodate three central midfielders but seemingly guaranteed to hamper our strike force. It was apparent almost from the off that the Mariners would struggle to score, which proved to be the case. Town's attacking potential improved slightly when Clay was replaced by Arnold after we conceded, but dipped again when Pittman came on as the centre of a front three, forcing our two most prolific strikers into secondary roles.

There were some consolations in the afternoon unrelated to the outcome. Firstly, that the large contingent of Halifax fans did not take the opportunity to sing: "Football League, you're having a laugh". Because on their relative performances yesterday, anyone who didn't know the truth would have been hard pushed to tell which team had been relegated from the Conference and which promoted into the Football League.

Secondly, that any scouts at the game or watching on TV will probably not be recommending signing any of the Town players, with the possible exception of Nolan. Amond was once again wasted in the odd configuration of the team, leaving him unable to make his mark on the big stage. I just hope it doesn't put him off signing for us next year.

Thirdly, there was the opportunity once again to connect with friends old and new on the concourse before the game and at half time. In fact, that was the only time it felt like a real party, the sort I attended on many a Saturday night as a teenager. You know, where the food consists of crisps and soggy sausage rolls, all the decent booze has been consumed by nine o'clock, and you hang out in the kitchen with your mates debating why that gorgeous bloke you've had your eye on for weeks hasn't bothered to turn up.

But two trips to Wembley is more than many clubs manage in their entire history, so doing it twice in eight days is brilliant. As was the experience of driving up and down the A1 in what felt like a huge convoy of cars sporting black and white scarves, Town badges and, of course, inflatable fish.

On the subject of Harry Haddock, mine has now been banned from attending games. He's spent a lot of time in the car this season but made only two pitchside appearances: the 1-0 loss at home to Cheltenham and yesterday. Sorry Harry.

So this football season is over and it's been great in its own way, but I can't wait for the next one to start. Retro Diary may have been everywhere, but there are plenty of new grounds for me to see next season – though I'm really hoping Plymouth get promoted. For now we have that nervous wait to see which players will sign a new contract and which we've seen the last of. It sounds like we'll know pretty quickly who's staying and who's going and I'm sure my fellow diarists will keep you all updated.