Cod Almighty | Postbag
At a distance
18 December 2016
This letters page largely consists of Town fans taking pot shots at Retro Diary and fans of other clubs saying nice things about us. Oh, and remember Paul Hurst?
Branching out
codalmighty.net has certainly taken an interesting new direction.
Cue wisecracks about the new manager clearing out the dead wood, etc.
from Phil Watson
Entering the Main Stand is like having your phone signal blocked
Touché to the diary.
I recently wrote with an ire towards everything linked to Brexit, sneering and grandiose comparisions of political goings on towards life, liberty and 'fruit of the loom' (Copyright that t-shirt company) I'm so so so tired of it all in the media, and would like somebody, anybody, to just get on with something so we can all get on with what we all get on with.
Linking GTFC to that all that irked, as it is my one oasis of calm that I happily don't link to world happenings. Somehow, entering the Main Stand is like having your phone signal blocked, it is back to the 50s for 90 mins where life in black and white on newsreels seemed a bit more simple. Where Bovril is sold without a BSE health warning. Where there still remains a picket fence behind the Ad boards (no LED nonsense).
Football does matter, agreed. I'd still take exception to the great one's quote of it being "More important than that" as for many, life and death really is actually more important than those of us who like grown men kicking a bag of wind about, my old mum included, especially during the four weeks of a world cup; "Not football again!", she'd say, palms covering face. But I agree with the sentiment of the great one in a poetic and whimsical way. Its a great quote.
Anyway, I appreciate the consideration of the reply and the lack of knee-jerking, rabid, frothing-mouth indignation that would appear to be the modern day norm for a debate involving opposing views, or at least the little differences betwen people. Unlike Trump, I wasn't proposing to have the Diary "locked up". Turns out he doesn't sound like he is going to have Clinton locked up either, so maybe the world turns and things move on and maybe none of us should take it all as seriously as we do?
TTFN
from Ian Jackson
Cupping his ear
Dear Cod Almighty,
Firstly thank you for continuing to provide a site where genuine debate is welcomed. Having followed recent debates of a political nature this has highlighted the fact that this shouldn't be taken for granted anywhere.
I do find it strange though that Retro's diary of 18th November contrasts Marcus Bignot's approach to "the fans" in his short tenure, with Paul Hurst's slightly longer stint. There are two reasons for this: firstly perhaps it is a little early in MB's honeymoon period to judge? And secondly, your site spent much of last season arguing that supporters who shout abuse aren't really being very supportive, acknowledging that the term "the fans" means very little at all. In this context PH's infamous cupping of his ear might easily be seen as his answer to those very same 'supporters' that you yourselves questioned. Similarly in politics the term "the people" is often also misused to imply a shared mode of thought which simply doesn't exist. Along with keeping us shape, PH did, as Retro grudgingly admits, finally get us up.
Sincerely
from Lee Johnson
Too late
Grimsby Town will do very well to get Zaha Hadid to design the new stadium as she died of a heart attack last spring. She was the best in the world though.
from John Darnell
Letters Ed responds: We've edited the diary of 25 November to make it look as though we didn't drop the bollock we did. Thanks to the several readers who pointed it out.
Letter from America
I just found your website by accident. It is great to see people taking an interest in Grimsby.
I was born and raised there until I was 25, and then moved to USA. It will always be home to me.
Thanks again
from Rich Facer
If you can remember when Portsmouth were good, you weren't really there
I guess you are too young to remember when Portsmouth were in their heyday, winners of the First Division in 1949 and 1950, and one of the country's top clubs post-war. Have you never heard of Jimmy Dickinson (828 appearances), Jack Froggatt, Duggie Reed, Jimmy Scoular, et al?
from Antony Chapman
Letters Ed responds: Too young? Yep, we'll take that.
Generous hosts
Fucking brilliant! Loved it, wish we had that penmanship on our board (Pompeyonline).
Good luck with the rest of the season.
from Uppompey
Tony Butcher's cure all
Honest and witty pair of articles - loved them.
Sadly the wit is wasted on many but a great change from the norm if you get the built-in gags.
Put a smile on my face and even eased the cramp in my left calf that has me up at this ungodly hour. Could this elixir work miracles on we farmers?
Bottle it, Sir, and you will have an income deserved by such brilliance.
from Phil Pompey
Generous visitors as well
Absolutely superb article. Well-informed, well researched, well written. Really enjoyed it. Well done!
from Neil Grainger
And generous donors
What a brilliant article. Much is made of loyalty, but as we continually see, players and managers do see other clubs as a more "attractive proposition".
Is this the case with my club? Yes we have superb facilities for a lower league club, the staff to back that up and a good fanbase. We just need a decent team with a decent manager at the helm. If Paul Hurst does leave you then I will feel for your club and supporters.
But don't take it personally. We have lost good players and good managers in the football merry go round, and it will continue.
from Karl Evans
Poetry corner
And so farewell Paul Hurst.
Not as famous as Geoff.
We might have loved you if you had won more home matches.
No Buckley, you.
Now just another Severn bore.
E.J.Thribb (17 1/2)
from Mary Malley
Season's greetings
Well done to everyone who contributed towards the Cod Almighty/Mariners Trust evening a couple of weeks ago. It was another example of the talent we have at our club and was great to be taken down memory lane for a while. I hope another event will be advertised in the future. Maybe a new a rap from da man Ali Wilko.
Just like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a sack full of points.
from Sibbo
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