Cod Almighty | Diary
Grrrrrr!
24 January 2017
Wicklow Diary writes: A dry day for diary news, I'm afraid, folks. I know you come here to be informed and entertained. Some days we just have to grin and scrape the barrel. Any conspiracy theorist worth his salt would probably point out that CA has knocked and factually criticised the club and Telegraph in the past, so they just hold juicy news back until the afternoon now.
Back in the jolly old Conference days, talking points abounded at this time of year. We'd probably be in the midst of 10 games in 17 days. The annual argument about the FA Trophy would be as engrossing as ever. Plus Hursty would once again be making use of the knowledge that if you roll a player up in a carpet in York and chuck him in the River Ouse, he'll eventually wash up by the Cleethorpes sea wall and get a squad number.
While we're looking back, I continue to enjoy seeing last year's foes Cheltenham have a sticky time of it. Of course they'll escape relegation. From our vantage point, we can see there are too many GTFC 2009 tribute acts playing the same bum notes – in the shape of Notts County, Newport and Leyton Orient. I'll enjoy Chelts having a squirm and wriggle in the trap until we inevitably aid their release with three points when we visit Gloucestershire in mid-April. Of course there is the karmic fantasy of us winning to send them down the plughole. But that could never happen...
What makes a rivalry, eh? I'd have a lot more ill-will for Cheltenham and their smug cheatery than, let's say Lincoln. Nathan Arnold's dramatic winner last week evoked a wave of conflicting emotions. How did you feel? It's a question that you have to look deep inside for the answer for. And either way, you might not like what you find.
Of course I want to finish above Every Team FC and beat them whenever we play. However, I've always found local rivalries to be confusing and mysterious self-fuelling wonders. Why would we despise someone so close to us and with so much in common? Strange, isn't it. Yet no-one wants to see the smug git two doors up swing by in a flash new German motor while you're standing in the rain waiting for the bus. The smug git.
You came here for a diary and not a live text update of my life so, as CA has pointed out in the past, our real rivals are the clubs of the Premier League shirt wearers you see walking around the town more than the candy-striped dude in Lincoln. And the plus side of our neighbours' cup shock was that I watched the Wembley goals about a dozen more times since. And it made me laugh that the BBC mug could ask Nathan to compare the two goals. He keep his scissors sharp, does Nath, leaving us in no doubt of the answer without trampling on the Imp hearts.
Rivalries should in theory be good fun. They definitely shouldn't be early kick-offs and 'bubble games', with all fans' basic rights being removed. The problem with that theory is that there are nesbits looking to do that 'bouncy bouncy arms out bring it on' thing that they do. Another one of those uncomfortable questions: is it the unfounded hate and aggression that gives it an edge? If it was all handshakes and group can-cans down Grimsby Road before and after, would we only sell half the tickets and create half the noise?
Regardless, this is the first season we haven't had a Lincolnshire derby since 2010–11. You'd miss them, wouldn't you. Take our opening game for example. No offence, Morecambe; Lincoln don't always sell out their allocation but they'd make more noise than your loyal 150 did. So good luck Lincoln in your promotion push. We'll hopefully see you when you catch up with us and Scunny in the second division.
Town's youth team beat their Notts County counterparts on Saturday too. The pitch at The BP is showing signs of winter wear and so too is the Cheapside surface. The highlights suggest the youths made admirable attempts to play passing football despite the conditions. Makes you pine for the artificial grass facilities at the new stadium. I'd nearly forgotten about that. The latest rearranged date for the latest review has been rearranged. Fecks sake, will this thing ever get built?
That's pretty much it; however, it's worth mentioning that if you plan on going to Stevenage, get yourself a ticket. We're about to sell out our allocation. Again. Somebody tell that bloke from Donny to add Stevenage away to our growing list of cup finals. Although we can't be sure that's who are actually playing, thanks to this good spot from @baileymussell on Twitter.
