Cod Almighty | Diary

Memories

22 January 2018

Irregular Diary writes: Happy Monday all! Is that a little too positive? You see I've not written a diary for a while; in fact I think the last time I did was before this awful run of results.

Slades said he was "open to change" in the run-up to our visit to Colchester. To be fair to him, he did just that in changing the system. But we surely have to support those in the starting 11?

I don't miss games very often but due to other commitments I didn't go Saturday. I didn't have access to radio either so could only rely on Twitter reports. It seemed like a change of formation brought about a little bit more in the way of attacking threat as shots on target improved. A goal for the young lad Vernam is a great positive and one which I hope spurs him on to more in the coming weeks. It's just a shame that even with five defenders at the back we couldn't be switched-on enough to keep a clean sheet. On current form a point is a point, but one that sees us pulled closer to the relegation trapdoor.

There are similarities from this season to the 2008-09 season, the season before we were relegated out of the League – and that's worrying people. I don't know about anybody else but last time the nightmare was always in the distance until it was pretty much nailed on – after all, we were the mighty Grimsby Town. This time, though, fans have learnt that we aren't too good to go down and we pin hopes on the possibility that those in charge have also learned. Time will tell on this, and while I don't think we will be relegated this season, the summer is a vital one in many different areas of the club.

To more positive things. I hope those with worries can separate the situations on- and off-field and really get behind the week of memories. The Sporting Memories Network is a hugely beneficial charity organisation enabling older people to use reminiscence to improve well-being. This Wednesday, 24 January, sees The Last Memory at McMenemy's, a play with Taking Stock which has been receiving great reviews from both media and those who saw their performance in Halifax. A few of the CA lot are contributing to the evening with poetry and song following the play. It makes the £10 entrance in aid of Sporting Memories a bargain. Tickets are still available, from here or you can pay on the night.

To end the week, our match with Luton Town is a dedicated 'Memories game'. It is a shame that the match falls during a downturn in results. Its selection for such an occasion is ideal if purely for the link with Matt Tees, a legend with both clubs and who makes wonderful use of the Sporting Memories group at Waltham library with his wife May.

So, if it's the only positive GTFC thing you do this week then please tweet your greatest memories using #MarinersMemories. You never know, thoughts of yesteryear might cheer us all up a bit.

UTM