Cod Almighty | Diary
Mr Cowley, what went on in your head
21 May 2018
Irregular Diary writes: So, my first post-season diary – and there isn't a lot of GTFC-related news, is there?
Andrew Fox is the first of those offered new terms to sign on the dotted line – I think we're all pleased with that and the positive effect he had in the team at the end of the season. He did well considering he'd not played for a few months so we can hope he starts the new season well.
The club, via a pre-written piece from the Football League (it bleated about the Championship, which I have no interest in until we're back in it), has announced that the new season's fixtures will be out on 21 June – at least a week after we'd all discussed the date online. Those fixtures will include two derbies with Lincoln City after Matt Rhead and his team mates were Rheaded out of the play-off semi-finals by Exeter. Manager Cowley suggests the Greggs lover needs more protection and offered such information to the fourth official every single time he went down. After our win at Braintree in the Conference play-offs I liked Cowley, but he's slowly becoming a whiny, blame-everybody-else type of manager and I haven't the time for that.
To fill my weekend with football I watched the FA Cup final – and what an absolute snoozefest that was. If it wasn't bad enough that the game was boring, those in attendance paid record extortionate costs as ticket prices rose by more than 30 per cent. Now we can all quip about how most United fans had a shorter journey to travel home after defeat then the Chelsea fans, but that doesn't make it right, does it? Your average fan having to fork out £115 is outrageous and the FA should be ashamed. If you're interested, Manchester United's and Chelsea's supporters trusts released a joint statement on the subject.
As it was, non-League saved the face of finals football with a cracking couple of games in the FA Vase and FA Trophy. A special mention to Brackley, who were superb as they snatched an own goal equaliser 21 seconds before the end (I broke out into full So Solid Crew rap but the lad didn't appreciate or understand it) and won on sudden-death penalties.
I couldn't end the diary without referencing Matt Dean's info on James McKeown:
There were no pictures of the so far elusive Jimmy Mac at the Scottish Cup final to see his potential suitors lose 2-0 to Celtic so there must be an ounce of truth in it. Maybe we'll get the positive news around the time the ST renewal packs hit the doormat? I've no idea, by the way, so don't be feeding this info to those ITK Twitter accounts.
To wrap this up, the club has announced that Michael Jolley will turn sales rep for a couple of hours during the kids' half term to flog a few season tickets. Great idea if you ask me – keep them coming!
UTM