Cod Almighty | Diary

Two out of 82 ain't bad

28 June 2018

It's another red-hot day. I apologise in advance because today's diary will be anything but. The sun has been out for months, the grass looks like the service line on a Wimbledon court after two weeks' play, and I'm so out of touch with events at Grimsby Town that I'm the least qualified fan to bring you today's news.

What your West Yorkshire Diary does know, however, is that we've signed some players. We have a Jake and a John joining the GTFC ranks and they'll be in the mix for midfield selection when the season gets underway on Saturday 4 August. If the season's start date continues edging back like it has over recent times, it'll only be two more years before it begins in July.

Andy Warrington, Siriki Dembele and Luke Summerfield have left the club, of course. I'm telling you this like you don't already know but, really, it's to convince myself that I have indeed been keeping tabs on the ins and outs during a time when I've been snowed under at work and feeling knackered at home thanks to a four-month-old who's already sporting teeth. They say babies learn quickly, as if they're intelligent – but if they were really intelligent they'd know not to put things that can choke them to death directly into their mouths during the few seconds when your head is turned.

I noticed yesterday that Ahkeem Rose has re-signed for the club. I'd be lying if I said that I understood even a smidgen of the saga that played out with this lad last season. In simple terms, we had him on our wage bill but we couldn't play him. That's all I know. Since I get most of my information from the Fishy these days, I've been led to believe that Rose is absolute fire. Let's hope we see some of that fire next season – we certainly seem to have a manager who will feed those flames, rather than adopt the Russell Slade approach and piss all over them while simultaneously striking a loan deal for 35-year-old Tubby McJourneyman.

I've never considered myself old, and that's because I'm not. But once upon a time I got a bit overexcited at being able to use my real date of birth in the CM2 editor and put myself in the game (I only gave myself 20s for pace, acceleration, jumping, heading, strength and stamina. I'm not a show-off). Today I'd be the second oldest member of the GTFC squad after Danny Collins. I've suddenly realised we're living in a world where Graham Hockless is 35.

Anyway, the players have reported back for pre-season training and, for once, it feels like we already have a squad. I'm sure there will be one or two more additions but the core of this team is looking strong and I'm looking forward to seeing them in action – potentially at Gainsborough, which is a friendly that has been booked in for the Saturday just before 2018-19 kicks off. Trinity are a club which went 145 years without being relegated – until last season, of course.

Enjoy the sun, and enjoy the England match tonight!