Cod Almighty | Diary

Go go Gadget

5 September 2018

Dave Diary writes: All this guff about B teams. They'll never play in the league because I hardly think John Fenty and Shaun Harvey would have promised that if it wasn't true. I don't know what's wrong with some people. Boycott this, boycott that. Don't tell me how to support your club. If you don't go to every game you can't call yourself a fan.

The reality is having Premier League teams visit Blundell Park sends a great message to the kids. Fact. Keep supporting the Mariners because your club can aim high. Obviously they can never actually win anything because they're a shithole in the arse end of nowhere. But they can play a part in developing the best new talent this country has to offer. At the end of the day who doesn't want to see your humble little stadium offer a platform to these youngsters. It's the only chance Grimsby have ever had to play proper clubs like Man City, Fulham and Newcastle. So remember those kids' names. Even if they do end up getting released a few months later and signing for Chester and Boreham Wood.

Before the flat cap brigade start up, yes I know Grimsby have probably played Man City, Fulham and Newcastle before. Don't patronise me. I'm not one of the football began in 1992 brigade. But it's not relevant today to look at football from before the Second World War.

Let me tell you something about last night's game. Some of those players are good and some are bad. I would never have known that if I hadn't gone to support the club. Now you can boycott a game if you want. Nobody's making you go. It's free speech. But nobody's got the right to come and tell me I should boycott it as well.

Look, the thing about last night is Town get ten thousand quid for winning. Another 20k for entering. Some more wins. Add it all up and it comes to some money. The club could make some money from this competition.

And that's what we all want for our club isn't it. I mean sure, Omar Bogle scoring twice in the play-off final to give Town the unassailable lead that took them back up after six years of non-League hell, that was decent. But you'll always remember where you were when you heard that they'd sold him to Wigan. I was on the Fishy. Said it was a good deal. So did some of the other lads. Absolute scenes. At the end of the day that's what we live for. Unforgettable moments of decent business.

I say to the boycott brigade, look, imagine the difference that 30 grand is going to make to your club. It might even be 50 grand, I don't know because they haven't played all the games yet and Town might not win them all. But just imagine the difference it will make. Even if you like that football part better than the actual money – and that's alright with me if you do, it's free speech, you can even wear a flat cap if you want. Think about how those football players will do better football because of that 50 grand. At the end of the day it means Town can sign better ones if they don't. Simples.

So I hope the part-time brigade who couldn't be bothered to support their club last night can make it back to the Park for the next game. I'll see you there if you can. And if I can get over there in time after Chelsea-Arsenal in the lunchtime kick-off on the big screen at the Trawl.