Cod Almighty | Article

by Dave Chambers

14 April 2008

Moved to pity by the gloomy recent mood of Cod Almighty's Diary, and perhaps mindful that others may be sharing the Diary's jaded frame of mind as Town's season peters out into mid-table meaninglessness, Dave Chambers has penned a piece to lift all of our spirits. Listed below accordingly, for our pleasure and revivification, are Dave's Reasons to be Cheerful.

Tuesday 4 December

After a miserable few months, on this date Town were 2Second in the league table. This was to prove to be a turning point.

Real managing

A couple of weeks before that, Alan Buckley had openly admitted he hadn't a clue how to turn around the club's form. Working with what he had and with the barest of additions - loanees Rob Atkinson and Sam Hird - during December Buckley slowly turned around Town's season. What he deprived us of in width we gained in solidity through the spine of the team.

That ten-match unbeaten run

At one point we were the form team in English football. On results at least. Not sure the performances deserved some of those victories, but let us not split hairs.

Cult heroes

Maybe 'cult' is a term too far, but how long has it been since we've had a team of characters? All scouts' eyes on poaching the silky skills of Ryan Bennett. The electrifying cameo by Shaleum Logan. Awaiting the Lump's introduction. Ciaran Toner's shins. Would Peter Bore finally get his head down and realise his obvious potential, or just end up another wasted waster? Let's not forget to stand to attention for the departing Sarge. And, most of all...

Phil Barnes

Magnificent. His performance at Morecambe was one of the finest one-man stands I have witnessed. Morecambe threw everything they could at him, trying to get the ball into the Town net in every possible way. And Barnes was more than equal to it all. The trip to Wembley was Barnes's day out more than any other person's. And throughout the season he has been consistent as well. Has he won us more league points than our outfield players?

Danny North

Forget Chris Kamara momentarily bigging him up. Danny's what a lot of Town fans want to see: a local lad doing good. And doing good by banging them into the net. Ten goals, while struggling with injury the past couple of months. He's still only 20 years old. And he doesn't just blast them in. He tends to place them. I like that, and you should like that.

Chesterfield at home

Emphatically the finest exhibition of football I have witnessed at Blundell Park for many a season. Town just purred in the first half. It was a joy to behold. The Spireites made a proper contest of the game in the second half, the woodwork denying them the chance to pull level to 3-3. Town responded immediately by putting the game beyond doubt. Also possibly the reason many fans' expectations were raised. Which lead to unrealistic expectations of Town continuing their winning run and storming the play-offs.

Penalties

Town have tucked away something like seven penalties this season. When was the last time we had a spot kick conversion rate higher than those missed?

Wembley

I avoided the trip to Wembley. I couldn't bear to witness the inevitable: Franchise FC winning their first trophy at our expense (defeatist, I know.) I spent the 30 quid ticket money on a round in our local. The travel money I poured down my neck, before stumbling home, slurring my words, and then falling asleep on the lounge floor before half time in the Liverpool derby. I left Wembley to people like my brother-in-law, also called Dave. He loves these games. He lives for the trips to big grounds: Anfield, Highbury, the Millennium Stadium, even Pride Park a couple of years back. He can't be arsed with the away games at plucky little places like Morecambe and Rochdale. So for people like Dave Wembley was brilliant. And Town got a lot of money out of people like Dave. This makes me happy.

And the club has now paid off some debts

...or I hope they have.

John Fenty

Love him, hate him, he's got more balls and money than any of us. You wouldn't catch me pumping any hard-earned fortune into Town, let alone running as a Conservative candidate. He seems to be single-handedly keeping the club afloat with his determination and cash. And the 2007-08 season will go down as the year John Fenty confirmed the club's move to a new ground in a couple of years. If they get it built.

Appreciating where we are now

The other weekend, at Rochdale, was brilliant. A close away game for me, but also a proper day out. A neat little ground, Town playing against a team that gets a minute but caring crowd. And a couple of lovely boozers to visit, which bookend the match perfectly. There have been loads of these little close away games the past couple of years: the aforementioned, Stockport, Macclesfield, Wrexham, first trips to Accrington and Morecambe. Only Chester ruined that magic circle, but ruining is what Chester do best in this world. I like the fourth division. Going by games on the telly, it's just like the third division. But without the big shits of Leeds and Forest. It's where we belong, and I'm happy to be staying here.

The season being over a month early

Ultimately the effort to drag themselves from the foot of the table proved too much for the players. We're not going up. But we're not going down either. So the season is now over. Blood in some youngsters, put our feet up, not worry about the results every Saturday, and have a long football-free summer. What more do you want? We'll be back in August super-refreshed for a tentative opening-day one-all draw. Bring it on!