The Diary

Cod Almighty | Diary

I am bigger than a hexadecimal

3 September 2019

If this is Town's best start to a season in almost 20 years, then what a ropey old century it's been for our club thus far. But plaudits are very much due to the current management and players for putting a spring back in our step as autumn pushes at the turnstile. So with Paul Hurst reminding us that he left for Shrewsbury in 2016 because Town refused to develop the club's training facilities or staff (only to do so later for managers who hadn't just got us promoted), let us hope fervently that the major shareholder doesn't play silly buggers with Michael Jolley. Celebrate the progress being made, but remember we're only one dropped bollock from another horrifying plunge.

At the same time, let's give credit where it's due. At least when Town are in danger of a horrifying plunge, it's usually only down a league table. You can say what you like about John Fenty, but while he's been in charge the team never had to abandon their bus on the way back from an away game because it's tilting over the edge of a 15-metre ravine.

Jolley's third phase of team building ended yesterday afternoon with the arrival of Ethan Robson on a half-season loan from Sunderland. When the news broke your original/regular Diary was on a long bus journey to a city allotment, so I was slightly wrong-footed, but have since been able to ascertain that Robson:

  • will turn 23 next month
  • played against Town two years ago in that B teams thing
  • started six league games for Sunderland the same season, when they were in the second division
  • played on loan for Dundee last season
  • is a left-footed central midfielder and can play either an attacking or a holding role
  • seems well thought of by Sunderland fans
  • has been influenced in his decision to join GTFC on loan by his Sunderland teammate Elliot Embleton, who of course made the same move last season and did jolly well
  • is now being kept out of the Sunderland team by Elliot Embleton, which is ironic if you're Alanis Morissette or an overworked sports journalist

Speaking of the B teams thing, nothing has changed since the diary I wrote on this subject three years ago, so have a great night at Lucarly's if you can make it, and total respect to the Internet Mariners and the Iron Bru teams who are making this vital stand. Remember those two FA Cup semi-finals, remember that fifth-place finish in the top flight, remember Exeter in 1972 and 1990, remember Joe Waters and Kevin Drinkell putting Sheffield United to the sword in 1980, remember Everton and Liverpool, Tottenham and all the rest. Remember that a club with this history is not a second-class item to be used as another club's training facility. Remember to hold on to your pride, and keep the boycott going stronger than ever.