Cod Almighty | Diary

Admit that the waters around you have grown

31 October 2019

If there is news that is fit to print coming out of Blundell Park or Cheapside, it isn't being printed. Or published. If something is happening, then we don't know what it is. Max Wright is back in training but Luke Hendrie is out.

Rich Jones has emailed us. He recalls a Sunday stroll interrupted on Sherburn Street when a car pulled up. "Excuse me mate. Which way to the football ground?" asks the tall black guy driving, his family inside.

Keith Alexander was the driver, and professional footballers spend so much time getting useless advice from complete strangers that Keith's recognition that he actually needed to seek it out, just this once, is truly impressive. Directions duly given, Rich's wife suggested "He may be lost". He probably was, observes Rich, "but he was on a hell of a journey, which touched so many people."

Also on quite a journey, through space and time, is Tony Little. He now lives in Australia, but that hasn't stopped him pining after Town. He can't help but be appalled at our recent results against lowly teams, and urges the club to "get your act together and remember that you have supporters in other parts of the world who rely on you to come up with some decent results. You can do it if you have positive thinking. So get cracking, go out there and beat 'em."

Tony's frustration is all the more acute for the Mariners' own journey through time. When he left for Australia in 1957, he had vivid memories of "visiting Blundell Park as a lad to watch the likes of Stanley Matthews, Raich Carter and Tom Finney and seeing Town beat some of the top clubs there." You can see how a home defeat by Orient might not add to the shine of an Australian morning.

But perhaps he can relive his memories in the company of Neville Butt, whose first game featured Finney. If you haven't read it already, read it now. If you have, read it again. Domestic Diary is done.