Cod Almighty | Diary

Hocus Pocus

8 January 2020

Miss Guest Diary writes: Macclesfield and Mansfield: only a few letters different, barely 50 miles apart and only 10 days between the games. But as an awayday experience they were on different planets.

The Macclesfield game on Boxing Day might just have been the nadir for me when it comes to following Town on the road. No it wasn't as cold as at Gateshead in 2016 or as humiliating as at Hartlepool in 2003, but for sheer misery on the terrace it was the worst. Usually Town fans can find some humour and grace in any circumstances, but not that day.

I hated having to share space with so-called fans who thought it was OK to spend the game booing and jeering and chanting about John Fenty ruining Town. This at a club where volunteers were taking up bucket collections to pay staff wages. Fortunately, all the stewards manning the terrace were from Grimsby so our hosts were spared this staggering lack of awareness and empathy. And then to continue the booing and fail to applaud the players after the game when they had tried so hard on a dreadful pitch, and could have won, was almost heart-breaking.

Fast forward to Saturday with over 1,300 Town fans bouncing around the stand at Mansfield, singing and cheering the team on for the entire game. I am willing to bet that all those who were booing and grizzling at Macclesfield on Boxing Day were there on Saturday claiming to be "Grimsby till I die" with no sense of irony whatsoever.

So: the Ian Holloway effect. Having never watched another club, I don't know if Town fans are unique in their ability to latch onto something and get carried away with enthusiasm for it. I have seen this sort of thing before, though, on varying scales. The first instance was the arrival of Ivano Bonetti – it seemed magical that Town could have a player who'd once played for Juventus. Raising the £50,000 needed from fans to buy out his contract was easy – I think I probably still own his big toe.

More recently we had 'inflatable-gate' that led to the incredible game at Barnet, which remains the best match atmosphere I have ever experienced outside of Wembley. Then there was Operation Promotion – and we all know how successful that was.

Having Ian Holloway as manager has already raised the profile of the club: the film of him in the club shop on Quest, offering to loan out Ollie Battersby live on Talk Radio and this morning appearing on The Totally Football Show. His interviews so far, including yesterday's, have concentrated mostly on his emotions and his desire to make football enjoyable again for us fans, and I'm all for that. If his commitment and enthusiasm can translate into extra belief and confidence for the players that can only be a good thing too. It's well-recognised that self-belief can improve athletic performance.

On the footballing front, we'll have to wait and see. I've consulted a friend who was a season ticket holder at QPR during Holloway's two spells at that club and the news is mixed. Apparently, Holloway did well in his first spell and got them promoted but his second spell was not so positive, and I quote: "He went mad, he went long ball, he changed half the team every game regardless of result or individual performance. Relegation was avoided, I'm still not sure how."

Holloway has claimed his wife Kim is a white witch and I am willing to believe it. How else did Town manage to win on Saturday – most of the game with only 10 men and not one shot on target in the second half. Yes, I know the team worked hard and at times played some good football, but we've done that many times before and not come away with the points.

Maybe Kim also worked her magic at QPR and this is the season of the black and white witch. Or maybe next. Whatever will be, will be; the future's for Kim to see.