Cod Almighty | Diary

Look over there

18 May 2020

Imagine if COVID-19 had struck in the Spring of 2016. Imagine if fourth division clubs had taken the decision they took on Friday and voted against relegation. Chances are, we'd still be in the Conference.

Fourth division chairs weren't quite turkeys being allowed to vote against Christmas when they voted to stop the 2019-20 season, with no relegation to non-League. The decision they made has to be ratified by the rest of the Football League. But it stinks of a stitch up. Bravo to our own chair, Phil Day, for rejecting it.

Day, as Middle-Aged Diary recalls, was always the Town director who spoke most sense when he was allowed to, and now he has explained very clearly why player health and welfare and a resumption of the season cannot be reconciled. There are some horrible discussions that will have to take place at Blundell Park, and many other clubs, in the next month. I don't envy Day and Ian Holloway the job they have.

OK, so you have already ordered your copy of Champions! and you are wondering what other books about Town are out there. Our book list is in crying need of an update - I had Dave Wherry telling me as much months ago, to incorporate biographies of Herbert Chapman and Tommy Briggs among others, and still I have done nothing about it.

Now even more so. There are two other new books, as well as Champions!, to cast your eyes over, or there will be soon.

I've not actually seen Sailing on international Waters, by Dan Barker Gray, but I intend to, just as soon as I can work out what a Kindle is. The author has the good taste to have put a picture of Pat Glover on the cover, so for now that is recommendation enough. It is about the Town players who have represented their country. Johnny Scott you will know about, and there are some other fine stories to tell.

Who knows how long it will be until it is really Saturday again, but in the meantime you might like to order a copy of Because it's Saturday: a journey into football's heartland, due out on 10 August. The book is by Gavin Bell, who is no relation to any member of the Cod Almighty editorial team, but who did pick our brains a little when he was compiling the chapter about Grimsby. It promises to be very good reading.

More than you can say about this diary no doubt. But I'm hungry. Bye.