Cod Almighty | Diary

The way of all flesh

18 August 2020

Town have drawn Morecambe in the League Cup, the tie to be held at Blundell Park.

If ever two towns, or perhaps four, mirrored each other it's Morecambe and Lancaster, and Cleethorpes and Grimsby. Trips to Morecambe for Casual Diary have been eventful if largely unfulfilling. The first season back in the League saw a deluge Noah himself would have been wary of. The second was lightened only by the discovery of The Three Mariners pub in Lancaster and their excellent egg and chips. Last season saw a red hot day and a 2-0 victory spoiled by Exiled Mariner managing to screw up his only task of the day by ordering poached egg and chips - who the hell eats poached egg and chips.

Morecambe itself is a once bustling seaside town whose seafront is now dominated by miles of blue hardboard where Morrisons should be standing. It's only pub with life is the Spoons and the only visitor attraction is the bronze statue of national treasure Eric Bartholomew, better known by his stage name. Nearby Lancaster is no better. That it's football team remembers much better times, though not on the same level of Town, makes the comparisons valid.

That said, having studied the Government's guidelines for spectators attending football matches I would kill for the chance to visit Morecambe, or any other stadium. With the hoops to jump through seemingly endless I fear I won't be seeing much live football anytime soon. The respected Dave Roberts stated yesterday that unless there's a change in policy he can't see past a 2,000 maximum capacity for games at Blundell Park.

My resignation to my fate was solidified. While we do have a government performing more U-turns than a kid pulling do-nuts on Nunny, my expectation of the worst remains. The club may ask those season ticket holders lucky enough to gain entry to forego their entitlement to tickets for early round cup games. This would offer an opportunity for others to attend live games. The obvious danger is that people will grow accustomed to not attending, or watching via live streams, and then Covid-19 will have had the same effect on live football that it has sadly had for too many of our compatriots. A sad thought to end on.

UTM.