Cod Almighty | Diary

Early days perhaps, but they get late very quickly

4 September 2020

Thunderdiary writes: Of the eleven players that started Grimsby Town's last competitive football match, down the road at Scunny some 181 days ago, only five remain at the club. That sweet, sweet header from Charles Whatisname was the last time we celebrated a Town goal. When the moment comes again it will surely lift the roof off.

Although it's been slow at times, the squad is taking shape and the recruits this week in particular give hope for the rest of the season. Sean Scannell, who Holloway reckons can play at '11, 10, 8 or 7' could be astute if he keeps fit but he's not in contention for a full ninety minutes tomorrow. Neither it would appear is Danny Rose, having not trained at full pelt according to the manager. Rose is the signing that excited Thunderdiary the most, a midfielder that can boss the game and the ref. Our very own Neil Bishop; we've been after one for years.

So Holloway, annoyed that we're having to play Saturday's match at all, alluded to some of the youngsters getting the nod as 'We've had it!' regarding injuries and fitness. In particular he picked out academy striker Luis Adlard and 18 year old midfielder Duncan Idehen who the manager reckons has been better than anyone else out there.

Whether these two played in a young Town XI last night who were seemingly walloped 4-0 at Brigg is unclear, as the official outlets have made no mention of said game.

Tomorrow's opponents, in the first of what could be four League Cup games in a month, are Morecambe. This will be the third time we've played them first since our resurrection into the Football League. Now managed by the pragmatic Derek Adams, The Shrimpers have had a similar clearout to Town. They've replaced last season's brood with some notable players, one being Ben Pringle. Pringle, of course, played 18 times for Town during Michael Jolley's tenure and was tempted across the Pennines, no doubt, by his old mate John Welsh. Three yellow cards and a bad miss in the away match at Cheltenham was Pringle's not so eye-popping contribution as a Mariner.

Another Morecambe ex-Mariner is Harry Davis, who played for Town in that final game at Glanford Park but moved back to his native north-west during lockdown. I thought Davis was a decent, solid player for Town and he's at ease with his time at the BP: “I had a good time (at Grimsby) and I'm looking forward to going back but obviously I'm a Morecambe player now and that's my focus" was his typically no-nonsense quote.

As Davis also mentioned, it will be strange going back with no fans, and Town's foray into the world of behind-closed-doors football will be interesting. Certainly I've been at games where the Pontoon have willed Town onto win, the West Brom Bonetti game being a case in point. But I've also been in crowds that have turned against players and the team so it will fascinating to see what effect, if any, the audible sound of 'Man On!' will have on the players. Let's hope John Tondeur, with new co-commentator Crofty, has a bleep machine just in case.

After a lethargic, hollow summer filled with the fakest of football, let us all hope that this season can start and then continue with some personal interaction from us. Certainly the fact that Cambridge are conducting some test events next week stokes the fire of optimism. Of course watching the game online is a viable thing and I think Town get 80% of the proceeds, so if a few fans iFollow the game, it may cover next week's Covid tests.

However and wherever you plan to support the team tomorrow, there can be no doubt that everyone will feel that tangible excitement that can only be created by following the football, and I hope we can will the team on at 3pm with a collective shouting of three simple yet genuinely missed words:
Come on Town!