Cod Almighty | Diary

If Napoleon had come up against last night's Russian defence, War and Peace would have been a novella

22 June 2021

Just a suggestion in case anyone is reading (and to be honest, we are having our doubts), but it might be handy to link the item on Grimsby Town's official site inviting players to register an interest in the women's team with their coach Dale Houlston's informative and encouraging interview on YouTube.

The next instalment of the Fenty Years is on its way, but not for a week or so yet. Spare a thought for Mark Stilton who is knee deep in the Mike Parker shares dispute. Whisky may be needed.

In the meantime, take yourself back to 1978. Not only was it the year of Grimsby Town's centenary, but the European Athletics Championships were taking place. (The Cod Almighty editors have reminded me that this is a topical round-up of Town news, and this is an advance on my usual fare of the 1930s and Leonard Cohen.) The rivalry between British middle-distance runners Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe was nearing its peak, so which of them would win the 800 metres final? The answer was neither: they were so caught up with each other they completely lost sight of the East German Olaf Beyer, grinning as he swooped past them off the final bend to take gold.

The prize of a place in Middle-Aged Diary's XI for players who shone in relegated teams must certainly rank alongside winning the final of a major athletics event, and I've no doubt Dave Booth and Peter Bore have been losing sleep wondering which one of them would claim the right back berth. So today I can put them out of their misery and announce that the winner is Charlie Wilson, part of the team relegated from Division One in 1931-32.

"Overused" is a word overused in sport, especially near the word "tragedy", but Wilson missed one game in the relegation run-in following the death of his daughter - his only child - and he was still playing through his grief at the start of next season when he fell out of favour with Town's new manager, Frank Womack. His Grimsby career over, it is nevertheless clear from Patrick Conway's email to us that he remained a Mariner for the rest of his life, the bonds of affection between a remarkable group of players lasting to Grimsby's centenary celebrations and beyond.

We are left with one place to fill in the shone in adversity XI: a forward to play off Clive Mendonca. At the moment it is a choice between Marc North (1987-88) and Phil Jevons (2003-04); the nomination of Michael Boulding is disqualified as he left Grimsby before the end of 2003-04. We are open to other ideas though: make them on Twitter if you are so minded.