Cod Almighty | Postbag
Postbag: don't call me Simon
9 February 2007
Ah. September, September. When the grass was still green, the girls wore their hair down and Town were probably slightly shitter than they are this week. Of course, we were all a bit more young and carefree back then, in the days before the "WTF! LOL! we wont ned a nu stadum in da conf! lol m8. OMG! ur jokin fenti" days. But now, everything is ok again. Right?Well, either way, your postbag will still be here. Admittedly it might sometimes take me six months to publish your letters but we all get there in the end don't we? So write away to postbag@codalmighty.com. Oh, and if you spam me, I'll kill you. Motherfucker.
About everything
Very interesting postbag, almighty ones. It dispels my theory that Blundell Park was named after the aptly named 'Blundell' Seafoods LTD of Vancouver Canada. At least that would have given the ground some association with our fishy heritage.
Also, I'd like to point out that I wasn't born in a maternity ward of any description anywhere! In fact, I was born (29 years ago) at home in Mulberry Close, Keelby of which I have no idea how either came by their names. Although, without evidence to the contrary, nobody should discount the theory that there may have been a mulberry bush there once? My sister, however was born at Grimsby Maternity Ward which makes her a 'Nunny Scrubber'.
My favourite player of his era incidentally was Dave Gilbert and my favourite goal was any scored by John Cockerill, especially direct from a corner.
from Ben Gresswell
Wickety-wickety-wick
To add to your growing list of Croft Baker information, apparently Sir Jack Croft Baker was a wicket keeper when he wasn't being a fishing bigwig.
from Bedders
League Two forever
Hi, I am the editor of County4Life and I have to thank you for the delightful review you gave my website. Codalmighty has always been one of my favourite sites in League Two and long may it last.
I'm glad that my controversial Hall Of Shame meets your standards
from Scott Tonson
huh?
In the spirit of generosity that has pervaded our clubs' last three acquaintances, I am impelled to communicate my gratitude for the wonderful match reports.
I am reminded of Rilke's 'Sonnets to Orpheus' by the thickets of symbolism. Rilke was skilled in exploring the grand metamorphosing experiences of humanity, but he was also able to touch on the small detail of individuals' lives in a way that compels us to care. Some of Janet Frame's work also springs to mind, in the use of intensely lyrical and heavily metaphorical, almost poetic, prose.
Absolutely splendid stuff!! Do keep it up, and don't get promoted before we do, will you? The nine points are much appreciated also - looking forward to another three from you as a late Christmas present.
from Terry Mclaughlin
Letters Ed responds: I'm jumping to the conclusion that you're a Pools fan. I see we delivered the xmas present as promised. You'll be glad to know that when we're not unjustly losing 1-0 to Darlington, there's nothing we enjoy more than a sound thrashing by Hartlepool. Just to keep us in our place.
Have you heard the one about the inflatable school boy?
"We let ourselves down massively" - Tom Newey, Grimsby Telegraph, 25/9/06. Should that not read: "I let us down massively" - Tom Newey, all season? Surely "the Management" have enough balls to tell him he will not waste free kicks and corners then wander back to position five minutes too late. Who does he think he is - Mike Lyons? (Aaaargh).
I recall playing a game about five leagues higher than my standard in my yoof, and that game still haunts me now. I had just about forgotten it until I saw Master Tom play, and I now get deja vu every game when he isn't suspended.
from Phil Shorter
Oi! Tony! Leave those tracks alone
Hey you! Tony Butcher's penchant for meddling with Floyd tracks in his match reviews is, frankly, getting quite annoying even to the point of making me feel comfortably numb. Why can't he remember when he was young, have a cigar and watch Emily play? It's enough to drive you up the wall. In fact, as I watched the fat old sun rise above the Grantchester Meadows we call Blundell Park on Saturday, I wondered at some point if there was anybody out there and were we waiting for the worms? Bring the boys back home, that's what I say! Anyway, the show must go on and even though I can feel one of my funny turns coming on I'm going to run like hell before the levee breaks (oops! wrong band).
from Clav Divs
Touch my goat
Just read your match report on the game with Pools. I'd just like to say well done - it is without doubt the most entertaining report I've ever read about a game of football. Well done that man!
Oh by the way, The Bunker - click the goat - is by far the busiest Hartlepool Message board. I'd be obliged if you would add it to your links. Many thanks.
from Mr Irrelevant
Letters Ed responds: I dunno - if it's not monkeys, it's goats.
You can't make them up
Dear Ed (is that short for dick ed?) It gives me great pleasure... and i hope it always will do... to let you know that your ladies team? My friend (who supports your lot) say's your team is a bunch of useless CUNTS! Is he correct? You did beat Chester? I'm intrigued?
from Bazza
Letters Ed responds: Dear Bazza (is that short for youcuntingfuckwit?) We all share your level of intrigue. Or to put it another way: what are you fucking blathering on about you illiterate turd monkey.
Tee time
I started The University Of Warwick on Saturday September 30th, and on Monday October Second I had my first Grimsby conversation:
"Where Are You From?"
"Grimsby and youself?"
"Grimsby... isn't that in Yorkshire?"
I'm pleased to say that today (Tuesday the 3rd) I wore my Cod Almighty T-shirt which clarified the matter. Lets hope I wont get anymore converssations like it!
from Sarah Cook
Gorgeous George
First of all, congratulations on a neat footy website. Football is part of England's heritage and it is one of the many things we would like to celebrate on St George's Day - England's National Day.
We are organising a campaign encouraging people to take the day off work on St Georges Day next year. We hope you can help.
I'm sure you appreciate that a bank holiday on St. George's Day will be a great opportunity for all the English, regardless of colour or religion, to recognise what binds us together - instead of concentrating on our differences.
Everything from football to curry could be celebrated on our national day.
We are proudly independent and have no links to any political party, nor do we receive funds from any political groups or other organisations. We hope our independence will encourage as many people as possible to support our campaign.
We want the government to introduce a bank holiday on 23 April. They have refused in the past because they believe there is insufficient support. If a sizeable number of us take the day off work it will send a powerful message to those in charge.
We cannot accept money from groups or organisations as it would damage our independence. We rely solely on the generosity of individuals who donate their time and skills to promote our campaign.
Thousands of people have already pledged to take the day off work on Monday, 23 April 2007. I hope you can make their wish come true, but fully understand if you are unable help - I know we are asking a lot.
from Graham Smith
Letters Ed responds: Hey, everyone pull a sicky on Monday 23rd April. I don't work Mondays anyway, so another bank holiday Monday is no use to me, but I encourage everyone else to pull as many sickies throughout the year as you can possibly get away with. It's what St George would have done, the God-bothering dragon-fluffer.
Quite
"I want to be winning the European Cup in five years" Did I miss a headline? "Rodger quits Mariners for managers job at Barcelona"? Somehow I think not!
from Haddocks Rock
Letters Ed responds: Quite.
Posh newbs
I've recently launched my new site UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database onto the net and was wondering if I could be added to your links page? I'm about to add in links on my site, I'll put one to Cod Almighty on the Grimsby team page.
from Chris Wilkinson
Letters Ed responds: Oh, go on then.
Mushroom! Mushroom!
Sending two players on loan to a team nicknamed the Badgers? Did Graham Rodger get the woodland mammals poster in the Guardian a few weeks back and is just crossing them off? Where next? Eldene and Liden FC? Hampton and Richmond Borough Football Club? MoleseyFC? The players joining up for a Field Mice reunion?
from Tony Rogers
Boo!
Boo Almighty ones, Boo! and Boo a bit more too! Late Diaries, late match reports, no postbag? Sort it!
from Ben Gresswell
Letters Ed responds: Yeah, bloody rubbish diary. And those Butcher reports are a load of wank anyway. Not enough swearing. Twats.
The haunting of Croft Baker
Croft Baker maternity home was situated at the top of Mill Road. It has since been demolished and - what a surprise - turned into apartments or 'flats' as we know them. It also had the spooky tales of being haunted by child spirits by the evil nurse who killed babies and hid the bodies. As kids we used to try and do ouija boards. I say 'try' because we were too scared to start it due to the terrifying stories that our mum stold us. Hope this helps (not sure how though). Good site by the way, keep up the good work.
from Meggiethruandthru
Letters Ed responds: I'm sure it helps someone...
No wrong-doing
As an ex-pat Grimberian living in Essex, the Mariners can do no wrong. I have supported them since the mid 50's - watching when I could, listening for results on BFBS & other stations. Where/when is the new stadium coming?
from John Andrews
Letters Ed responds: The new stadium will be built in 2012 in the back yard of some posh bint from Great Coates. And on top of some rare birds. Next to a voles house.
ennui is ennui
Tony Butcher's writing really is very good. Although if you did a word count of his last few hundred articles, 'ennui' probably appears a few too many times. Not that I care.
from Paul Wright
Westlands
Please add the Westlands Club website to your links page. I only ask as there is a guy called Ricardo who posted on 10 October 2005 and mentioned the club.
I am sure there are guys in the club who remember him and would love to hear from him.
from Shaun Jackson
We should play 'Up the Mariners' at the start of every home game.
We should play 'Up the Mariners' at the start of every home game.
from Zac Hodson
Letters Ed responds: We should play 'Up the Mariners' at the start of every home game.
Have YOU heard?
HAVE YOU HEARD THAT A CONSORTIUM IS BUYING GTFC AS MR FENTY IS SELLING ALL HIS SHARES TO ENABLE HIM TO GIVE 100% TO A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE HE HAS STARTED. THE CONSORTIUM HAVE A MANAGER ALL LINED UP FOR US. HAVE YOU HEARD THIS RUMOUR TOO. PLEASE PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY! UP THE MIGHTY MARINERS. FROM THE FAN WHO WEARS THE FISH ON HER HAT!!!!!
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: I, er, the... well. Ok, no. No, I have not heard this rumour. It seems to me like a big load of bollocks though. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that actually, yes, it is a big loads of bollocks.
Erm...
WHY IS IT EVERYTIME I BUY A SEASON TICKET, OUR BELOVED TEAM, SEEM TO HAVE A LAPSE OF MEMORY OF WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THE FOOTBALL! I WONDER IF THEY ARE IN TRAINING FOR AN APPEARANCE AT TWICKENHAM! AM I A JONAH TO OUR ILLUSTRIOUS TEAM! I AM BEING VERY BRAVE AS I AM GOING TO PETERBOROUGH ON SATURDAY. LOOK OUT FOR ME.... I AM THE PERSON WHO WEARS THE FISH ON HER HAT! LETS GET IN FRONT OF OUR LADS RATHER THAN BEHIND THEM! UP THE MIGHTY MARINERS!
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: Ok. Right. Fish on hat. Got it.
Argh!
OH SIMON! DO YOU HONESTLY THINK I SHOULD RIP UP MY SEASON TICKET? HERE I AM GETTING ALL EXCITED AT THE THOUGHTS OF GOING TO PETERBOROUGH ON SATURDAY..... TO SEE BARRY FRY!!! I'VE FOLLOWED OUR ILLUSTRIOUS TEAM SINCE I WAS 7YRS OLD AND I AM 60 NOW, I HAVE TO HAVE SOME 'PLEASURE' IN LIFE! LET ME BUY YOU A DRINK IN THE PLAYERS LOUNGE & CHEER YOU UP! UP THE MIGHTY MARINERS.
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: Look, I'm flattered and everything, but really - I'm happily married. And my name isn't Simon. But please send any beer to Letters Ed, c/o Codalmighty. Ta.
Eek!
HAVING SLEPT ON YOUR SUGGESTION TO RIP UP MY SEASON TICKET SIMON, I HAVE DECIDED NOT TOO! I WANT TO SUPPORT THE TEAM, GIVE THEM ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT I CAN. AS IT IS THE ATTENDENCES ARE GOING DOWN, AND SOMEONE HAS TO CHEER THE LADS ON! HOWEVER I 'FORGIVE' YOU FOR YOUR SUGGESTION, AND WOULD LIKE TO BUY YOU A DRINK IN THE PLAYERS LOUNGE, NO CATCH, JUST A DRINK AND A BIT OF BANTER. I WON'T BITE YOU!!!! MY VERY BEST WISHES, JANE
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: What? I never made any suggestion. And you'll prove nothing in court. You hear me? NOTHING. And stop calling me Simon.
Uh oh!
GREETINGS SIMON, HOWABOUT HALF TIME IN THE PLAYERS LOUNGE, THERE IS A SKY TV TO KEEP YOU UP TO DATE,& GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO RE-LIVE THE 'HIGHLIGHTS' OF THE FIRST HALF! THE CLUB SEEM TO DELIGHT IN PUTTING US THROUGH THE AGONIES AGAIN AND AGAIN! SAFE JOURNEYING TO AND FROM LEEDS, I AM SURE YOUR DAUGHTER LOVES SEEING HER GRAN! MY VERY BEST WISHES, JANE
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: Please. Somebody please help me. This isn't how I wanted to die...
Phew!
Saturday's diary's assertion that Gy will lose heavily in the first round of the F.A. Cup at Northampton is of course totally and unjustifiably pessimistic. Pish and tush to you sir, our brave boys will battle hard to earn a creditible 0-0 draw at Sixfields before bringing The Cobblers back to Blundell Park where of course they will lose heavily.
from Martin Wyburn
More Croft Bakering
I was born at Croft Baker in 1983, so i'm a true meggie and proud of it. I can just remember when I was young before it got turned into flats and nothing was there. We all hung around there and people used to say it was haunted. Anybody shared the same experience?
from Claire
Letters Ed responds: I used to hang around there and tell passing teenagers that it was haunted. Then the police got involved and it all got a bit messy...
AAARRGGGHHH!!!
GREETINGS FROM CLEETHORPES! Good Morning Simon, I am still wondering if you would like to join me in THE PLAYERS LOUNGE AT HALF- TIME FOR A BEVVY? I can order it so we just collect it when we come in at half-time. You CANNOT MISS ME, I am A VERY LARGE BESPECTACLED LADY WEARING A CREAM HAT WITH A BLACK & WHITE FISH ON THE TOP OF IT, & if its not raining, a BLACK WOOLLEN CLOAK with MARINERS SING WHEN WE'RE FISHING on the back! What drink would you like me to get you? Please have a VERY SAFE JOURNEY to Cleethorpes and back to Leeds & above all ENJOY THE GAME! UP THE MIGHTY MARINERS, Jane Banks PS Did I say I have followed Town for 53yrs, and am now 60? PPS Had a VERY INTERESTING TALK WITH MR FURNEAUX about MR BEAGRIE!!! MOST ENLIGHTENING!
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: Dear Lord, please forgive me my sins. I know I have often erred, but I beg of you please grant me passage to heaven. Now. Quickly. Come on.
OH GOD!
OH DEAR WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE, RODGER IS HERE FROM SUNDAY TO SATURDAY, TIME FOR HIM TO BECOME A 'NASTY' INFLAMING THE PLAYERS TO FIGHT!
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: Why am I still here?
WAAAAAAH!
Along with the Handicapped Supporters Club, I am going to the Northampton game, to SUPPORT OUR LADS! I saddens me to see the way we are NOT PERFORMING TO OUR FULL ABILITY..... We have the THE TALENT, but WHERE IS THE PASSION, & HUNGER for the game? The SUPPORTERS HAVE IT, we attend the games, we LOVE OUR CLUB WITH A PASSION, shame these OVERPAID, OVERINDULGED PLAYERS DO NOT HAVE IT TOO! They are merely SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT! When we DO GET REAL TALENT in the side, the Chairman of the time, SELLS IT! So Codalmighty, I honestly think we are NEVER EVER GOING TO GET ANYWHERE! Certainly not OUT OF THIS LEAGUE TO LEAGUE ONE, THE CONFERENCE BECKONS! I cannot see us doing an OXFORD, though can you?
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: Anyone?
A letter from a hockey fan
You have no Sole. Conference is calling you.
from Franchise Scum
Letters Ed responds: You see, normally you'd get a really big sweary response to this. But as it has given me some respite from the fish-hat woman, I'm going to be kind to you. You cunt.
Please?
THE BOARD HAVE SAID FAREWELL TO GRAHAM RODGER, & HAVE PUT STUART WATKISS IN TEMPORARY CHARGE AS CARETAKER MANAGER. I FEEL CERTAIN HE WILL PUT THE FIRE BACK INTO THE BELLIES OF OUR PLAYERS, TO RELEASE THAT PASSION, AND HUNGER FOR THE GAME, AND GIVE THE FANS WHAT WE DESERVE. ENTERTAINING FOOTBALL, A PLETHORA OF GOALS, GOALS, GOALS, AND CLEAN SHEETS!
from Jane Banks
Letters Ed responds: No! Look. No! Really. I'm very, very afraid.
Rodgered
I couldn't agree more with Pat's thoughts on the fall and fall of Graham Rodger. Yet again Grimsby Town FC have found a scapegoat for the shortcomings that start and finish - in my opinion - in the laps of those on the board and namely Mr Fenty. Bad decision after bad decision has found our beloved team wanting in every department. Last seasons flirt with promotion hid the fact that this club has been in freefall for years. It's fine filling our heads with positive thoughts but what direction and purpose does Mr Fenty actually bring to the club? I for one would be happy to hear no more on the new stadium (let's face it, it will never happen anyway) and instead hear more about investing in the team, getting rid of the deadwood and planning for the future. Take some time to consider who the right man for the job is this time. I'm sure Stuart Watkiss isn't the answer but let's not rush in the first name we can think of. Things always get worse before they get better and I'm sure this will ring true with Town, but UTM.
from Ben Gresswell
Woe is me
This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. That we find ourselves one place above the relegation zone in a division we ought to have been promoted from just months ago echoes everything that Grimsby is about now. A God-awful group of crap players - Phil Barnes, etc. - assembled for a pittance to represent a team which is owned and run by a clueless penny pincher. A club which seems far removed from what it used to be just a few years back when people still cared. An embarrassing relic of a ground (I believe there's an advert behind the Pontoon for club shellsuits) in a dying town.
£15 to watch people who don't want to be here wearing a shitty Nike advert for a shirt is not a good deal. Future generations of fans realise that £3 for 2 litres of cider to be drunk in a park with friends represents far better value. Businesses fall over themselves to leave and people have no pride in their town. So, should we be shocked that our football team is at such a low ebb? No. It's just reflecting the demise of a once great and proud town which is neither great, nor proud.
from James
Letters Ed responds: Does anyone know any proud Towns? Your suggestions to the usual address please...
Sale
Anyone want to buy a football shirt?
from Anonymous
Those were the days
Nothing published elsewhere is as succinct in describing Town's current position as your site's current front page. Is it really 18 years since Buckley first came to Town? How time flies. And you guys are right: 18 years on we are in exactly the same place. Near the bottom of the Football League, skint, and a bewildered fanbase wondering what lays ahead.
Keep up the excellent work.
from Adrian Lodge
Bringing back bad memories
As a Northampton fan, I enjoyed reading your site. I do think though thatwe scored before Orient got their winner at the Kassam Stadium as this clip on you tube shows (sorry to bring back bad memories.)
Kind regards
from Rob Dunkley
Letters Ed responds: Ah. Happy times.
Anorak question
This is a weird one. Years ago my grandparents were season ticket holders at GTFC. They are now sadly long since gone to the great away ground in the sky. My grandmother used to talk about how one time they were playing Leeds United and in the warm-up a ball was struck into the crowd behind the goal and knocked her out. The Leeds goalie Gary Sprake came to see if she was alright.
What I want to know is when did GY play Leeds and they had Sprake in goal so that I know roughly when this might have occurred?
Over to you anoraks!
from Amanda Hume
Letters Ed responds: Oh right. Well, maybe my anorak is just for wet weather and actually I don't actually know much about anything? Eh! Eh!
Questions, questions, questions
Yo, CA postbag!
I'm thinking that you've been a bit lax of late updating the letters page, so I'm stating a claim to letter of the week/month/quarter (delete as applicable). I note that the existing encumbent has been there since 2First September and surely over stayed his welcome.
Anyway, I'm in a bit of a quandry (ooer missus!) that I need help with. It's probably because I'm an old git and my memory is shite, but there are two things playing on my mind:
1) I'm sure we entertained Norwich in the FA Cup around '73/'74 in the great Big Mac years (Laurie, not Ronald) when a record 22000 (?) happy souls were allowed into BP - but why does this not show up when I search the CA results?
2) When did BP 'switch ends' for a season allowing opposition scum into the hallowed Pontoon? It's true I was only in short trousers around this time and therefore everything seemed big and important, but I seem to remember watching the Norwich game from the Osmond stand.
I think we were looking forward to a new stadium as well...
from Clav Divs
Letters Ed responds: Anyone?
Cheapo FC
Over £6,500 raised by having '16 associate sponsors'? It would be impressive, if it wasn't that that works out at just over 400 quid per sponsor. At that cheap price you'd think there'd be loads of local companies queueing up.
And what are Kingston Communications PLC doing in there?
from Harry Williams
Andy Parkinson is rubbish
Reading the player profile on Andy Parkinson, I was incredibly insulted by Tony Butchers remarks. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, I agree. But as a relative, I'd like to see you do better Tony. Parky could out play you any day mate!
from Anonymous
Letters Ed responds: A 'relative' eh? Come on Andy, we know it's you really. Watch out for that defender! Oh dear...
He's not the Messiah etc etc
Whilst currently riding on the crest of the wave, do you think the time is right to release a Messiah t-shirt? Or will you wait till next year when we've won the league?
from The Derby Mariner
Letters Ed responds: I think perhaps we'll wait, eh?
Sorting it
Now come on, this is getting ridiculous. I sent a letter(email) in at least three months ago and I still haven't seen my name in lights.
Was it Rodger who was sorting this for you lot?
from Paul Wright
Letters Ed responds: Winter break. Alright! God - bloody slave drivers.
Some shit league or other
Hi, we have recently added a link to your site. We would appreciate it if you could put a link back to us in your links directoy using the following info:
Title: Premiership Today URL: http://www.premiershiptoday.co.uk/news.html
from Dan Boddington
Letters Ed responds: Are we in the fucking Premiership? Eh? Are we? No, we're not. So fucking shove it all up your fucking arse. Cockwind.
Sheffield Wednesday are rubbish
I'm a Sheffield Wednesday fan and I am astounded that you people hate us with such a passion. Your reasons for doing so are ridiculous.
For start, we are hardly local rivals with our ground being about 100 miles away from your pigshed. For another, we have absolutely no history of rivalry and very little history of ever being in the same division.
You claim we are "arrogant" and think that we "should be in the Champions league". Well sorry mate but I don't think so, and nor do many of our fans. We all dream about going back to the Premiership because the potential is there to do it.
Argue all you want, we are a big club with a big fanbase, and many football pundits talk about us in this way - are these people all deluded as well? Sheffield is a big city and has two well-supported clubs. We didn't have the biggest crowds outside the Premiership last season for nothing! Could this be the reason why you really hate us? Jealousy? Or the thrill of watching a big club play in the lower leagues? Be honest with yourselves!
And as for "living off past glories" - every club does that to an extent - it's nostalgia!
You are clearly just another insignificant football club full of wannabe fans who pick a big club as a local rival out of pure envy. When we played you in that massive relegation 6 pointer back in 2003 you brought about 1000 fans - what the fcuk is that? Just face it, you're nothing on us. Pick a rival club your own size - like Boston or Lincoln City.
from Dinos Sofos
Letters Ed responds: 1. What are you spewing on about you festering slither of cow dung? 2. What you've written is exactly the reason why people hate you. 3. You cock
Pond life
Love it! Anyway, who was Chapman? Is he the same one who leased oyster beds at Cleethorpes from the Earl of Yarborough? Useful information for my book, you understand. Keep up the good work!
from David Feld
Fan of team that hammered us enjoys match report of said hammering
How I really enjoyed Tony Butcher's report of the enthralling encounter with my team on New Year's Day. If he isn't a script writer by trade he is certainly in a misplaced occupation. Brilliant, witty, somewhat critical of the home tem on occasions but well written. If only he had told us in the end whether North ever did touch the ball it would have been complete in every way. Keep up the good work.
from Mike Commins
Letters Ed responds: Yeah - they're always enjoyable to read when you support the team dishing out the pasting. I particularly enjoyed the Boston one.
Arthur's your Mann (c) Grimsby Telegraph
Thankyou to your readers for answering the question "where is Arthur Mann?" My dad asked me the same question over the holidays and I couldn't tell him. We had both assumed he and Buckley had parted ways, Arthur had finished with football, or he had retired. Sadly the answer wasn't what either of us were expecting. And how typical is it of that club of ours to not even honour his memory with a minute silence! One in a long list of foul ups from the many who have proclaimed to know better. Sad news though.
Keep up the good work and a happy new year to you all and your readers! I am sure it will be if Alan Buckley is given some support by the board and he will then use the next week to turn things around.
from Gary Hardy
Advert
With the twenty first anniversary of this match upon us I am thinking of putting my Grimsby v Arsenal match day program and match ticket stub (Main Stand) for the F.A Cup Round 3 match at Blundell Park, Saturday 4th January 1986 for sale. Arsenal players included Tony Adams, Charlie Nicholas, David O' Leary, Martin Keown, Niall Quinn, Viv Anderson, Kenny Sanson etc etc. Grimsby players include Tony Ford, Bob Cummings, Phil Bonnymann, Kevin Moore & Jimmy Gilligan.
What do you reckon I should ask for it and indeed do you know of anyone who would be interested?
from Matthew Isle
Letters Ed responds: I'll give you 10p you cheeky scamp. Coming on here with your free advertising...
Colon-ists
Something to clear the shit out of Blundell Park!
from Daz Williams
Letters Ed responds: Any why exactly where you visiting that particular website?
Late change
The club have just announced the date for the rearranged Chester fixture: next Tuesday night. Fair play to Alan Buckley, reported in today's Grimsby Telegraph as saying he is glad the game has been rearranged so soon. Get the players back, hungry, ready to make up for the recent limp Rochdale display. Not so fair play to the club for not picking up on the manager's intention sooner - "I suggested last week that we could try and get it on the Tuesday and left it with them." By the time the club announced the change fans were left with six days. Six days. That is how long GTFC has given fans, faraway and so close, to arrange getting to Blundell Park for the game.
My workplace is picky about people "working through their lunches", "making the time up later" and other such flexible, modern working practices so they can sneak off an hour "early". Take that option and an air of grievance lingers for weeks afterwards. I'd have to take some holiday. I can't do that. I have to give a week's notice if I want a day off. And I'm not alone - I've a mate who works shifts back in Grimmo and it's too late for him to switch his working hours round. How is it for you?
If Alan Buckley was thinking about this move last week could the club have let us know so the fans could have been even slightly prepared? The comical way the club announced the fixture, by a text message with the wrong time and date, seemed apt. Not bothering to check what they were about to tell the fans, the announcement a mere afterthought.
The Chester match will be the 26th of Town's league campaign - where is the season going? It will be the club's 14th league match at home. Only one of those home games so far was scheduled for midweek by the fixture computer back in the summer. That leaves 13 games originally scheduled for a Saturday or bank holiday. Of those, three games were shifted forward by the club to the Friday night, Sky's decision to cover the Hereford match pushed it back to a Sunday, and now the postponement of the original Chester match makes a fifth home game. That's 38 per cent of the Saturday home games moved. Fair enough Chester's FA Cup involvement meant an unavoidable postponement (although not unpredictable given the game coinciding with the third round of the Cup), and any club would be grateful for the Sky coverage and currency. Which leaves the number of Friday night games before the turn of the year more bewildering, to me the vexed long distance supporter who can't make them.
I decided to buy a season ticket this year, geed up by the feelgood factor of last season, and help swell the summer coffers, do my bit for the club. I don't live locally any more. Getting to a game takes me the best part of three hours. But seeing my mates and going to the game would and will be worth it. I pay my season ticket off monthly using one of the club's finance deals. It's about £30 a month. We're in the sixth month of the season. So far I've paid off about £180. I knew from the start that I would miss most of the midweek games, and true I have missed the only one so far. But I thought the weekends would make up for it. Although it's slightly false logic, that's about £13.85 a game so far. Due to the three Friday night games, though that figure has risen to £18 a game. As much as it'd cost to get in to Blundell Park on a game by game basis. I shouldn't have been so blind, so naive to think that the club would stick to the original schedule provided by the Football League.
According to the fixture list on the club's website there aren't any more Friday night games at Blundell Park on the horizon. But you know the club are itching to move yet another. Their reasoning will be bolstered by the attendances which are usually artificially high on buoyancy (Mansfield), people back home for the holidays (Torquay) or copious discounted and free tickets. I hope they give us more than six days notice to get our arses down Grimsby Road to see the Buckley aces.
from Dave Chambers
No. No we do not. Not at all.
Do you have a league table of penalties awarded to and against teams in the Premiership over the last, say five, seasons.
from Martin Callan
Letters Ed responds: No. Do you have the average height of the GTFC youth team (players with black hair only) for the last, say six, seasons? Eh Martin? You fucking goat gism.
The Mariners' behind
"We cannot allow the Mariners to be left behind." Have our local MPs seen the league table recently?
from Paul Clayton
Jimmy McStay
I couldn't resist writing concerning the death of Jimmy McStay. I'm not old enough to have seen him play, but I was lucky enough to meet him a couple of years ago when Dave Smith helped us to set up a visit for him to Blundell Park - it was for the Sheffield Wednesday game when Tony Crane scored for us. I met Jimmy with his carers at the ground and we went for lunch at a well-known fish and chip shop on the sea front - he shared his memories of running along there and on the beach whilst training with George Tweedy. He had had a stroke, and was in a wheelchair, but despite that handicap, he was a lively-minded and humourous character, and shared stories of his time at Town, which, he maintained was his favourite club, despite only spending three seasons here. Apparently he was known as "Twinkle Toes McStay".
He spoke fondly of his teammates, but also explained the clear divisions between management and players.
When we went to the ground, we had a couple of beers under the Main Stand, and he was pleased to meet one or two supporters who remembered him and wished him well. I noticed Peter Furneaux, then Town's Chairman and asked him to come and meet Jimmy, which he did, introducing himself as follows: "Hello Jimmy, I'm Peter Furneaux, I remember watching you play as a child. Do you know I used to sell programmes here, and now I'm the Chairman?" Jimmy winked at me as he fumbled in his pocket for a fiver, gave it to Furneaux and replied, "Well run and get me a programme now son, at least you'll have done something useful".
Rest in peace Jimmy.
from Dave Wagstaff
Gamibia
Gambia. It's The Gambia not Gamibia. How about Grozny, The Gabba and Grenoble?
from Paul K
Letters Ed responds: You're going to have to show your working on this one.
Give it a rest
Football was created by the English and that is something which makes us feel proud. It is just one of the many things we would like to see celebrated on St. George's Day.
A bank holiday on St George's Day would be a great opportunity for all the English (regardless of colour or religion) to recognise the things that bind us together - rather than concentrating on our differences.
A number of English football websites have already added a link to our campaign (www.hof.org.uk , www.englandfc.com , www.365englandfans.com ) and we are writing to ask if you could do the same.
Links to our website can be downloaded from www.stgeorgesholiday.com/media.asp
Thanks for helping England to celebrate football and all our other great achievements.
from Graham Smith
Letters Ed responds: Blah blah, yes whatever. Look, if you want a day off work, just pull a sicky. For goodness sake. The lengths some people go to...
Tory story
Have you seen that true blue Mr Cameron is thinking of backing a return to proper terracing in footie grounds?
Now there's something that could bring back a bit of atmosphere for GTFC, assuming we still have a team/club/ground/kit/ball (delete as applicable).
from Michael Harrison
Letters Ed responds: Ooh, I love a bit of Tory bandwagon jumping, me. I'll tell you what would bring back atmosphere - gas chambers for anyone who boos.
Pouting
Just like to say how sad it is that Pouts has retired, my memories of him are his goal against Man City, stupid tackles that either injured him or got him sent off and finally him appearing in the away end at Oldham and getting the loudest cheer from the Town fans as we got thumped and Groves got the boot. He always played with pride and passion.
Rumours doing the rounds - Justin Whittle was going to sign for Royal Antwerp and join his Hully mate Warren Joyce, Buckley ok'd the transfer then changed his mind, Whittle missing out on doubling his wages. Whittle will not play again this season allegedly. After the Torquay game Buckley resigned only to be dissuaded by Fenty and Watkis. Sorry had to get that off me chest.
from Martin Robinson
Boston reverse
Just watched the wonderful video highlights of the slaughter in Boston. Now, maybe I'm losing my marbles or I'm just heady after the result, but my recollection of the order of the goals from Mr. Tonder's commentary is somewhat different to the chronological version of the event that is shown on the "Official" site. Maybe it's because I'm 5 hours behind here in New York?
Can someone please help me with this as astrophysics wasn't my best subject at Hereford Comprehensive?
from Graham King
Letters Ed responds: I guess everything really is backward in Boston.
Blessed is the Meek
He may look a bit weird but I do like those Meek things on your site. Is he in a wheelchair? It looks like it on the conference one he did with the pear. You check and see.
from Billy Bodshon
Letters Ed responds: I know he has a funny face, but he does actually look like that in real life. We haven't edited the photos at all. As for the wheelchair - he has a friendly helper/slave called Roy who pushes him around everywhere. He can walk - he's just a bit lazy.
Town v Africa
Went to see Ghana v Nigeria at Brentford's ground last night. Playing like we did on Saturday we could have turned them both over. At the same time.
from Jim Horsefly
Stints in question
Here's a question for you - who has had the most separate stints with the Mariners. By my reckoning this is Bloomer's third, the same as the Premiership's John Oster. Can anyone beat that do you think?
from Dave McDimba
A letter
You asked for a letter. So here it is. "W". Be well.
from Robert Juggert
Letters Ed responds: Thanks.
So then... George Kerr
Speaking of George Kerr, what ever happened to Moley Merkin? He made more sense than Tony Butcher. The drunken idiot.
from Bob McSquirter
Stats not so great (c) The Sun
Can I please salute you all formally, now that the promised postbag is back to verbalise my thoughts, for no longer letting that Holt fella lose with random numbers and stupid charts.
I feel, in part, responsible. Thank you for listening to your readers. Finally.
Did anyone actually pay attention to his nonsense?
from Harry McSwegan
Letters Ed responds: I get the feeling that now you've said that, he may start doing them again just to spite you.
Soupy
Chocolate soup. You know it makes sense.
from Frank Jubilee
Letters Ed responds: Mmmm. You are correct, sir.
Make love, not Warcraft
World of Warcraft gold (wow gold ) is the most valuable form of currency in World of Warcraft. we are a group of dedicated players who have come together to provide World of Warcraft gold (WoW gold) for the community so that you, our fellow player, will be able to enjoy your play time to the fullest.Looking to buy WOW Gold or sell wow gold an cheap wow gold by world of warcraft gold ,Items or Accounts. We strives to offer the fastest and most reliable service on the web for all your gaming needs. Feel free to contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by pone, live chat and email. We work hard with our suppliers to offer the lowest prices of World of Warcraft gold (WoW gold). If you want to buy world of warcraft gold ( buy wow gold ), our VIP Policy will give you a surprise
from Wow Gold
Letters Ed responds: The only thing more annoying than a nerdlinger, is a spamming nerdlinger.