Cod Almighty | Diary
Wayne is Wonderful
9 August 2021
Miss Guest Diary writes: Pre-season games can be a bit odd, can't they. I was three years into supporting Town before I attended my first one in July 1993 against Northampton. Living down south in the days before the internet, I'm not sure how we even knew there was a game on, and the only way to find out the location was to ring the club. The information came back that the match would be played at Wellingborough Town's ground which was "behind the pub". Also in the days before satnav, we eventually located the ground the old-fashioned way: a mixture of road map, stopping locals to ask directions and scanning the skyline for floodlights.
The match itself is memorable only for the experience of standing near the club house at half-time and being able to hear Alan Buckley loudly berating the players. Oh, and showing up in the background of a photo of new signing Craig Shakespeare which appeared in Shoot magazine.
Since moving to Lincolnshire 20 years ago I have been to many a pre-season game, with my favourite venues being Brigg and Gainsborough. These games are useful for getting to know new players and for getting us back into the footballing routine after the summer break, but how indicative they are of what the coming season may hold is a moot point. Does anyone remember the 4-1 loss to North Ferriby in our first season back in the league? Town were described by Tony Butcher as "amateurs crushed by semi-professionals" and he predicted an instant return to the Bananarama. In the event, Town achieved mid-table mediocrity that season – something we would have given our right-arm for last season.
So on to this year. Not counting the romp at Cleethorpes Town, we have now played five pre-season games: three wins and two losses, with three goals scored and three conceded. What does that tell us? That the defence is solid in the centre and we need a striker – but then with Lenny and Ryan Taylor both injured we knew that already. Also that with Harry Clifton playing virtually every minute so far, he must be the first name on the team sheet.
Apart from that, the games seem to have been an exercise in trying out players in different positions and formations, which I guess is the point. We'll just have to wait until the season starts to see how it all pans out.
While waiting for that I have been passing the time listening to the recent interviews by the DN35 podcasters with some of the ex-Town players who'll be at next week's Broadley legends game. They are well worth a listen – particularly the one with Paul Groves, which confirms just what a sensible and modest man he is. Amidst the reminiscing about the podcasters' favourite moments, there are some really interesting insights into the players' experiences at the club.
Hearing the podcasters struggling to recall games and incidents inspired me to dig out the old John and Roly highlights videos to refresh my own hazy memories of the years before Town were relegated from the second tier. It brought a tear to my eye to recall just how good Town were in the 1997-98 season, to see those pinpoint passes from Wayne Burnett (have I told you he's my all-time favourite Town player?), to hear John Moore exclaiming "Oh yes!" every time Paul Groves scored and to see Alan Buckley let down his guard enough to don a silly hat after the first Wembley win. Happy days.
Returning to the present, I see from lots of feedback on social media that yesterday's open day at Blundell Park was a hit – well done to the Mariners Trust for organising it.
Finally, I was going to leave you with a link to news that tickets for next week's friendly at Chesterfield are on sale today but with a measly 500 allocation they're probably sold out by now. C'est la vie.
UTM.