Cod Almighty | Diary

G'wan Maxxie

23 September 2021

Max Wright, Middle-Aged Diary recalls, almost out-Maradona'd Maradona a couple of seasons ago. He danced through the opposing defence until he was yards from goal. Unfortunately, he was facing a goalkeeper who out-Shiltoned Shilton by not obligingly sitting down to leave an open goal, so he saved and prevented the goal which poetic justice required. (For younger readers, the references are to the 1986 World Cup, and we hope to resume our Thursday service with a new-generation diarist next week.)

Wright is a player who everyone roots for. The fan Trentside Diary thinks has a bit of a man-crush on him, when he calls "G'wan Maxxie" every time he gets the ball. The youngsters who can see themselves in the still-spindly frame of the 23-year-old. Me too: I was lucky enough to watch him add a touch of class to proceedings one afternoon at Trafford while he was on loan with Scarborough.

Now we can add Paul Hurst to the list. Before the season started, he'd struck a warning note about Wright's injury record. His tone describing the latest setback - a thigh strain - is more sympathetic. Grimsby Town are going to extend the realms of medical science to get Max fit and firing. We'll all be reading the medical bulletins.

One day, we may come to say of Joel Grant that we like him just the way he is: in the meantime I have to admit I had to look him up. Also to check that Sean Scannell isn't on the list of players available on a free transfer. Salutary to be reminded of the length of our injury list, when we are looking back at an unbeaten start to the season.

Finally, if shirts are your thing, there's a chance to win the Town shirt worn for the launch of the Fair Game manifesto, with its attempt to introduce values based on something better than Mammon and 'Devil take the hindmost' into football. The proceeds will be split between Fair Game, Her Game Too and Town's community programmes. If shirts aren't your thing, perhaps consider how you can support three good causes in any case.

Bye.