Cod Almighty | Diary
Is Shaun Pearson the new Danny Parslow?
27 September 2021
Miss Guest Diary writes: The older I get the more things I don't understand about other people. Like the person who pays a small fortune for tickets to a music event or a test match then spends half the time making trips to the bar. Or like the person who goes to a football match and totally ignores the game in favour of taunting the opposition supporters.
To be honest the latter one was added to the list over 20 years ago at a game against Nottingham Forest when Town fans were seated almost next to the Forest fans. I noticed a few people sat near me who, I swear, did not watch any of the on-pitch action, preferring instead to shout and gesture at the nearby Forest fans. I saw it again at Maidenhead on Saturday.
Rather foolishly, in hindsight, I positioned myself at the extreme left of the terrace behind the goal, which was separated by a narrow alley from the home fans' terrace. York Road is one of those grounds where the home fans can change ends to be behind the goal into which their team is shooting, so there was no problem in the first half. In the second half, the home terrace was full, and in full voice – which actually seemed to cow the Town support. Incidentally, Maidenhead fans have a nice variety of songs, some of which I had never heard before.
This was the cue for some Town fans to give up altogether on the action and crowd to the end of the terrace so they could spend the entire half gesturing and choi-oiking the rival fans. When Town scored, for a dozen or so idiots it was not a cue to celebrate with their mates, but to rush to press themselves against the wire cage and make obscene gestures at the Maidenhead fans – knocking yours truly out of the way in the process. At the risk of appearing sexist here, I will say that I didn't spot any women in the group, and some of the men were definitely old enough to know better.
The game itself was a little disappointing after the heroics of Wrexham and Torquay – but that's Town for you. Beat the big teams and struggle against supposedly lesser opposition. In his post-match interview Paul Hurst glossed over the suggestion that the substitution of Pearson for Sousa in the 77th minute might have led to Town conceding. Instead he mentioned concerns about energy levels several times, also a "lack of enthusiasm to get on the ball." Is that manager-speak for couldn't be arsed because it's only Maidenhead?
In football-speak Town "go again" tomorrow night at Bromley, who are currently mid-table, having won three and drawn one of their opening six games. More importantly, they have an artificial pitch which, it has been suggested, may have helped in the promotion of Sutton United last year and Harrogate Town the year before. Paul Hurst has admitted he sees playing on an artificial pitch as an extra challenge, and if Town's performance at Hyde in pre-season is anything to go by, he's got a point. Strap in for a bumpy ride at Bromley – maybe the incentive of going top if we win will be enough to raise the energy and enthusiasm levels of the players.
Away from the current first team, news is that several players have been sent out on a month's loan. Youngsters Jaz Goundry and Luis Adlard have gone to Frickley Athletic, while Luke Spokes has gone to Boston United. It makes sense to keep the whole squad match fit; you never know when they might be needed to cover for injuries or suspensions. And it's important to keep up those energy levels!
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