Cod Almighty | Diary

Crime and Punishment

13 December 2021

Miss Guest Diary writes: I normally stay away from the #gtfc area of Twitter for a couple of days after a defeat, so I don't know what possessed me to ignore that sensible course at the weekend. Which is how I learnt that, because I don't think losing by a goal to the team at the top of the table and I'm not calling for Paul Hurst to be sacked, I'm a "happy clapper".

Traditionally applied to evangelical Christians, in footballing terms it appears to signify disapproval of fans who choose to take a positive view of their team's fortunes in the face of a defeat. In that case, I'm guilty as charged. I quite enjoyed Saturday's game and believe Town's dogged defending should have earned us a draw, and we might even have sneaked a win. We certainly had as many chances as Chesterfield and, had Harry Clifton put away his header in the first half or Adam Crookes managed to do better with Pearson's cross in the last minute, it could have all gone differently.

There are some fans who would still have been fuming though. Judging from comments I have seen, the bloke at the back of the Pontoon who treated us all to his opinion at full volume for most of the game wasn't the only one who believed that playing five at the back at Blundell Park is tantamount to throwing in the towel before the game starts. He also seemed to take it as a personal insult that the club who beat Liverpool 20 years ago should now be losing to teams like Wealdstone Rangers (sic). We all have our own opinions, but not everyone chooses to shove that opinion down other people's throats. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who wanted to take a leaf out of Shouty's handbook on mediation and tell him that if he didn't like it he shouldn't come.

I was disappointed that a few chose to cite the off-pitch improvements at the club as a factor in current the on-field slump. Thank you Lloyd Griffith for reminding us all that it is exactly a year since the Alex May episode acted as as a catalyst for the takeover by Town's new owners, who have never promised a quick fix but are dedicated to securing the long-term future of the club. If that comes at the expense of a few seasons in non-League, then so be it.

Talking of off-field improvements, I noticed at the weekend that there is now a club shop kiosk located in the open corner near the Main Stand. A small thing but another source of income and another amenity for the fans. Then there's the reminiscence hub, financed by a National Lottery grant, which has been set up in Freshney Place to showcase the club's history and give people the opportunity to learn more about the club. What better place to exhibit the 1939 FA Cup semi-final shirt which I see was acquired by the Mariners Trust at the weekend.

But I do have one big bone to pick with the management: there's no page for Harry Clifton in the Town calendar for 2022. Sort it Stockwoods.

UTM.