Cod Almighty | Postbag

Postbag: overtaken by events

9 May 2010

"Leave a letter unanswered long enough and it answers itself" is a pretty lousy motto for a letters editor, but I'm afraid the pathos of some of the letters we received before Saturday makes their reproduction here, now, unbearable. Instead we have the definitive answer to your Chapmans Pond enquiries, thoughts on what should be the future of Neil Woods and some best wishes from elsewhere.

No doubt, we will soon be having your reflections on the future of the club: send them here.

A Chapman on Chapman's Pond

In reply to Joe Austwick (See postbag 24 March). Your grandparents are right. Chapman's Pond was a brick pit, dug by my grandfather Walwyn Thomas Chapman in the late 1800s for the manufacture of bricks. He built a number of houses nearby, including those in Chapman Road, obviously named after himself. It eventually filled with water and became unusable. I believe that, surprisingly, the water did not come from the Humber but is fresh water, hence fish living in it (or so I am told). Don't know about the water tower.

Grandfather was apparently an obstinate old so-and-so. Water from the Pond seeped into the houses in Suggetts Lane. He was sued and instead of settling quickly he finished up losing a 5 day hearing in the High Court in London. He became an auctioneer and died in the 1920s so I never knew him

Another of your correspondents asked about the word "snickersneeze". I thought it was only our family which used it, in its meaning of a threatened but not enforced form of punishment for young children. I remember in particular it being used in the 1940s by my aunt Mrs E M Amos, who ran St Martin's School in Bargate. Did your correspondent perhaps learn it from her, or is it a town-wide or even county-wide expression?

Takes your mind off the football results, doesn't it? Hark back to the good old days - George Tweedy and Billy Cairns.

All the best to CA from leafy Bucks.

from Antony Chapman

Neil Woods- stick or twist?

Really excellent piece, Al. My one concern you didn't look at much is Woods' ability to build a team in the space of the summer, for whichever division we are to play in. How is he going to succeed where Buckley (last time), Rodger and Newell all failed: namely building a side after one season capable of competing in the next? Is that particular task one better suited to a more experienced manager who has wheeled, dealed, and sealed the signatures of the right types of players several times before?

I think the biggest consideration is that Woods has made a start, and not completely arsed it up. He knows the club, he must have a better idea of our particular strengths and weaknesses than yet another new manager coming in. If he keeps us up, stick with him. If we go down, stick with him. He's shown enough to me to suggest he's earned the opportunity. Wouldn't it be nice to keep a manager long enough to be pinched by a higher club, than to make yet another sacking?!

The only one thing I disagree with is the choice of manager being more important than the relegation/survival issue. I'd rather support a league club managed by Woods in August than a non-league club managed or not managed by Woods.

from Michael Shelton

Letters Ed responds: I think we should stick with Woodsy even if we are relegated. You can see the improvement in all of the young players and a wise old head like Peacock will do wonders for them in the long term. At least now we are playing football , instead of kick and rush, and everyone , barring the goalie,seems to know what their job is. Dave the engineer

Good bye, or is it au revoir?

Barnet fan here. Guys - whatever pans out over the next two games, I'm really sorry that we won't see any more Grimsby/Barnet match reports on your excellent site for a season or more. In times past when we've been mauled by your otherwise underpeforming team it's been the only ray of sunshine on a gloomy Monday.

So thanks for those, and here's hoping Saturday is a good match. Looking forward to the report anyway.

from Monsieur Abeille

Letters Ed responds: As a supporter from another land I am very sad to see the demise of Grimsby Town Football Club and your relegation from division 2. I am sure you will be honest and say to yourself this has been coming especially over the last few years, but who would have believed it. With great supporters like you have, you deserve better! Drink your 10 pints of Stella, accept muppets will take the mick. You all need to regroup, watch England disappoint in another world cup, offload the dross players you have

Are you having a laugh?

Hi guys

Hopefully this might be of interest to you and your users! Please see below for details of the new Mitre football, launched for use by The Football League for next season. Thanks

from Rachel (PR person on behalf of the Football League

The silver lining- no more letters like this.