Cod Almighty | Postbag

Postbag: more acorn than mighty oak

14 September 2010

I can't help feeling that a dog with a big fight in it is likely to be too tormented to put up much of a scrap.

Another postbag, another way of saying it's not the size that counts.

This space is waiting for your words of wisdom.

Deafening silence

So the chairman/owner/whatever of Croydon Athletic F.C. is filmed counting the News of the Screws's dirty tenners, and the response from the F.A. is...

from Phil Watson

Letters Ed responds: Since Phil wrote, the story has developed somewhat, with Croydon having scratched from the FA Cup and been given permission to postpone two league fixtures.

76,962 people cannot be wrong

Hi Cod Almighty Saw this on an auction site while looking for some old Town programmes (but don't tell the wife) - thought you might have some entertainment with it.

Keep up the good work - think you have raised your game this year UTM

from David Martin

Letters Ed responds: Well worth following the link: it reeks of history.

Charles Roberts

Hello,

Its not often you hear Grimsby Town mentioned on Front Row, Radio Four's arts review programme. Last night they featured the revival of Harold Brighouse's The game written in 1913 about the transfer of a player to local rivals on the eve of a key match between the two sides. They mentioned one real example of a player playing against his old side the day after a transfer: Charles Roberts, sold by Grimsby to Manchester United in April 1904, shortly before beating them 3-1.

Rob Briggs's and Dave Wherry's Mariner men gives a full account of Roberts's career. A fisherman before he turned professional, the England international often returned to Grimsby to work on the trawlers during the close season. A founder member of the players' union, he was refused permission to join the board of Manchester United because of his union activities.

What this tells us about modern football I've no idea, but I suspect a few codgers whose happiest memories include Lawrie McMenemy taking his players to the docks will relish the idea of a modern-day England international being tossed about on the North Sea.

from Bill Partridge

Letters Ed responds: Here's an interesting preview of the production.

And here's an opportunity for you to write an interesting letter to us, readers. Please do.