Cod Almighty | Diary

Believe

20 February 2023

Miss Guest Diary writes: If you mainly follow the fortunes of Grimsby Town via its social media presence, you could be forgiven for thinking the club is in crisis with a dwindling fanbase. Talk on Twitter of "disastrous transfer windows", "relegation battles" and calls to "bring in the Cowleys", plus the mixture of tepid praise and criticism with which some greet even a good result for the team.

Contrast that with the actual matchday experience. I must admit even I, as a regular at away games, was surprised by the size and enthusiasm of the Town support at the Sixfields Stadium on Saturday. After two disappointing 1-0 defeats against teams near the bottom of the table, a trip to play a team sitting in fourth place at a ground where Town have only managed one win in seven previous visits did not seem likely to attract a sell-out crowd. But that's exactly what it was – nearly 900 raucous fans bellowing their support from behind the goal.

Northampton were probably surprised too and maybe regretted their decision to sell tickets on the day when their stewards were trying in vain to control the numerous fans who were, literally, standing in the aisles. It seemed liked some of the players were also a little taken aback when they took the field. Maybe some of the newbies didn't realise just how many 'happy clappers' there are following Town these days.

Town have started to specialise in last-minute winning goals, haven't they, and Saturday's was greeted with the usual ecstatic reaction. Magnificent! I'll even forgive the young lad who swiped me round the back of the head in his eagerness to get down the front after Glennon scored. Well, he did mutter a hasty "sorry Miss" as he bounded away.

I was impressed by debutant Owen Gallacher, effective and lively on the wing in the first half. Less so in the second, which might be due to the change of formation or to the clatter he got in the nether regions. One of many robust challenges to Town players which went unpunished, even seemingly unnoticed by the referee. Fortunately, his failure to award a penalty after a Northampton handball didn't rob Town of a victory, but it easily might have.

Seb Stockbridge has refereed Town quite a few times over the years and his performance can best be described as inconsistent. Mr Butcher gave him marks of 8.4 for being "disgracefully competent" in Town's league cup game against Nottingham Forest earlier this season, but back in 2016 he was awarded just 4.2 after going on a "batpoopcrazy rampage of nonsense and nuttiness" in a 2-2 draw with Barnet. A quick Google indicates the referee for tomorrow's game against Harrogate is Tom Nield – one of the few to receive a negative mark from Mr Butcher, and that in a game which Town won 5-0. Oh dear.

Away from the football, members of Town staff and the GTSET have taken part in a 'sleep out' in a local car park to raise money for Harbour Place, a local charity committed to ending rough sleeping on the streets and supporting those without a permanent home. If you can spare a few pounds for this very worthy cause, please donate here.

UTM