Cod Almighty | Diary

If you gotta go, go now

27 February 2023

Miss Guest Diary writes: I keep telling myself I should give up on Twitter because it's really bad for my blood pressure, but then I remember that it's also a really good place to find inspiration for this diary when all else fails. Such as the Tweet at the weekend from someone complaining that they'd paid £375 for a season ticket and Town had won only three league games at Blundell Park, meaning it had cost them £125 per victory.

Where to start. Leaving aside the nonsensical idea that you should put a price on the experience of supporting your team, what about the eight home league games still to come this season? And are the seven home draws completely worthless in their view?

Saturday's entertaining draw with league-leaders Leyton Orient was certainly worth the price of admission. With the amount of pressure exerted towards the end of the game – especially after Taylor came on in the 80th minute – Town might even have won. After all, nearly a quarter of Town's goals this season have come after that time in the game, four of them actually in stoppage time. But I suspect that, had Town managed a late winner our Twitter complainer would have been half way down Blundell Avenue at the time; one of those who always get up to leave with five minutes left on the clock. I've long since ceased trying to understand the mindset of these folk.

Saturday was Luke Waterfall's 150th appearance for the club. A quick look at Wikipedia revealed that Luke made his professional debut in 2008 as a sub for Tranmere Rovers at Blundell Park. Which I thought would surprise most folk until I looked back at the diary on the day he signed for Town in 2019 and saw that West Yorkshire Diary got there before me. Luke has played for quite a few clubs in Yorkshire and the East Midlands but he obviously has an affinity for Lincolnshire with the bulk of his time being spent at Gainsborough, Lincoln and now Town. He had a bit of a rocky start but is now a key part of Town's defence. I can't help feeling the capitulation at Swindon would not have happened had Luke been playing in that game.

Now it's all eyes on Southampton. I don't for a minute expect Town to win, but then what were the expectations when we played Spurs in 2005, or Liverpool in 2001, or Everton in 1984. Whatever happens I just hope it doesn't turn out to be like the game at Arsenal which was Town's reward for beating Liverpool.

I can still recall the dead atmosphere and swathes of empty seats in the home end. Their superstars could barely be bothered to break out of a trot and Town were disposed of efficiently and without passion. Rather pay us the compliment of taking us seriously as Chelsea did in 2019. The final scoreline might be painful but the ride will be that much more interesting. See you on the south coast, and don't forget to take Harry!

Before I go though, here's something I picked up on Twitter which I am pleased to pass on. News that the Mariners Trust are donating £1,000 to Wrexham to pay for mascot packages for fans who would not otherwise be able to afford them. This represents a return of fan donations for our play-off final trip to London which were not spent. Football at its best.

UTM