Cod Almighty | Postbag

Around the world in six letters

20 February 2012

The latest batch of letters have a distinctly international flavour, starting with that most mysterious of places, the Main Stand at Blundell Park.

To write to Cod Almighty, email postbag@codalmighty.com.

Witnesses required

Rob Scott's absence from the touchline will certainly not be missed by the City bench after captain Jim Rollo tweeted after the game: "I've never met such a disrespectful person in the game. To his own players, the fans, the officials and to us."

The above was cut/pasted from ilovebathcity.com, re: RS's absence from the bench due to his red card by a female ref.

I always sit in the upper wotsit stand, so never "see or hear" anything as such. Is the comment a true reflection of RS? If it is, I'm appalled.

from Janus Przeniczny

Letters Ed responds: Are there any Main Stand-ers among the CA readership who can throw light on Rob Scott's general demeanour?

From Rotterdam to the Rutland

Dear Cod Almighty, Congrats with the win over Bath City the other night. I saw Grimsby Town earlier this season in the away game against York City and was very much surprised with the numbers of fans in the away stand. At that moment I said to my mate that we really needed to go to Grimsby the next time we went to England.

We normally go (when Feyenoord plays away or when international games are played) to games abroad. Mostly Germany or Belgium since that is nearby and every now and then to England, being the country we like the most if it comes to football (and drinking beer, and eating Indian food haha).

Last year I rode twice past Blundell Park on my Vespa when we were attending a scooter rally in Skegness. The past years a few lads from Cleethorpes come over to our rally in Rotterdam and they brought a big Grimsby Town flag with them and put that over the DJ booth during the World Cup in 2010.

I'm gonna use the information you sent in the next newsletter to the lads and lasses who come along with me and persuade them to go to the Rutland Arms. I do prefer pubs close to the ground so we can have a chat with the locals.

Thanks for all the information and maybe we can meet on the 10th of March.

Cheers,

from Jeroen Koot

Letters Ed responds: Jeroen wrote to CA asking for tips on places to eat and drink in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, so if you see a surprising number of Dutch scooters around Blundell Park for the Forest Green match, you'll know why.

Friendlies from the 19th century

Dear Sirs.

I am trying to obtain match reports including team line-ups etc. on Grimsby v Stoke City in two friendly games. The games were played on Saturday 31 March 1888 and also on Saturday 18 April 1896. Grimsby won 7-6 (missing off your archive section).

Any help would be much appreciated. yours sincerely.

from Paul Snape

Letters Ed responds: If you can help Paul, please email postbag@codalmighty.com and we'll put you in touch with him.

On the crest of a wave

Hi,

Well the Mariners ride high on the crest of a wave in the good ship Shouty and Shorty. Crowds are up, goals galore and like all good DVDs a bonus feature Shouty sent off. All this entertainment for sixteen quid. Bargain! What more could a mere mortal ask for?

We now go expecting a Town win. How things have changed since November! Listening to the Bath game the other night, one nil down at half time but did we panic? No, I reassured the siblings, we will still win. And the good ship Shouty and Shorty sailed on. The only thing that stops the mighty Mariners now is snow.

I have now started saving up for the Wembley trip/s. The in-laws in Scotland will have to wait for our annual visit. We're off to Wembley with the Town.

from Richard Satterley, man of faith

Grimmo in Australia

I've lived in Australia for 38 years but found your "Dictionary" interesting - and nostalgic. Below are a few terms I remember from way back. Some originated with the many Danish fisherman who settled in GY. Bain: Child or baby Bass (of fish): Like a shopping bag made of raffia, used by fisherman to take home fish/crabs after each trip Chipeaters: Day trippers in Cleethorpes Clogs: Footwear with a thick wooden base and leather upper, worn by most people working on the fish docks, to keep their feet dry Grimmy: Anyone from Grimsby: not an offensive term Guernsey: Seaman's knitted woolen sweater which repels rain and spray. Originated in Channel Isles. (See also obb wool) Gutting knife: Carried by all fishermen and used to cut open fish and remove their innards. (The liver was saved to make oil) Obb wool: A wool so greasy that it repels water. Used for sweaters, guernseys and socks Roaring or shriking: Crying Westerly: Unwelcome company, such as a man sponging off fisherman who have just been paid. At a guess, it originated with the North Sea fishing smacks which would have found a westerly wind most unwelcome

from Doug Sparks

From Cleethorpes to Copenhagen

Hi Cod Almighty,

I am Anne-Mette and I live in Copenhagen, Denmark.

This e-mail is most likely among the strangest mails that you will ever receive and I was actually hesitating in writing to you - but then I thought "Hey why not?"

I just read your great articles on Grimsby "Things you only know if you're from Grimsby" and I particularly found your article no. 5 very funny... The one about being born at Croft Baker.

I too was born at Croft Baker - many, many years ago - in 1971 and yes - it IS something special to have being born there and even I who only lived in Grimsby for the first three years of my life, feel that I have a special story as I was born at the Croft Baker.

My parents were once the managers of the Danish Seamen's Mission - which is now the Chinese restaurant, the Landings - and though I only lived there for the first three years of my life, I have always considered myself to be English, a Grimbarian from Cleethorpes (even though Cleethorpes-borns are called Meggies, as I recall?).

I have England and Grimsby in my heart every day and so this weekend I am actually going back to my roots in the search of the Croft Baker Maternity Home.

Looking at my birth certificate, it only states Croft Baker Maternity Home, Mill Road, but my father did a Google search and found out, just as you found out when your brother moved into the old maternity home, that the Croft Baker has now been turned into flats. So just a few minutes ago, I called an estate agent in Cleethorpes who had an advert on Google and I had a detailed explanation from her on how to find the building and so, tomorrow, I place myself in an morning airplane to 1) visit my old nanny in Grimsby (she is 95 now) and 2) to see the place where I was born.

Greetings and thank you for your great and funny articles from a Danish "Grimbarian from Cleethorpes" who is looking forward to "coming home" :-)

from Anne-Mette

Letters Ed responds: Thanks Anne. We'd love to read how your homecoming went if you have a few moments.

Thanks also to all our other correspondents. Use this link to appear in the Cod Almighty postbag.