Cod Almighty | Diary

Leaving on a jet-ski

22 May 2023

Miss Guest Diary writes: Some of the play-off games in the last week or so have been a real reminder of just how exciting, and just how cruel, the play-off system can be. I'm talking here about the games lost on penalties.

Chesterfield in the conference final at Wembley, Peterborough after the 10-goal epic semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday and Saturday's game between Salford and Stockport. It brought back memories of Town's loss against Bristol Rovers back in 2015. Walking up Wembley Way after that defeat I experienced the most hollow feeling I have ever known after a football match. Losing because you have conceded goals in the match is one thing but the culmination of a 49-game season coming down to the arbitrariness of a few spot kicks felt so unfair.

I was so grateful last year that Town got the job done in the course of the play-off matches themselves to spare us from the potential of repeating that pain. Thinking back to that defeat from our currently secure and stable position leads me to saying a heartfelt, somewhat belated "thank you" to those behind the subsequent Operation Promotion campaign. They not only raised a lot of money but gave a much-needed boost to everyone's spirits going into the following season. Who knows, without it Town might not have managed to get promoted at all in 2016.

I would have liked to go on to say something about reliving happy memories of Wembley in 1998 at last Friday's celebration in McMenemy's, but I didn't attend and can find no news about it apart from a couple of fan/player selfies on Twitter. I trust a good time was had by all.

Leaving aside all the (useless) speculation about which players we might or might not sign, there isn't much news around. So much so that the Telegraph has resorted to printing Harry Clifton's holiday snaps. I confess to having already seen them on Instagram and being seriously underwhelmed. Two young people in leisurewear standing around and smiling – I've got quite a few photos like that myself from back in the day, though not from anywhere as far afield as Dubai.

The club has been awarded Family Excellence Status for the family matchday experience provided, but as 66 of the 72 EFL clubs achieved this, I'm not sure it's that much of an accolade. A bit like those five-star hygiene ratings councils award to catering establishments – really the least you'd want to see when eating there. Anyway, you can read more about it on the club website.

With no more 'news' to bring you, I'll just leave those of you who may have missed it a link to the entertaining round-up of the season which Tony Butcher has written for a Stockport County fansite.

Only a month now till the fixture list comes out, thank goodness.