Cod Almighty | Diary

Town have my excitement all wrapped up!

5 December 2023

I’m really looking forward to Saturday. I know it’s few days off but as I didn’t manage to get to the Franchise or Oxford this will be, for me and many others, the start of a new era. It’s like the beginning of a new season when we’re all hoping for great things. Sometimes we hit the ground running, other times we take a while to get into our stride but the anticipation is why we go back year in year out. Granted we’ve had a considerable taste of this season but with a new manager I’m always interested to see how the team evolves. Players who were maybe not fitting the “system” or style of play may come into their own. It’s not unreasonable but it’s a delight to find a player in there.. Over the years there have been Town players who move on to other clubs and all of a sudden discover their mojo, usually against us. It doesn't matter who has been in charge at Town, they just look better elsewhere. Vice versa too. Think Bogle for one. He’s never seemed to have rediscovered the heights of 2015/16 since he moved on and it’s a great shame.

As I’m in the area I’m seriously tempted to have a walk down to Blundell Park this evening and watch the Youth team in FA Cup third round action. That they are playing a club from my adopted home and seem to be having a very impressive season so far makes it all the more spicy. Add to that a new first-team manager who makes a point of how keen he is to bring on youngsters if they warrant it and we might see someone who will be gracing Blundell Park in a fourth tier fixture in the relatively near future. If you’re my age it brings to mind the likes of Tony Ford, the Moore brothers and Kevin Drinkell. How spoilt we were in Grimsby in those days. More recently our very own Harry Clifton has been carrying the flag for homegrown talent. What a joy it would be to see more youngsters come through.

I was delighted to see the announcement of the remake of the 93/94 Ciba sponsored away shirt. Perfect timing if you are struggling to think of something for a certain someone in your life that they might actually want for Christmas. Thank you, Grimsby Town, you have solved a problem. I might just pick up a few stocking fillers when I pop into the club shop to collect it. UTM!