The Diary

Cod Almighty | Diary

Absolutely squashed us

13 March 2024

A win built on character and heart, Daubney loves to see it. In the circumstances, last night's gritty performance trumps watching Town dish out a sultans of ping style footballing lesson. 

Still reeling from Saturday's gut punch, the last thing we needed was a conference ref making his league debut and freezing in the Blundell Park lights. The spectres of his dodgy peeping, the opposition being decent, a Wood strike off the inside of the post, and a missed penalty loomed all the way to the final whistle. But we endured, also despite Danny Rose's talismanic absence. By the way Gav, four years from now when we're five nil up against Man Utd in a Premier League Super Sunday clash, you have permission to take a penalty like that one last night. Until then I'll lend you a copy of Super Clive and Super Joe's instructional VHS, Smack it in the Corner.

All credit for the result naturally goes to the club board for quickly addressing their mistake in appointing David Artell. Sure it was risky to return to the good old days of hire, fire, payoff, relegation, repeat like every shit club in English football but just look at the turnaround since Artell's sacking after the Dirty Donny Debacle. His replacement, David Artell has transformed the club with a quick clearout of deadwood like Mullarkey, Rodgers, Tharme, Cartwright, Hume, Clifton, Green, and others. There's no chance we'd have conceded just one legitmate goal in five with that set of clown shoes in the team. The recruitment team must take some credit as well, the one we had mere weeks ago was crap. It's great to see the new guy getting the plaudits he deserves now.

Elsewhere last night, FGR won again, putting the frighteners up Colchester and plunging the U's into the second drop seat. Their game with Donny was postponed due to their wonky wet pitch, presenting the prospect of a delightful little fixture pile up, as detailed by Stephen Willerton. The pitch is the subject of a glorious ramble from the Colchester owner Robbie Cowling which will have you wistful for GTFC statements past. Cowling might be an expert at using the club's €30M+ debt as a tax maneouve but he's no expert on pitch drainage.

Anyway, who cares about the opposition. Last night shows you have no one to fear when you play good old fashioned division four football and want it more than the other team. Simple.

We'll end on the other big news last night. 

A mere diary is no place for a full tribute to JT and a life devoted to Grimsby Town FC, we'll think of something fitting in due course. Personally, as expressed so wonderfully in the hundreds of messages he's already received, for an exile John is synonymous with following GTFC. He's been there almost since I started watching Town, and his voice is all my children have known following Town. His commentary, reports, and interviews are the connection to the club we hold so dear. The Daubney household sends love and thanks John, that connection wouldn't be the same without you. Enjoy the break a return to being just a fan.

UTM.