Cod Almighty | Postbag

Post-Wembley special

25 May 2015

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

I feel your disappointment

Can I please let all Town fans know how much I feel for your diappointment. Whilst obviously being elated that my own team won the game, the margin was so tight, the game so well fought and in such good spirit that I can only sympathise with you.

At the end of the game, as our fifth penalty went in, all I felt was relief, not joy, not elation, just bloody relief. I'd psyched myself up to be let down, to feel disappointed. To say you were worthy adversaries would be to down-play your team. For long spells you were the better team.

I really do hope that you bounce back next season as champions. You, your manager, your players and the fans deserve that at least.

All the best from Down Under,

from Gerry Prewett, Perth Gas

Part-time maybe, but still proud

It was a great diary piece today.

Like many, my relationship with Grimsby Town has dwindled over the years. I've moved away from the town and had a family. My friends have mostly left the town and my family have all moved away. I don't relate to the players any more. Watching a team is at its most rewarding when you go every week. Modern football has become distasteful and the drop in standard has made it harder to justify the expense of watching the team. But the Mariners are my team and where possible I've gone to the 'bigger' games.

In short I've become that middle-aged dad that I despised in the mid 90s, that only turns up once in a while and talks about the old days. But Grimsby Town is my team and they always will be. They've given me so many happy memories and provide a link to my increasingly distant youth.

The last few weeks have however reminded me why I love Town. I came home for the semi-final and sat on the Pontoon with my girlfriend's seven year old son, who loved it (he's a Burnley season ticket holder). It was a fantastic atmosphere, almost reminiscent of those infamous old days, just with less people there. Despite the complaints about the ticket prices, the last fortnight has been a whirl of GTFC-related activity: re-engaging with your site and the official one, chatting with old friends online about Town and generally immersing myself in it all.

Despite the result, Sunday's experience was a million times better than that cold day at Wembley against Wrexham, which nearly put me off going this time. The Torch pre-game was everything that I'd normally avoid but was a fantastic mad hour of being proud of MY home town and celebrating Marinersism and Grimsbyness. The numbers in my gang are reducing every time we get to Wembley but it was great to see old school friends yesterday. Standing arms around my best friend from play-school, my best friend from secondary school and some random guy will remain a favourite memory for ever. Grimsby Town is the thing that keeps us united as our lives go off in different directions.

I just want to say well done to everyone connected to Grimsby Town over the last few weeks. It has revitalised my love for the club. I can't commit to going every week but it's reminded me why I love it and why it's important to keep that love going.

UTM

from Dave Crowther

Aftershock in Salford

Well blow me down! It was in the Lowry in Manchester on the Tuesday after the final when it suddenly, unexpectedly hit me. I was just casually looking at Lowry's painting 'Going to the match', and then there I was all moist-eyed just remembering the emotion of the fans and the players at Wembley. I don't know what the emotion was; certainly not anger or even disappointment, maybe just frustration and sorrow for the best supporters and a good bunch of honest, hard-working players who now don't know if they've got a job or not.

I've seen some good times and plenty of very bad times since seeing my first Town match in 1969 but I couldn't get any real perspective on the conference play-off final until a full two days later. On the day, I couldn't speak until Peterborough services on the journey home. I was just gently banging my head against the headrest and muttering to myself and at other road users without GTFC badges who weren't sharing my emptiness.

I know Lowry paints about Burnden Park and Bolton Wanderers but to me it represents all real fans who have supported their local club through thick and thin, good times and bad. I remember going to Burnden Park when we went 2-0 up, had a man sent off then went 3-2 down before Groves equalised in the last few minutes. Those memories stay with you. To those of us there on Sunday singing the ridiculous "fish" chant in our national stadium will go down in local folklore.

The Lowry stands across Salford Quays from Old Trafford and it made me think that to the Man Utd "fans" the events of Sunday will not even register. They inhabit a different world of multi-million pound contracts and Europe. Would I swap with them though even after the cruellest result on Sunday? Away with you - worse things happen at sea.

We go again - clap clap clap FISH!

from MJB

The ghosts whisper

Wembley bound, car full - wife, daughters, future son-in-law. Suspension sagging under the combined weight of pack up and expectancy. Park up at the theatre of impending shattered dreams. Enter into mutually congratulatory conversations with Rovers fans. Pleasantries over with game on.

Fast forward to the trudge back to the car. Things ended so suddenly; the near-mystical bonding of the fans with the team which the wall of noise created was, in an instant, no more. The reality of next season's titanic tussles with Bromley and Welling loomed all too large in the subconscious.

'The fans connected and found their club.' Really? Being brought up on stories of Glover and Tweedy and all, I've never been unconnected. The ghosts of my grandfather and father walked with me out of that stadium and whispered to me "This is part of being a Town fan. Next season, son, it's ours." And I always believed what my dad told me.

from Rich Jones

Self-help group

Hi folks,

Just a quick note to say thanks for helping me retain my sanity and rationalise the events of the season, and in particular last weekend.

The diary has been a bit of a prop as I thought I might be amongst very few people who were reduced to an emotional mush before, during and after our latest Wembley experience; clearly not. As with other self-help groups it's nice to know that I'm not alone.

Truly, last Friday's diary was probably the finest I've read, inspiring and surging with belief whilst gently tempered with the cynicism that is part of my Town supporters make up.

Keep it up. The new season (and whatever it brings) can't come soon enough.

Enjoy the summer.

from Nick Marshall

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