Cod Almighty | Postbag
Writes of passage
5 August 2016
Derby County, the League Cup, the Football League trophy, Podge, Morecambe, Muppets, Sid Wheelhouse – this postbag is a mixed bag, that's for sure.
Cup confusion
Regarding the Derby County cup match, are we playing their first team, B team, women's team or their under 12 side? I find these cup competitions so confusing now.
from Peter Hopgood
Letters Ed responds: You and me both, Peter. The Derby match next Tuesday is what we used to call the League Cup so simply ignore any FL rebranding, and things make a little more sense.
I'm pretty sure that Cup rules preclude the Rams from fielding the ladies team so expect a bunch of fellas to line up against us.
Conspiracy theories abounded
re: diary of 28 June: I wondered too about cutting our cloth a little too short. If after releasing so many players in May we really did intend to retain Podge, et al, then surely we would have offered deals they would have been happier with? We'd have tried harder if we *really* wanted to keep them wouldn't we, unless it was a case of going through the motions?
Maybe Hurst thought that some of those guys couldn't cut it at the higher level but didn't want the grief of letting them go along with Straker and Monky so wanted it to look like we wanted the fans' favourites to stay but of course knew they would have no choice but to walk?
Or maybe he was told to go in low to start with but in the time between them going on their hols and returning to negotiate, the board and chopped his budget? Hmm. Cynical? Conspiracy theorist? Moi?
from Rich Mills
Letters Ed responds: Or maybe it's just that players are badly advised and their agents convinced them they could do better. Whatever happened, it's over, finished, done. We've got a new batch of heroes now and we probably won't find out anything more until Hurstses starts writing his memoirs. Sorry, that'll be us memoirs.
Comfort day
Hi,
As a Yorkshireman and Loiner I enjoyed your article, very funny.
Close but not in, about right. lol.
from Paul Pudding
Letters Ed responds: Thanks Paul, glad you liked it. Not only do we allow you lot to read our stuff, we will even print your letters. We're very inclusive.
*A note for those not in the know - a loiner is a native of Leeds
Sid
Re: Sid Wheelhouse.
Evocative ,we will never see the likes of them again.
from Alec Clark
Letters Ed responds: Thanks Alec. I'm guessing that you were referring to this excellent 3 part article on Sid Wheelhouse which was quite rightly being re-read during the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Such a tragic waste of life on an enormous scale which affected and continues to affect communities the length and breadth of the country.
Famous Grimsby peeps
Norman Lamont lived with his parents in Welholme Road - just round the corner from me. His dad worked at the local hospital. He was seen around most in school holidays or maybe between school and university. Apart from the badger streak he later developed he looked EXACTLY the same then.
Pat 'Odge did not sound quite the same then, when I was at school with her, as the now carefully modulated actress voice. That came later. She was very thin, pale and ginger.
I knew John Hurt when he was at art college. He was a beatnik and revelled in his unkempt image.
Brenda Fisher taught me to swim at Orwell Street baths when I was tiny. She was an acquaintance of my father.
For a while Patrick Wymark was dating a local glamorous 'spinster' called Jean, maybe on the quiet, who knows?
from Sarah Molyneaux
Letters Ed responds: Thanks Sarah. That old article on famous folks from Grimsby and Cleethorpes still gets a fair few views. Patrick Wymark, hey? We'll keep it quiet.
Did you see that meggie Vivean Gray, the actress who played Mrs Mangel in Neighbours passed away recently?
Stand firm
An excellent diary capturing my own feelings in a constructive and eloquent manner. We must stand firm on the topic of PL B teams entering a competition designed for divisions 1 and 2 of the Football League.
from Philip Storr
Letters Ed responds: Thanks Philip. Regular / original diary said it all really and is a perfect primer for anyone who says, "maybe it would be good to see Leicester's B team at Blundell Park." The fallout continues and the campaign to boycott the matches gathers strength. With a bit of luck this ridiculous experiment will be ditched quickly and quietly.
Puppet, poppet
With regards to the prompt 'give us your John Fenty as a movie or character' suggestions..
Sometimes short is sweet and simplistic also, whilst going straight to the point.
Film – The Muppets.
from Jase Ives
Letters Ed responds: Jase, what are you saying about our chairman gallant benefactor and saviour?
Any more for any more?
It just wouldn't be Morecambe if any more came.. geddit?
You forgot to mention the excitement watching the traffic lights change and standing forlornly in a bus shelter waiting for the rain to stop... ;)
from TwoSheds Jackson
Letters Ed responds: Well spotted TwoSheds. If Grant had included everything then Town's gate on Saturday would have been affected as a good chunk of our support would have headed out of town for a weekend in Lancashire.
And there we have it. Short and sweet, just like us manager, no? Drop us a line, we're here to listen.