Cod Almighty | Diary

No pain, no gain

22 October 2019

Today's diary is all about football matches, for all ages and sexes, in the past and the future. Matches that happened or will happen; didn't happen or won't happen.

Domestic Diary likes the cut of Dale Houlston's jib. Grimsby Town Women were left without a fixture on Sunday as opponents Louth Old Boys were unable to raise a team. Not for Houlston any bellyaching and point-scoring for competitive advantage: "For my part I have asked the league not to award us the points and to simply give us another date on which the game can be played. I've also requested that Louth aren't punished with any fines for not being able to fulfil a fixture, but that is a decision outside of my control... I can't see there is anything to be gained in the interest of developing women's football in the area by giving them a fine and awarding us the points."

Common sense maybe, but lets take a moment to applaud when any official keeps hold of both the essence and the bigger picture. Football is for playing (and watching), not just for winning. Neil Woods would echo the sentiment, albeit through slightly gritted teeth just now. The Under-18 team's losing streak continued on Saturday at Huddersfield.

What would the manager of Chichester say? They are the victims or beneficiaries of Bury's collapse, awarded a bye after last night's FA Cup first round draw. As Chichester have announced they will donate some of their "winnings" to help revive Bury we can put them on the side of the angels with Houlston.

Hypocrisy being my second language, given our current form, I was half hoping it might be us getting a free pass into round two. But a home tie with Newport is a decent draw. Always good to renew acquiantance with Pádraig Amond (No, I'm not obsessed with ex-players, but I am quite fond of some of them, thanks very much.) Let's hope the Exiles' directors bring plenty of flags, with toughened steel flagpoles.

And so to tonight, when Michael Jolley's mix-and-match Mariners make the trip to Cambridge United. Cambridge have just beaten Exeter, after manager Colin Calderwood named a much changed team. So your guess is as good as mine how either side will line up at the Abbey Stadium.

What I do know is that Cambridge's 12th fan initiative is not an estimate of tonight's gate.

Enjoy the game.