Cod Almighty | Postbag

Why is football so defensive and other questions

7 July 2021

Antony Chapman ponders shareholdings, shop locations and why football is so defensive nowadays.

People like to think out loud

A few random thoughts.

1. BOTB Diary in early June said "Football is not real life. Football is theatre. It isn't Shakespeare, in case you were wondering. It's more of a pantomime." I wonder if he agrees with me that football is the most important of all unimportant things?

2. Billy Cairns. Wonderful header of the ball. Subsequently ran a pub in Grimsby Road. George Tweedy, far and away our best ever goalie, had a newsagents and tobacconists in Great St Mary's Gate – or was it Little St M's Gate? He sent his daughter to my aunt's school, St Martin's in Bargate.

3. Looking forward to the Zoom session on 5 July. Wondering if I shall be able to tell our two saviours apart. I think I shall be able to do so – one looks as if he has eaten a good few sausages...

4. What are the current shareholdings? A year ago I reckoned it was Fenty 43 per cent, Parker 22 per cent, Mariners Trust 14 per cent and small shareholders 21 per cent. Presumably J and A now own 43 per cent, and the others are more or less unchanged? Perhaps they will tell us on 5 July.

5. I am looking forward to next season and hope Hurst has put together a successful squad. I still think we/he had an element of luck in getting promoted last time. After all, we lost at home in the semi-finals, and only got through on a penalty. Well-deserved win in the final, though.

6. Why were so many managers defenders when they played? Or rather why have more defenders than forwards become managers? Is this why the game has become so defensive-minded. I would rather we won 4-3 than 1-0.

That's enough randomness.

Best wishes,

from Antony Chapman

Letters Ed responds: It sounds like the webinar will have answered your question about the shareholdings: it was explained that some of Mike Parker's shares have been sold to 1878 Partnership

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