Cod Almighty | Diary
Good place to work, good place to be
11 October 2021
Miss Guest Diary writes: Just two words: Harry Clifton. And Max Wright. OK that's more than two words, but you get my drift. A fantastic win on Saturday with a goal from Harry, set up by Max: two local lads who came through the club academy. That feels so perfectly in keeping with the current mood around the club and the aims of the new owners to connect with the local community. And if you're going to win by one goal, having it scored by a local lad in the 87th minute is certainly the way to generate euphoria both on and off the pitch.
Woking were definitely in form, having beaten Chesterfield, Notts County and Dagenham & Redbridge in their previous three games. Add to that Town's loss at Bromley and draw at Maidenhead and Saturday's trip down south felt like a tough challenge. Having had the ball cleared off the line in the first half and been under pressure from the sheer physical presence of Woking, especially at set pieces, I was definitely settling for 0-0 when up popped Max and Harry and made every Town fan's day.
Suddenly Town's fantastic start to the season is beginning to feel real. Eleven games in and we have already accumulated 26 points, scoring 25 goals along the way. It took Town until March to score that many league goals last season. However, despite being in the play-off spots virtually from week one, and top of the league for the last two weeks, Town haven't impressed some pundits. Who'd have thought we'd be victims of the "likes of Grimsby" phenomenon even in non-League?
After the first round of matches, the various BT presenters and pundits were asked who they expected to gain automatic promotion and make the play-offs this season. Only six teams made the list: Stockport, Chesterfield, Wrexham, Torquay, Notts County and Southend (haha). Town were mentioned only once – as 'one to watch' by Chris Hargreaves, maybe in a fit of home-town loyalty or maybe he knows what he's talking about.
Watching the BT coverage of Saturday's goal the presenter referred to our game against Woking as a "big test", which we obviously passed. But, oh no, according to Aaron McLean we've had "one of the easiest starts to the season". This despite already taking seven points from three of the teams BT's 'experts' tipped for promotion. He grudgingly conceded that "now" people would really start to take us seriously. What's that you say – he used to play for Hull? Enough said.
One of the bonuses of being back in non-League – obviously apart from winning lots of games – has been the stewarding at away games. Chatting to friendly stewards at Bromley and Woking when being asked very politely if they might look in my handbag, being invited into the covered section at Altrincham out of the rain and having the Altrincham stewards wish us a cheery goodnight and safe journey home have been high spots. It's impossible not to contrast that with the 'bra-gate' experience at Stevenage a few years ago.
And then there is the Woking chair, Rosemary Johnson. Prominent on Twitter has been an endorsement from a Town fan who raised a query with Woking about how to make his young son's first attendance at a Town game feel safe. In response, Rosemary arranged for him and his son to sit in the directors box. I have a similar Rosemary story. Wanting to ensure that I would be able to sit down to watch the game and unable to buy a designated seating ticket on the Woking website, I emailed the club. Within half an hour I was in an email exchange with Rosemary who explained their ticketing arrangements and assured me there would be no problem in getting a seat. Now that's service.
When the fixture list came out, Woking was one of the away games which we hadn't planned to attend, but it feels now as if we can't afford to look away or we'll miss something special. Aldershot is the next away game which hadn't been on our agenda; I’ve already looked up the train times and booked the hotel. We will follow Grimsby over land and sea... and Hampshire.
UTM.