Cod Almighty | Diary

I'll be there for you

13 April 2026

Miss Guest Diary writes: It is noticeable that when things are going well on the field, as they currently are, Town fans need to find something else to moan about. The most recent complaints on Twitter have been about heavy-handed stewarding, particularly in the Pontoon. I was a bit mystified by this as, until very recently, I hadn't seen any stewards for many a year in the area where I sit. Then two games ago a steward appeared on the concourse behind me to usher away anyone attempting to stand there during the game. So, a big thank you to whoever at the club read my diary last month complaining about the recent arrival of a rowdy bunch behind and sprang into action. That's what I call customer service.

The other moan which has been rumbling around all season is the lack of atmosphere at Blundell Park and what might be done to change that. This is where my big moan comes in – not about the atmosphere itself but what the club have been doing of late to 'improve' it. The giant flag, the tifo on the first day of the season, those clap banners which really did the trick in the 3-1 loss against Harrogate, culminating with another attempt at a tifo on Saturday.

This time the display materials consisted of oblongs of white or black plastic, presumably intended to create a black-and-white-striped Pontoon. For a club which claims to be "committed to promoting sustainability and protecting the environment in all aspects of its operations" this was not a good look. Securing a piece of plastic to each seat with a rubber band was also not a good idea – how many bands do you think were pinged around by middle-aged men revisiting their childhood? As my old mum would have said: you could have somebody's eye out with that. With the exception of what Mr B likes to call the singing-ringing-tree corner, the average age of Pontoon dwellers is probably around 50, so the willingness of many of us to engage in this type of performative support so beloved of younger fans was negligible. Which was probably apparent to the team if they cared to glance up at the Pontoon when they ran out. A bit of an own goal I would say.

I have learned over the years that Grimbarians refuse to be impressed by new-fangled things. I understand their reaction to the modern engineering marvel of the Humber Bridge over 40 years ago was much the same. I once asked a friend from Grimsby who'd just returned from a trip to China if he'd visited the Geat Wall. His only comment? "It wouldn't keep anybody out."

On my own part, I resent the suggestion that I need artificial means to encourage me to "get behind" the team. I don't need a clap banner because I have two hands, I don't need to hold up a big flag or wave some plastic around to prove that I support the team. I was there for the relegation games at Tranmere and Burton, the lost play-off finals at Cardiff and Wembley, the lost FA Trophy and EFL Trophy finals, and for the 8-1 loss at Hartlepool, but I've still just bought my 29th season ticket. I concede that Blundell Park does not always rock, but if the football is dire or it seems that the team is not 100% committed during a game then who can blame us for lacking enthusiasm at times. We are there for the team when it matters, providing they are there for us too.

The beauty of football is the atmosphere created by the fans inside the ground. This is organic, it is spontaneous, it is not and cannot be artificially induced. Leave us to be natural.

UTM