Cod Almighty | Diary

Batch's catches win matches

11 September 2026

New things this week: a sponsored award for player of the month has been kickstarted with a win for Géza Dávid Turi. The Faroese is the obvious, and realistically, only choice. How are the talks on his new contract coming along?

We also have a nomination for the Football Content Award for best football club. This may not be new. It may only be the first time we've been nominated. What is 'Football Content'? An organisation that provides awards for clubs and individuals who provide the best football content. Obvs. Your A46 Diary waits pensively for a nomination.

New charges against the club for failing to control players and staff after the melee at the end of the Cheltenham game, with Ray Shearwood and Steve Cotterill receiving special mentions for their involvement in the faintly ridiculous shove-grab-yank-athon.

Will there be a new tenant for the fan zone? Docks Beers have pulled out of the project after five years and the club is yet to comment on whether they intend to commit to keeping it open. A46ers venerable, senior and junior have had many a pre-match pint over the years and if it is to close it will be missed.

What's not so new is the glass menagerie. No one will be back for this weekend, including Pym, so Harrington will extend his emergency loan by another seven days. It's not an emergency if you have to do it every year! Artell insists we have two excellent keepers, not glass Mickey Mouses. Should that be glass Mickey Mice? Who cares?

My not-so-young anymore kids. They grew up in the era of McKeown. Yes, he could drop a clanger, but he was a mostly reliable, mostly reassuring presence and the only thing about Town that was settled while they were growing up. The team changed every year and the club was run by an oddo who couldn't/wouldn't keep the talent, making heroes hard to find. So, for all the Ross Hannahs, Pàdraig Amonds, Omar Bogles, all my kids really had was James McKeown. Good old JM in pink or orange or yellow and always there.

That's unique to eldest and middle. How many years were covered by Sherwood, Crichton, Davison and Coyne? Okay, there were a few crazy cameos from a Tommy Forecast or a Jason Pearcy, but we had keepers who lasted, steady Eddies who could make a save without the sound of breaking glass. Those who remember Batch must need a constant supply of hot, sweet tea and a quiet corner to hide in.

Speaking of ex-players, Artell refused to be drawn on the fate of Evan Khouri. Mostly refused. Behind the steadfast "no comment", there were a couple of comments about being both surprised and not surprised that Khouri hasn't found a club. It is not, he insists, because any club would have to pay us a very small fee. If someone wants him, he's available. Easily available. The echo of Artell's summer comment about wishing him luck in his search for more money grows louder.

Bristol Rovers tomorrow. The Gas, with 12 points and 12 goals, are the early leaders and joint top scorers. The goals are spread through the team with four players already on two this season. One of those, Tommy Leigh (on loan from Bradford? Shouldn't he be with us?), is an injury doubt with a tight hamstring. Fingers crossed on that; he's a key part of their attack. Swiss striker Fabrizio Cavegn is another to look out for. He's scored goals throughout his short career and already has two this season.

But there's only one name we're all looking out for tomorrow. Steve Evans makes his return to BP. Can he last the 90 minutes? Time will tell. Cook's ready to start again. Possibly not so Shelton who hasn't had the minutes Artell would like. Ditto Cartwright. Is a week to rest and work enough to stop Rovers' run of four consecutive victories? Dave says he doesn't like draws. Dave says we'll be going for the win. So does Evans.

We'll find out tomorrow. Don't forget it's an early kick off. Sadly, that's not a new thing and nor will it be something we can change.

Oh, we were nominated for best football club of all the football clubs that ever have been or will be by Football Content last year as well. Did I forget? Did I not realise? Are the club pushing it this year because 50% of the decision is dependent on public votes and last year they didn't realise? I dunno. Best to just get voting, I reckon.