Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 9 July 2004

9 July 2004

Two new signings for Town, and your Guest Diarist has discovered that one featured in the FA Cup fourth round team of the week in January 2001. Yes - "Andy Parkinson terrorised Everton with his speed and skill down the flanks, as Tranmere had an afternoon to remember at Goodison Park." January appears to be Andy's month for getting noticed, as on New Year's Day 2003 he scored a "35-yard cracker against Sheffield United". Neil Warnock was sufficiently impressed to sign Parkinson on a two-year contract in July last year, saying: "He is a good addition to the squad, very quick and he can play all along the front line." But all new Town players have had to pay their dues with a spell at Notts County, and that's where Andy ended the season, scoring thrice in a 13-appearance double loan spell. For all you readers out there, I can report that Andy is a lithe, ten-and-half-stone, five-eight, Liverpudlian left-footer. I hope that's the only resemblance he bears to his screamingly frustrating non-trier of a predecessor.

Buggeration. I just researched and wrote all that, only to find Town's official site has been using the same version of Google as I have.

And then, there's more, as the Town SMS service gabbles another message about Town being due to sign utility player Terry Fleming from Cambridge. As Cod Almighty's own utility player Pete Green puts it: "Amazingly, he has never played for Notts County, Sheffield United or Scarborough." Very spooky. I'm glad you told me Pete, as now I don't have to bother looking him up.

Oh, go on then, just a quick look - immediately revealing that Terry is a real-life legend. He has been arrested for assault (Lincoln); suspended for a breach of club discipline (Cambridge); and once turned down the chance to play for St Lucia. Football-wise, John Beck said about him: "Terry Fleming was brought to the club because he's a fantastic utility player. He can do a great job at left-back, right-back, central midfield, left midfield, right midfield and we even threw him up front in his first game for us and he scored a goal!" On a good day he's apparently 'gutsy and tireless'. And he's got a long throw - although whether we'll have anyone in the box to throw it towards is another question.

As these two arrive though, comparative Town stalwart Iain Anderson looks like he's going back to Scotland as he's been sighted kicking a footie at Dunfermline. Will we miss him? We'll miss his potential more than his actual, I suspect. Following on from Mr Diary's report yesterday about another taxi-load of trialists, our Nottingham correspondent, Craig Oman, has been busy finding out what he can about the County players, passing on the view of one 'Pies fan that "a lot of County fans were disappointed to see Riley released at the end of last season." He's a "decent left-back who can also do a job on the wing. He is also tough and tenacious. Scored a spectacular goal against Colchester last season." As for Nicholson, there are shades of Gallimore: " Probably best to play him in midfield rather than left-back where he backs off and gets skinned far too regularly."

The supporters trust's oddly named 'Future of Youth' campaign is continuing with a raffle. A load of tickets to sell dropped through my letterbox earlier in the week. So if you've got a quid to spare then buy a ticket (I take Paypal) by emailing the Diary. The prizes include a brand new Ford Ka, a Caribbean holiday and a brand new PC, and will be drawn on Saturday 28 August.

Cod Almighty correspondent Keith Collins has been on Humberside watch again, and writes in to report that "Radio Humberside on Thursday morn said that Rowan would not play for Town again as a new contract could not be agreed but Mansaram talks were ongoing and a deal was in the offing." Thanks Keith. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

So the pieces of the Town squad jigsaw are being dropped one by one on to the kitchen table, and the formation still looks to me as though it will be something-something-three. Which makes the acquisition of a decent central striker screamingly important, as Manasaram is about as suitable for that solo role as Michael Howard is for a bit part in Coronation Street. I'll leave you now with a headline reported to have appeared in the Scunthorpe Telegraph: "Dog fouling continues to anger Isle of Axholme town and parish councillors - and they aim to stamp down hard on it." Well you would, wouldn't you? See yer.