Cod Almighty | Diary

Nothing happens, and nothing happens and then everything happens

15 March 2022

All quiet on the Town front at the moment. You know it's quiet when all the local rag can come up with is Paul Hurst's selection dilemma because Andy Smith had a decent game against Yeovil. I wasn't there, so it's hard to comment but I'm pleased for the lad. They then get a bit desperate with "Who has been Grimsby Town's player of the season so far?" Granted we are three-quarters of the way through but we are now hitting the business end of the season and we're in the mix. Twelve to go and everything to play for. We could have a hero in the making.

As it's a quiet day, you will have to indulge me in a personal trip down memory lane. Thirteen years ago I was asked to do some work in a school in Croydon. It was a difficult time for the staff as they were about to be taken over and made into an academy so anyone new coming in was viewed with an understandable degree of suspicion. I had a meeting with an assistant head, Pete (so many titles in schools nowadays).

He opened his office door and I couldn't keep quiet at a photo I saw as I walked in: Kenny Burns and Pete taken at a social function. There were loads of football photos and all kinds of memorabilia in his office. Front and centre was Pete sitting next to Alex Ferguson at a dinner. It was only on display because the kids in the school recognised him and were suitably awed. I was the first person to recognise Kenny. It turned out Pete was a scout for a number of clubs around the country and would try to recommend lads to the team where he thought they would fit in best. He knew a fair bit about Town and we had long football chats, which certainly broke the ice.

There were several framed shirts on the wall and Pete was particularly proud of one given to him by a local lad from his first professional game. I've vaguely watched out to see what was going on in that lad's career since then and, having been blighted by a few injuries, I'm so pleased he appears to be fit again. A goal for the Mariners on Saturday was a highlight for me; long may it continue Sean Scannell.

Back to the present day and this week we have two players in the Vanarama team of the week. Johnny McAtee and Luke Waterfall have both been immense this season. If we keep a fair few of this group together, we've got quite a team on our hands. Anything could happen. UTM!