Cod Almighty | Diary
Little By Little
30 October 2024
Each week, our host and the architect of the View From The Findus Podcast, Chris, proudly declares that we strive to bring you "Independent Grimsby Town FC opinion, analysis, and nostalgia!"
So, what's the word, Chris? Did 'Citeh' just roll into town, all Norwegian titans and tattooed Brazilian keepers, their silverware spilling off the coach as it barrels through Riby Square? Ah, hold on a minute…it's just the kids. The Under-21s have shown up for 'that' competition. Well, in that case, let's hit the nostalgia switch instead.
Let's trawl back to a time before Haaland, Rodri, Rose and Tharme. We're going to an era of endless afternoons spent on Championship Manager 01/02 and Oasis's Heathen Chemistry playing on a loop – to a time when Grimsby Town and Manchester City were actually on the same playing field.
Nestle into your seat to appreciate your View From The Upper Smiths, and as you peer over that annoyingly placed barrier, notice how the tannoy is crackling out Oasis's Little By Little (fitting, right?), and there they are – the players, taking to the hallowed turf…
"We gave you everything you ever dreamed of…"
See that fair-haired lad at the back for Town? That's Menno Willems. Yes, the same Menno Willems who once had the honour of pulling on the Ajax shirt (okay, only twice, but still). Tough in the tackle, no-nonsense, and sporting hair that looked like it had been bleached by the cleaning product of the same name. By season's end, Menno would head back to Holland. Fun fact: we ended up buying his house in Laceby after he left – along with a little 'souvenir' found in the downstairs bathroom. One stray, short, curly hair was found on the downstairs toilet seat; naturally, I thought it would make a fun keepsake to frame. Dad wasn't so keen on the idea! Since then, Menno has spent time in a Belgian prison for fraud after his flower business withered away. Now? He manages Real Sranang, an amateur side from Amsterdam. It's all glamour.
"But my God woke up on the wrong side of his bed…"
Did one of those City players win the African Cup of Nations in 2000? That'd be Lucien Mettomo, their towering centre-half. He'd go on to win it again in 2002, before embarking on a tour of the German, Turkish, Swiss, and Greek leagues. After hanging up his boots, Mettomo became president of the Cameroon Football Federation – though he had the dubious honour of being expelled from an Under-17 game for 'spying' on his own team.
"The wheels of your life have slowly fallen off…"
And who's that big unit in defence for Grimsby? Ah, Marlon Broomes. The same Marlon who just weeks earlier had stunned everyone by equalising at Anfield. He'd continue to knock around various northern clubs before ending his career with non-league stints at Clitheroe and Altrincham. These days, he's a football consultant with Murdock Sports Group, where they boast of their "unmatched expertise". I imagine that involves teaching centre-halves the fine art of popping up in the box when they've no right to be there!
"Little by little, you have to give it all in all your life…"
What's the name of that silky Algerian pulling the strings for City? Ali Benarbia the Algerian magician. He'd hang up his boots in 2003 after playing in a friendly against Barcelona to christen the City of Manchester Stadium. But just five days later, he came out of retirement, lured by Qatari cash before he even had time to finish his first bag of Werther's Originals. He's still enjoying the Qatari money, now working as a pundit for Al Jazeera Sports.
And what about the men in the dugouts? For Grimsby, there's Lennie Lawrence, the ever-steady hand on the tiller. Even in his mid-70s, he's still got the management bug, now calling the shots at Hartlepool. As for City, there's none other than King Kev – Kevin Keegan – himself. The lad from down the A180 is still doing the odd bit of punditry and after-dinner speeches. Always the showman!
As for the modern bunch, they battled City to a 1-1 draw. Sure, the youngsters took the win in the shootout, but with real improvement this season compared to last, we've got that faint glimmer of hope again. Maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to the same level as Manchester City – you know, the one with Haaland and a trophy cabinet bursting at the seams. Alright, maybe not that level, but hey…little by little!