Cod Almighty | Diary

The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine

9 January 2025

Don't yer feet get cold in the winter-time? The Fens are flooded, the Fens are frozen - your Guest Diarist is fresh in from an hour long mope under huge glowering skies where it's hard to tell the night-time from the day.

I don't think it has been mentioned on here, so I'll stop you for a minute, gentle reader, to mourn the passing of Charlie Wright. Another of my boyhood heroes gone after a long life. Charlie was one of a succession of Town goalies who were charismatic, funny and brave. He entertained us. Not just by ridiculous point-blank saves, by incredibly brave goalkeeping that got him multiple broken noses, cheekbones and a broken jaw one time. But by wisecracking with the fans whilst the ball was at the other end. By collecting up sweets hurled at him by jovial fans. And by handing them out to kids at the final whistle. Not to mention swinging on the crossbar at least once a game. If the game was turgid (as it often was) Sir Charlie made the admission price worthwhile. When I lived in south east London I vowed to make a pilgrimage to Charlie's retirement caff. I now bitterly regret not fulfiling it because it is too late to thank him for all the heroics and all the laughs. Bless you mate, you were larger than life.

People by us are flooded this week. We said we can't imagine anything worse. Then my childhood friend messaged to say he has evacuated his house because of the LA wildfires which are less than a mile away. Kev has been in the US for forty years but watches more English football than anyone I know. Sheffield-born he is an Owl. But Caistor-raised means that Town are his second club. So spare him a thought. Mother nature is wreaking a terrible revenge. I just hope it doesn't extend to forcing the cancellation of our big game Saturday lunchtime. Now that would be serious. See yer.