Cod Almighty | Diary

Hey Big Spenders

3 November 2025

Miss Guest Diary writes: Life isn't always fair or equal and nowhere is that more apparent than within the world of professional football. For example, Brentford, our opponents last Tuesday have a turnover 27 times greater than Town's. But inequality is not just about the financial aspects of the game, it's about the matchday experience too; Town's participation last week in two different cup competitions perfectly illustrated that.

Our journey in the League Cup came to an abrupt halt on Tuesday with the defeat by Brentford and, despite the 5-0 scoreline, we put on a good show and it was a very enjoyable match. But even before the game – which no one I know thought we had any chance of winning – the whole thing felt like an anticlimax. Since beating Man U everyone I have spoken to who even vaguely knows that I support Town has made a point of congratulating me on the win as if it was my personal triumph. And, in a way it is: games like that do belong to all of us, a reward for all the bad times we endure. Frankly, after the Man U game, whoever Town had drawn in the fourth round would have been anticlimactic; perhaps only a trip to Anfield could have been as exciting.

Town won three games in the League Cup for which they were awarded a grand total of £22,000 in prize money, which is £3,000 less than they were fined by the EFL for failing to register the loan of Clarke Oduor in time for him to play legitimately. In contrast, the prize for beating Ebbsfleet on Saturday in the first round of the FA Cup was £47,750, even Ebbsfleet get £15,800. Now that's a glaring example of inequality between two major cup competitions.

There was inequality in the matchday experience too. A packed Blundell Park (at least until Brentford scored their fifth goal) on Tuesday but less than 3,500 on Saturday, despite the very reasonable ticket prices. The performance of both the team and the fans was also lacklustre for most of the game against Ebbsfleet. I wasn't worried Town would lose but I certainly got more enjoyment from watching the 5-0 defeat than the 3-1 victory. I also don't anticipate being congratulated on Saturday's win by anyone of my acquaintance. My only hope for the next round is to get someone beatable at home so we can set up the opportunity of drawing Man United in round three. Wouldn't that be ironic.

In other news, the youth team also started their FA Youth Cup journey last week, beating Loughborough Students 6-1 away from home. This has earned them a home match against Doncaster which, according to the FA website, will be played on 22 November. A pity about the date as on that day I expect to be watching the senior team fail to beat Swindon yet again. But, who knows, maybe it's the year for that particular inequality to be addressed.

UTM