Cod Almighty | Diary

Don't despair, tempting as it is

18 November 2025

Newbegin Diary never kept count of the leaflets I delivered, the doors I knocked on for the Labour Party throughout my adult life, until I left it last year. Today I guess I know how those supporters of Newcastle who don't park their conscience at the turnstile must feel.

Fanzine writers write for other fans. When I used to thunder at the latest Fentyism it had no effect on John Fenty: it was no more than steeling his opponents with fresh arguments. After meeting our ex-player Scott McGarvey, I regretted the throw-away dismissal I had given him in an article about our 1987-88 season, but he would neither have known about it or cared about it.

Except in that same article, I recalled someone I didn't recognise stretching for but not quite reaching a ball at the far post. It was the last day of the season: another few inches and he'd have averted relegation. A few days later Cod Almighty got an email from Chris Grocock, admitting that player was him: "I've relived that nightmare where the ball skimmed my boot a million times, and still have an occasional flashback moment now."

Successful since then in business, in local football and in the community, Chris did not let that moment define him. I'd suggest inviting him down to Cheapside except that Neil Woods has been there himself, building a long and honourable career preparing young men for the future, picking them up after disappointments.

Last night, Grimsby's under-18s lost narrowly to Doncaster Rovers, and today they'll be thinking "if only", over and over again. They were playing at Blundell Park on merit, a thing thousands would love to do but never could. Just now that won't mean much, but one day it will. Last night will become an episode in a larger life well lived, a diversion in the road.

Compassion is apparently out of fashion, but I don't doubt that today those young players are learning it for themselves, for their team-mates, and hopefully for all in need of it.