Cod Almighty | Diary

Don't get shirty with Maldini

2 February 2026

Miss Guest Diary writes: Well, I saw something I've never seen before at Blundell Park on Saturday. No, not the egregious Oscar-worthy, penalty-winning dive by their no. 10 – I've seen plenty of those sort of theatrics over the years – but the formal introduction to the crowd of Town's new signing, Maldini Kacurri.

Obviously he used to play for Arsenal (you know), but then George McEachran was at Chelsea and I don't remember him getting any special treatment. Mr B's theory is that the Albanian hinted he'd like it to happen and the management were scared to say no. That's probably a fantasy too far, but he does look really intimidating – his Town introduction on YouTube has him answering questions in the style of someone giving a "no comment" interview in police custody. I'm sure he's a lovely lad and kind to his mum, etc. but I'm hoping his presence on the pitch lives up to this image.

It's all very well having good defenders like McJannet and Rodgers, but they just seem too nice to mix it up with some of the more robust teams Town have encountered this season. We've seen what a player with real physical presence can bring since Andy Cook joined a couple of weeks ago. He may not have got a touch of the ball for Town's second goal at Cheltenham, but his sheer presence intimidated the keeper into flapping at it. And on Saturday with his strength and determination he gave a masterclass in how not to lose the ball. Hopefully, Kacurri can do something similar at the other end of the pitch and, if not, Town could always have him on the touchline to intimidate the officials with his stare.

I don't know about you lot out there, but I'm seriously fed up with the recent lack of Saturday 3pm kick offs at Blundell Park; just one so far this calendar year, a fortnight ago, and not another one till 7 March. I know a couple of the switches have been due to our FA Cup run, and that it means TV money for the club, but I'm of an age where I like routines and get really grumpy when they're disrupted. Previously the anonymity of the lower leagues meant we were mostly ignored by broadcasters, but there are so many TV channels and streamers now that we're not safe even in the fourth division. I'm now feeling a little sympathy for those fans of Premier League clubs who've been putting up with this shifting of matchdays and kick-off times for years.

Recently Town's new signings have been 'unveiled' at a well-known local landmark such as the Dock Tower or Weelsby Woods, but I noticed that the new boy was filmed on Friday at the Horizon Youth Zone. Our own Lord Stockwood is chair of this charity, which aims to create opportunities for and provide a safe, inspiring place in North East Lincolnshire for young people aged 8-19. It opens officially on Saturday, 14 February with a community open day, with sessions including arts and crafts, live music, climbing wall, sports and more. As Town's game has been moved to the Sunday (again!) there's no excuse for not getting involved.

It won't have been lost on the shirt nerds out there that in his unveiling video Maldini Kacurri was sporting an old Town away kit in homage to Paolo Maldini at Milan. Well, that shirt is on loan from Daubney Diary and he'd like it back sometime!