Cod Almighty | Diary

Raising Sand

19 February 2026

Your Guest diarist spent time yesterday shovelling sand - much like the Town groundstaff. The difference is I didn't have thousands of folks discussing my efforts. My carrot patch is one of the unseen wonders, the Blundell Park pitch, in one way, is another. After the match Mr Artell reminded us that it is 125 years old so what can you expect. To be honest the pitch is not the problem it's the weather. Where he admitted a failing was not sufficiently anticipating how it would play and coaching the team to build up attacks differently. But, last night, let's not blame him for that, let's blame the wind. Wet windy winters are very bad for lower league clubs. Especially those who try to play technical passing football.

Sir Alan Buckley attended last night, as he always does when his old clubs play each other, It would have been fascinating to bump into him and ask sotto voce his opinion. What I saw were two half-decent teams slugging it out. One-eyed fans will say Walsall's first goal was a foul on our keeper and their second came from a corner that never was. Both these claims may be true but they do not cover up a Town failing to mark at the far post. But when their big boys are giant-sized that is problematic however well you organise.

Walker had a hell of a game, he ran his heart out and was a shining light of subtlety and positional awareness, his play that made the first goal being a sublime example. Green, on the other hand, had a night where nothing went right. Ditto our two young wingers. But this was a decent point, hard won. Last season we would have lost. It was another testament to the strength of our squad this season. I gather the rugby folk talk about starters and finishers. Our finishers, we are glad to see them come on. Equally there are no groans as players go off. We have no best eleven. The play-off season is only just about to start. When we make them it will be that squad strength that got us there. Mark my words.

Dawn is breaking, so I will leave you gentle reader. Keep the faith. Once we dispatch the Gasheads everyone has a week off to figure out how best to adapt our home game. Plus this wind and rain can't last for ever. Can it? See yer.