Cod Almighty | Diary

A Unidexter Writes

25 February 2026

It's me, BOTB, I've come home, I'm so cooo-ooooo-ooo-old let me in at your window. Or something. 

With the release of the new Wuthering Heights film a young person on the internet was delighted because "they've unearthed another Kate Bush song!" It is a weird moment when your own life becomes part of an archeological dig. I can't wait to see what is going to be 'unearthed' by this generation as they continue their explorations of the past. The Spice Girls? Clive Mendonca? 9/11? Anyroad up. GTFC. That's what I've asked you here to talk about.

After the inevitable loss against Bristol Rovers – three games on a ploughed field, in a week, one a big cup tie, are not conducive to victory in Bristol three days later – there seems to be a general air of anti-climax amongst the striped hordes. With relegation impossible and the play offs unlikely, some people are concerned that we might even finish in a lower position than last year. The notion of year-on-year improvement has rather taken off as a concept despite being worthless. As myself and Retro Diary are always pointing out, success for lower league clubs virtually always comes in upward surges rather than gradual increments. This time in 2024 Bromley were seventh in the National League, now they're top of our division. Come on Bromley, play the game. You're supposed to improve by one league place every year and hopefully make the Premier League by the year 2070. That's the Town way. 

Now, David Artell. I've nothing against David Artell. I think he's done OK. We're not circling the relegation drain, we've beaten Man Utd, good cup runs, decent football, the rest of it. You know, its not bad. But when he said, after we beat Barnet, that they were "the best team in the league by every metric" – they were twelfth at the time – well, I mean. Really. Come on, David. I know this was weeks ago but I've been too angry to talk about it until now. 

Having missed the last few games at home due to being 'under the knife' as people like to melodramatically call having an operation, I've been reduced to watching the beloved stripeys on Kazakhstan Channel For Super Football Completely Legal! and its all been a bit drear. But daffodils, Notts Co, football, spring, funny old game. The season might have something left to surprise us. And if it doesn't, next year is surge year! And if it isn't, it will still bring the moments of absolute joy that can be unearthed from any season.

UTM.