Cod Almighty | Writers
Knowing us, knowing Paul Thundercliffe
7 July 2022
We all must have a code that we can live by. It's a family thing for former muser, and Sir Alan of Buckley's biographer, Mr Paul Thundercliffe.
The badge
9 January 2022
Why tamper with a stone-cold classic of a badge, asks Paul Thundercliffe
The greed killing the game: the Thundercliffe Files
19 April 2021
The "elite" can play on Mars for all we care. Let us get back to the game we love
Writing on the wall: the Thundercliffe files
17 March 2021
iFollowed out, Paul has reached the acceptance stage on this season. Perhaps we need to go one step back to take two steps forward
The Thundercliffe Files: a five-point plan
18 February 2021
New owners offer Town the chance to rebuild its relationship for the benefit of supporters and the community. Paul identifies some priorities
A history of Town kits: 2004-present
6 July 2020
A single manufacturer has seen Town through the few highs and many lows of the last decade. Paul Thundercliffe concludes his history of Grimsby kits
A history of Town kits: 1998-2003
17 May 2020
Those difficult Avec and GTS years... Paul Thundercliffe continues his history of Grimsby strips, taking in sponsorship by a fraudster
A history of Town kits: 1990-97
4 May 2020
Remember when Town's stripes almost vanished? Paul Thundercliffe continues his history of Grimsby kits
A history of Town kits: 1985-89
20 April 2020
Town had a few kits between 1984-89 - many used in an FA Cup tie with Arsenal. Paul Thundercliffe continues his history of the Grimsby strip
A history of Town kits: 1980-84
7 April 2020
Admiral, Adidas and Hobott designed some of Town's best kits, to dress one of Town's best teams. Paul Thundercliffe starts his history of the Grimsby strip
The Thundercliffe Files: Jollification
27 March 2020
Michael Jolley's Town career summarised, to a soundtrack by the Lightning Seeds
The Thundercliffe Files: how to fill the Townhole
20 March 2020
Suddenly we all have a Townhole, but there are ways to fill it
The Thundercliffe Files: Marching season
12 March 2020
This end of season may be a dress rehearsal for next year, but promotion and a strong March go together hand in hand.
The Thundercliffe Files: kicking off
6 March 2020
How effective is the 1pm kick-off for managing crowd behaviour?
The Thundercliffe Files: leaping around
28 February 2020
Leap years tend to be turning points in Town's fortunes. What might 2020 bring?
The Thundercliffe Files: The Hollo-way
21 February 2020
Both our first and our most recent games in 2019-20 were wins over Morecambe. But they show how much has changed at Blundell Park
The Thundercliffe Files: trebles all round
14 February 2020
Hat-tricks have been rare in the League. All the more reason to celebrate them
The Thundercliffe Files: the old, new ground merry-go-round
7 February 2020
Could the Mariners wind up a stone's throw from The Mariners Rest? Or should we wait until the spade is in the ground?
The Thundercliffe Files: cup tired?
31 January 2020
The big money clubs are gunning for the domestic cups. Why should they steal our memories?
The Thundercliffe Files: sitting room only?
24 January 2020
Both reserved and unreserved seating have flaws for away fans. Perhaps the solution is to reintroduce safe standing areas
The Thundercliffe Files: down the hatch
17 January 2020
Paul Linwood is unapologetic about the drinking culture which sent Town into non-League but the hurt still rankles
The Thundercliffe Files: in exile
10 January 2020
Town's following at Orient will be swollen by London-based Mariners. The exile experience has changed over the decades but still proves our ties are rooted deep
The Thundercliffe Files: Is the Hollo-way the right way?
3 January 2020
Ian Holloway is the first big name manager we have had since Lennie Lawrence, but he could be just what we need
The Thundercliffe Files: won't you score another goal?
20 December 2019
Grimsby, if you’ve got to play a game I don’t think I can take the pain. Less East 17, more DN35
The Thundercliffe Files: a team of the 2010s
13 December 2019
We are back where we were in December 2009, but we have had some good players come and go through the decade
The Thundercliffe Files: overcoming isolation
6 December 2019
Dover Athletic and even many top flight clubs have their training base many miles from their ground. Is it time Grimsby Town followed suit?
The Thundercliffe Files: the warning from a sagging gate
29 November 2019
Tuesday night's low attendance was a warning sign for a club that has failed to build on what it had
The Thundercliffe Files: Jolley departs
21 November 2019
Will it be a case of what might have been for Michael Jolley and GTFC?
The Thundercliffe Files: respite, reset and restart
14 November 2019
Perhaps Town's enforced break is a chance for all of us - management, players and fans - to reset the season
The Thundercliffe Files: FA Cup mud, sweat and tears
8 November 2019
We might not win the cup one day. But it still gives us great games and memorable goals
The Thundercliffe Files: the carcass trophy
1 November 2019
Two cup matches 40 years apart show how a once thriving Football League is now riddled with rheumatism
The Thundercliffe Files: Aaaaaalexander, Alexander, Alexander
18 October 2019
Keith Alexander brought skill, determination, a touch of the haphazard, and above all a smile to Grimsby Town
The Thundercliffe Files: Where are they dredging up these referees?
11 October 2019
As the top league hoovers up all the referees to administer VAR, we are left with the dregs. And it shows
The Thundercliffe Files: progress
4 October 2019
The statistics show that Grimsby Town really are making progress this season
The Thundercliffe Files: the value in the tat
27 September 2019
The football economy creates more than its share of tat. But it doesn't hide how the game gives us a place to be
Caustic custard
Match report
22 September 2019
Caustic custard
The Thundercliffe Files: what are Town trying to do?
20 September 2019
Nine games into the season, Paul Thundercliffe asks what are Jolley and Limbrick trying to get our players to do?
The Thundercliffe Files: the scourge of rulemongering
12 September 2019
Now and again, people come up with ideas meant to speed up the game. Players soon find ways to slow it down again
The Thundercliffe Files: surveying the Townhole
6 September 2019
We all have a hole in our lives that only Town can fill. Attendances only tell part of the story of its size
The Thundercliffe Files: united through Alan Buckley
30 August 2019
A visit to Walsall might not stand out in the fixture list. Except the Saddlers and the Mariners have a hero in common
The Thundercliffe Files: Football is not a television programme
23 August 2019
Is iFollow a good way for exiles to keep in touch. Or, asks Paul Thundercliffe, is it the thin end of a wedge eroding attendances and revenues?
The Thundercliffe Files: who would want football with VAR?
16 August 2019
Why would anyone think that VAR is good for the game, asks Paul Thundercliffe
The Thundercliffe Files: euphoria or functionality?
9 August 2019
If a player scores against their hometown club, what are they meant to do, asks Paul Thundercliffe
The Thundercliffe Files: Start as you mean to go on?
2 August 2019
Conventional wisdom says a good start is essential for a successful season. Paul Thundercliffe looks for the proof
The Thundercliffe Files: New season, same game
26 July 2019
Football's heart beats without the need for corporate sponsors, writes Paul Thundercliffe. It exists despite Sky TV, rather than because of it
Flipping 'eck, Tucker!
Match report
7 September 2015
Flipping 'eck, Tucker!
The making of Pass and Move: part 2
20 April 2014
The amazing story of Alan Buckley's ghostwriter Paul Thundercliffe, and how their book was published, launched and sold
The making of Pass and Move: part 1
3 February 2014
How did a Town-mad local teacher and fanzine scribe get the gig ghost-writing Alan Buckley's autobiography? Paul Thundercliffe spills the beans
"An unbelievable moment"
23 October 2013
In an extract from Pass and Move, Alan Buckley recalls how Dave Beasant came to play for Grimsby... and helped us beat Newcastle
The Thundercliffe interviews: Alan Buckley
5 September 2013
The greatest Town manager in living memory chats to Cod Almighty about his best players, his career before GTFC and his departure in 2000
Crawling over the line
22 March 2013
Town's start to this season has a bit in common with 1990-91. It turned out alright, just. Paul Thundercliffe and Pat Bell share their reminiscences
A game of three thirds
2 March 2012
Town's season breaks down into three distinct sections, says Paul Thundercliffe, looking at the reasons why
Yesterday once more
31 January 2012
Summon the spirit of March 1990: as Paul Thundercliffe recalls, it transformed a season
Full circle: Wimbledon (a)
Match report
30 April 2011
Full circle: Wimbledon (a) report
Player profile: Danny North
6 August 2007
2007-08 player profile: Danny North
Rough guide to... Peterborough United
6 August 2007
2007-08 rough guide to... Peterborough United
Rough guide to... Wrexham
6 August 2007
2007-08 rough guide to... Wrexham
Player profiles: Ricky Ravenhill
5 September 2006
2006-07 player profiles: Ricky Ravenhill
The Thundercliffe interviews: John McDermott
31 August 2005
John McDermott spoke to CA in 2005 about Wembley, retirement, and the goal of his life against Rushden
Player profile: Gary Cohen
1 August 2005
2005-06 player profile: Gary Cohen
Player profile: Glen Downey
1 August 2005
2005-06 player profile: Glen Downey
Radio gag gag
25 February 2005
The club have fallen out with the media again
Where we belong
Match report
19 February 2005
Where we belong
The Thundercliffe interviews: John Fenty
17 February 2005
Back in the day when we used to actually speak to people at the club, Paul Thundercliffe was the man doing the talking
The Thundercliffe interviews: Nigel Lowther
29 June 2004
Paul Thundercliffe's 2004 interview revealed how local journo Nigel Lowther invented Harry the Haddock
The Thundercliffe interviews: John Moore
7 June 2004
Back in the day when we used to actually speak to people at the club, Paul Thundercliffe was the man doing the talking
The Thundercliffe interviews: Peter Furneaux
18 April 2004
A 2004 Paul Thundercliffe interview with the late Peter Furneaux, then GTFC chairman
The Thundercliffe interviews: John Tondeur
5 April 2004
Back in the day when we used to actually speak to people at the club, Paul Thundercliffe was the man doing the talking
The end of the affair
2 April 2004
The final straw - Paul Thundercliffe on why he's had enough of Town and of football in general
Bad press
14 September 2003
The club may have over-reacted slightly at recent local press coverage, but the Grimsby Telegraph have had it coming for a while says Paul Thundercliffe