It was a very strange day that unfolded yesterday (Sat 1st Sept 2001) and one who's day will forever be etched in the mind as I am sure I saw a flock of flying pigs effortlessly glide past my front window.......
 
Surely there can be no other explanation ???
 
Having spoken to Rohan early doors and gauded him with the prospect of the All Blacks defeating the mighty Wallabies (spoke too soon as they won in the last minute) I mutterd that today could be a good one to watch some sport..... I mean real sport...not these glorified parlour games like Aussie Rules that are only played in the outer reaches of the empire and of no international importance, bracket surfing, golf, tennis, polo, sumo etc etc ..."sports" for the priviledged and the brainless that fail to match up to the only one that can truly galvanise a nation and give a feeling of international well-being.........need i say more......
 
So we come to the amazing occurences that surely only happen once in a lifetime (if we are lucky) Grimsby...the Mighty Mariners.........Stripeeeee's.....THE TOWN!!!.....beating a bunch of honorary yorkies to rise to the top of the pile and take their rightful place in first position in Division 1.........the first time since 1982 when a crew of unlikely lads like Gaskino,  Angus 'Bani Sadre' Davison, Jazzer, Johhny Harter, yours truly and assorted others used to travel home and away to follow the Town thru wonderous campaigns of footballing glory as never before witnessed by those very same individuals...........
 
Truly amazing stuff........
 
But hey that is not the end of things.....where do I start.......Munich...Bavaria.....Germany......60 games in World Cup qualifiers and only one defeat.......home advantage.....teutonic arrogance...one up after 6 minutes and what followed has still to fully sink in 5...Five...funf..one two three four five.......take the piss, nutmeg them, pass them into submission, let them pray for the final whistle......forget Hemnan, Rusedski, the Ashes, Sydney 2000, who gives a shit?  forget the nights in the Notts watching failed penalty shoot-outs, slumped in my beer with Union Jack draped across the shoulders, shuffling home to ruminate on another German victory. This surely makes up for all those dissappointments...there really is a God?
 
Did anyone notice Iceland beat the Czech's 3-1??  lets go to Reykjavik to celebrate.
 
Arise Sir Sven
 
On a sad note.....'Brians Moore's head looks uncanningly like the London Planetarium'  (a fanzine title of old)  is no more, he passed away before our famous victory....didn't know he was ill.
 
What time is it in japan...will we have to get up early to watch the games live?? better get the Times atlas out of mothballs and brush up on my Korean......Albania   pah!!        Greece???       bring em all on for Sven's boys to take apart....
 
Ciao chaps
 
I LOVE YOU ALL
 
Glennie

Personally I think that yet again GTFC have been robbed of the glory so rightfully due to them and mad lennie.  When was the last time the GTFC star shone so brightly?  The late 1930's of course and who could forget the slow but steady rise up the old first division (real leather footballs with laces), FA cup semi-finals (further dubious practices by opponents) only to be halted by the declaration of the second world war.  Saturday September 1st same again - glory overshadowed by a victory over a team that was rated as less athletic than S Club 7 at the Euro 2000 championships.  What odds did the keeper get on conceding 5 but getting his fingers or toes to three of them?  I can only conclude that political interference has played its part yet again.
 
I must admit though to jumping several feet in the air as the third, fourth and fifth went in.
 
Up the mariners
 
Dave