Captain Haddock here - it's been an odd sort of month and feels like spring, and for once Grimsby Town are neither battling against relegation or floundering towards the play-offs. This mid table mediocrity is quite strange, and for all the years following the Mariners it's not the norm. However, it is rather calming like a packet of diazepam!! I would much rather be in our position than Cheltenham's - lulled into a sense of being far better than they really are by winning the National League last season, and with a bit of luck they can have another go at repeating it.

We have been inconsistent this month, reflected in our mid-table position, but the main issue once again has been the poor standard of refereeing in our last two home games. Nick Kinsley's performance in our match against Wycombe was awful, and allowing the goal while Gavin Gunning was out cold in our penalty area was dangerous and a clear breach of 'his duty of care' under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Then the Football League clearly wanted to endear themselves to us by appointing Hull referee Carl Boyeson for our next home match against Crawley Town, a referee with a lot of previous but at least this time he only sent one of our players off. I can't believe that some supporters on social media are even calling for Marcus Bignot to be sacked - what rubbish, his record this season at least matches Paul Hurst's. He needs time to settle in and develop - Grimsby needs stability not to be turned into an east coast version of Notts County who have had seven managers in the last two seasons. We have what is this seasons main local derby next week at home to Donny - I hope their supporters enjoy their 'cup final' at Blunder Park. Just a slight aside, it's been good to see the away ends throughout League Two filled with Grimsby supporters, but just remember it's really good to see Blunder Park full as well, and the club gets the money!!!

It's not been a particularly glorious month for our neighbours from the other side of the Wolds, after missing out on two Wembley appearances in a week. Even Scunny have been doing their best to blow promotion!

Politics has been moving towards Theresa May triggering 'article 50' and the inevitable decline it will set off, along with the likely beginning of the end of the UK. We had a shocking terrorist attack this week - anyone who sees a driving a car as fast as possible as a legitimate act is mentally disturbed. I found it surprising though how it took May six hours to make a comment!!

Anyway, I can't finish this though without ending on a happy note - Congratulations to non-league Cleethorpes Town beating Bromsgrove over two legs and getting to the final of the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium in May.

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Captain Haddock