Happy New Year to everybody here at Blundell Park for today’s first game of 2010 game against Bury.

I’m sure most Town fans will, like me, be pleased to see the back of 2009, quite possibly one of the worst years in our proud club’s long history.  So rather than look back at 2009, I thought it might be more appropriate to look forward to and make some predictions about what the first half of 2010 may have in store for GTFC.

January – Neil Woods listens to the recommendations on the GTFC fans’ message boards and just before the transfer window closes the signings of Paul Futcher, Matt Tees, Clive Mendonca and Joe Waters are announced. Remarkably all of the new signings score on their debuts in a 4-0 win at Aldershot. The result completes a 100% record in January and leaves the club at an unbelievable 17^th in the league table. Neil Woods wins his first manager of the month award.

February – After the four new signings announce that they are no longer able to compete at this level, the internet community of Town fans starts to grumble about the lack of vision in the manager’s signings and demands that something should be done.  Neil Woods quells the unrest by signing a number of young, unheard of players from the Unibond League.  The new signings have an immediate impact and Town take a maximum 15 points from the games in February. The Mariners are now up to 11^th in the league and the fears of relegation are almost gone. Neil Woods wins his second manager of the month award.

March – The four young lads signed from non-league are all poached by Scunthorpe, as they attempt to move off the bottom of the second division table. Undeterred by this setback, Town again take maximum points thanks to the goals of another returning striker by the name of Martin Butler. Meanwhile, in off the pitch matters, due to an unexpected upturn in the nation’s economy, a major retailer announces they want to build a store at Great Coates and will fund the development of the site, including a new football stadium.  Town announce they will be moving to a new home in August 2011.  Neil Woods wins his third manager of the month award.

April – Hopes of a visit to Wembley in the play offs are finally ruled out as a last minute Matt Heywood header at Darlington clinches automatic promotion. Unbelievably, the GTFC-related message boards are shut down as people finally realise that it’s best to let the manager manage and the supporters support! In an even bigger shock the Radio Humberside coverage of the Darlington match is broadcast on the FM frequency.  Neil Woods wins his fourth manager of the month award.

May – The fourth division championship is clinched with an away win at Burton. The Town players celebrate with a visit to a brewery and taste their first beers of 2010.  Lincoln fail to avoid the drop into the Conference on the same day, whilst play off losers Rochdale will be joined in the 4^th division next season by the relegated Milton Keynes franchise. The following two Sundays see the season end in real style for Town fans as Scunthorpe and then Hull manage to finish bottom of their respective leagues. Neil Woods wins his fifth manager of the month and first manager of the year award.

June – England’s attempt to win the World Cup ends in a quarter final defeat to the Ivory Coast, with the winner being scored by a previously unknown striker by the name of Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, who then goes on to win the Golden Boot, which he dedicates to Neil Woods.

I guess I should now point out that I don’t have a great record when it comes to football predictions, but this time I’m pretty confident I may just be right!

Enjoy the game and remember to join the Trust at www.gtst.net.

Ian Fitzgerald – GTST Board Member