Y GRIFFINY
Y Griffiny - First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.
Y Griffiny - The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is. Or rather there it was.
Jackie Brownsword
Very few football players become legends both in football and in life but Jackie earned the right and was too humble to accept it. The best kind of legend.
Tuesday 1st December entry
"It's my belief that history is a wheel. 'Inconstancy is my very essence,' says the wheel. Rise up on my spokes if you like but don't complain when you're cast back down into the depths. Good time pass away, but then so do the bad. Mutability is our tragedy, but it's also our hope. The worst of times, like the best, are always passing away."
It is with great sadness and utmost regret that Y Griffiny, the finest, most influential webpage and Scunthorpe United bandwagon has finally ground to an earth-shattering, ear splitting stop.
This epic, eventful ride of joyful invention has now somewhat slowed to a pedestrian stroll and rather than fade away gently into the moonlit stands of football's inequity, we at Y Griffiny felt now was the time to end it all, to violently pull the trigger on our greatest ever achievement as fans, to turn a foolish conceptual art project into a way of life, with real followers and real media interest.
We as Y Griffiny were able to scream back into the bits and binary code of the worldwide web and actually achieve something commonsensical from something so nonsensical as to be absurd, we were one world, one nation, one town, one village, we were, and always will be one; as Y Griffiny Worldwide Iron.
God Bless You All!
Martyn Turner - Former Sub-Zero, Sub-Standard and Substitute Editor for the greatest bandwagon ever...FACT!
RIP Ian Tremayne - A brother did fall, his and our family shall mourn.
Thursday 15th September entry
I read with a furrowed and concerned brow that Nigel had changed personnel and tactics ahead of tonight's clash of the titans of the north but Team Jones and Mirfin had great support in the delightfully talented dynamic duo of O'Connor and Wright, with Togwell providing pooper scooper support and what with Hooper getting all super again on our behinds, we couldn't help but prove my concern to be without foundation.
Long may Jones prove his critics wrong, long may Hooper fight for his hallowed position and long may the Iron keep adding extra carbon to our cast Iron foundation. Steely eyed determination, with an eye for the classy rod of Iron used with perfection tonight, thrashing some sense and sensibilities into our northern brethren. Nice.
I would've accepted a draw on Saturday and tonight actually, the Iron chose quite rightly to draw first blood.
Nigel Adkins - John Rambo in Claret and blue sheep's clothing.
Up the Iron.
Wednesday 22nd July entry
At 6 foot 7 inches, Rob Jones was very big Scunthorpe United signing indeed, what a boost the acquisition proved to be amongst the soft and loyal fans of Scunthorpe United.
For once the rights or wrongs of a signing were not the topic of discussion, the Iron fans were clearly flabbergasted at the mercenary intent shown by the club. Clearly the management team found their targets and swooped for their prey in one week of silent, predatory assault on the transfer market. Full credit to the normally frustratingly frugal Steve Wharton for supporting his manager with an increased budget and wages to tempt the trio of additions that have now scribed their intent to the Iron cause.
All of a sudden the mood in the pubs, bars and places of work around this proud town of steel took an extremely violent swing from the fear and trepidation that had met the fixture list release, to real anticipation and excitement for the battle to come. Y Griffiny has been made aware that these signings are not the last of the transfer action for the Iron this term but who, when and where is information that Y Griffiny is not able to divulge at this time.
Up the Y Griffiny secret service Iron! They’re everywhere.
Thursday 4th June entry
Rejoice oh proud Iron faithful, for the time was ours, the luck was ours and eventually the noble and deserved victory was indeed ours, the somewhat youthful Iron soldiers were commanded to a memorable triumph by none other than ye olde warrior extraordinaire Andy Crosby. For Scunthorpe United finally tore up the playoff formbook, added spice, seasoning and lashings of cockney humble pie to feed the toothless Lions a lesson in justice, gentlemanly conduct, and the art of football as it should be played.
We're going to the Championship again. Hip, hip hoorah!
Long live the Championship Iron!
Saturday 23rd May entry
As I type to the good people of Y Griffiny Worldwide Iron on the eve of what could be our finest hour I have to recall the feeling of joy, pride and acomplishment in the faces of every man jack of Iron after the thrilling semi-final play-off shootout, I remember thinking that these young warriors had finally come of age. In a season that promised so very little in the beginning, in this shootout of life or death the players thousand yard stares betrayed the triumphs, horrors and disappointments of many battles and skimishes. The sight of the immensely heroic Joe Murphy manically taunting the penalty taking expertise of MK Dons was a snapshot of a man laughing in the face of his Wembley-tormented soul. We have nothing to lose but our pride, and with spirit and technical skill in abundance Y Griffiny is quite sure we'll put these Lions to the sword once again, but this time in front of a massive travelling train wreckage of cockney buffoonery.
Let the games begin. Our destiny awaits, our destiny is nigh.
"When everyone else is flapping I go inside and tighten my own game" - Geoff Thompson
Y Griffiny
Monday 27th April entry
This weeks guest entry is by Iron Archie, such a beautiful ode to Flag Day:
Men of Iron of claret and blue,
The day of reckoning is almost due
Be strong of will and be steadfast
Nail your colours to our mast
From the UK and across the World
Let your banners be unfurled
Show the country tis plain to see
The mighty Iron, Y Griffiny.
UTBI
Thursday 16th April entry
With the unexpected delight of a Scunthorpe United 3-2 victory away at Hartlepool's historically rich Victoria Ground still ripe in the spring-freshened mind of Y Griffiny, one must look toward the battle of all battles this Saturday, as a chance to spring clean the self doubt, to switch the joyful, careless play of our Iron flag brothers to a band of brutal, single minded winners.
We must destroy the morally bankrupt modern way, we must defeat this evil foe. The MK Dons Franchise are everything that is wrong about football today; nothing more than a merry band of pirates, souless bounty hunters, with scant regard for the traditions and history of this great and wonderous game.
Failure is not an option, we must find within ourselves the inner strength, the pompous magnificence of a troupe of bloody warriors, back with the taste of a bloody vengeance on their lips, 'tis time to take what is ours Y Griffiny people!
To conquer is to make thine own history, a history that shall be forever enwrapped in a glorious cloth of hope, a badge of honour.
Dip thy binded weapons of war in resin and broken glass. Show thine enemy their fate, then maketh them eat heartily from thy hand of honour and justice.
Onward Iron Flag Brethren!
To Flag Day and beyond!
Y Griffiny!
Saturday 11th April entry
Y Griffiny went to the game last night with a positive outlook ready to bury the ghost of failure and to ward off the spirits of negativity, what we were served up on a distinctly ugly platter was a disgrace to the town and it's fine people, the foolhardy faithful turned up in droves and paid their hard-earned pounds sterling to be driven to an early grave by lacklustre players, clueless tactics and hopeless hoofball.
We expect better, not many times a season does Y Griffiny lose it's "half full glass" approach to the Iron matters in hand but the harsh lessons of Wembley seem to have had no effect whatsoever. This Scunthorpe United team seem destined to blow out their play-off candle as quickly as they snuffed out the flickering automatic hopes.
I would urge, nay, demand that Nigel Adkins do the right thing for the club and the town. It's a distressing state of affairs for everyone involved at the club to see any success slip gently through it's fingers but ultimately the man at the top must take the blame.
Rattle no chains, spare the long suffering fans the rasping media excuses and take the blame, pledge to do better and be more honest about how you might achieve such an aim.
Lest your failures may haunt your entire career.
Y Griffiny asks not for a manager's head but his heart.
Martyn Turner.
Y Griffiny Worldwide Iron.
Monday 6th April entry
The fallout was constricting and choking the life out of the town today, the pain was painfully engraved into the faces of the Scunthorpe public and it's supporters from far and wide. The site of the former British Empire Exhibition in Wembley Park bore witness to a JPT cup final that was almost Shakespearean in it's tragedy, staged over three acts, each one permeated with a full range of emotions from either side of the fence.
Each scene seemed to be graced by all the classic ingredients of a bona fide poetic tragedy; flawed heroes, cowardly villains, several interludes of hilarity and what with the treacherous acts of deceit aplenty, it made for fine, but ultimately painful viewing.
The Iron were slain after 120 minutes of bloody murderous action and the heartbreaking result of a cracking cup final full of blood, sweat and cauliflower ears was Luton Town were triumphant, hats off to them for their dastardly game plan of treachery and guile, but we must pull our game up more than a few notches with the playoffs on the horizon. Lest another tragedy might befall this proud town.
Let us not overplay the meaning of this result, 'tis the lessons that need to be learned that are self-evident, we must never again let the seeming ernomity of an occasion distract the team from what needs to be done, we must pick the best players, play the right game and keep calm under pressure. Let the talent, skill and technical abilty express itself, defend first and let the attack lay down an almighty blitzkrieg on the opposition on the rip-roaring counter-attack, we know what we are capable of, but we must concentrate on our weakness first.
Trotter must cover a nervy back four picking up the roaming enemy and taking out any vulnerability in the defences. Woolford must be allowed to draw the snipers and so-called hardmen into foolish, compromising situations.
A new regime of strict discipline must start here, the aggressive grooming of a team of winners is what is required, if indeed, we are to allow this blossoming talented lot to fulfill their true potential.
The wolf within must be unleashed!
Up the Iron!
Martyn Turner.
Y Griffiny Worldwide Iron.
Tuesday 31st March entry
After Saturday's 3-0 destruction of Colchester United, the mighty Scunthorpe United have now confidently etched eight goals with not a singular, insolent reply in three major skirmishes amongst the league one strugglers. More importantly, they have opened up a delightful four point gap in the play-off fun pub window. Next up is the triumphant return of heaven's own club to the site of the former British Empire Exhibition in Wembley Park.
On the 5th day of April our claret and blue pride will be tested against Luton Town for the prize of the JPT Trophy and more importantly the blantant need to prove ourselves one of the best teams in the bottom two divisions. Forget the league table for a moment, for our defensive mistakes have admittedly and undoubtably been our failure, but talent, skill, confidence, grit and determination must be our reply.
Onward without fear is the message given by Y Griffiny to players, officials and fans alike, onward we must strive, to glory and united anticipation of yet more success to come, we shall once again conquer, and if the country must once again be held against their will, aghast with incredulity at the strength of the Iron resolve and will to succeed then so be it, it shall be done, it must be done.
Drink, make merry, for now is not our finest hour, but a fine yardstick in the ground of impunity, that we might grasp and pull ourselves up from mediocrity to where our forefathers might decree, we should be.
To our heroes past and present, the fallen and the felled.
Up the Iron!
Show your true colours at Wembley - Wear the Y Griffiny colours with pride either with independent efforts or purchases made at the Y Griffiny Boutique it matters not, but it definitely matters that you show.
Y Griffiny Worldwide Iron Editor.
Tuesday 17th March entry
Good professional performance by the Scunthorpe United team tonight, with an impressive display to beat Hereford by three goals to nil they succeeded in settling a particularly acidic aftertaste with an antacid of hope, in a celebratory cold glass of Guinness. Bearing in mind we are taking a long, sobering look at a play-off position, is there just one too good in the pack? Unfortunately, I have a feeling it's Jermaine Beckford and Leeds United for us. In our glorious championship winning year, we had more than a few too good for the chasing pack, this year, we have a few thoroughbred young charlies that might improve with gelding and time but no real finished article that stands out as a true champion and play-off winner. I dearly hope that the dreaded form book is overturned by the dashing young claret and blues but I'd really like to see the Iron stars of this season take on the Championship hurdle next campaign, they really were so close to national glory this term, but we pulled up badly in the cold snap of February. Happy St Patrick's Day Ladies and Gentlemen. Up the Irish Iron!
Saturday 7th March entry
As should have been heard on Radio Humberside:
Scunthorpe United have been trawling the depths of despair and lack of invention lately, with Nigel Adkins steering a somewhat rickety play-off vessel through a black water of discontent. This result against
Now, have we sorted this 90-Day blunder out? Cast adrift of the automatic positions this Iron team are punching well below their weight after dropping anchor in the
I love the cut of Scunthorpe United’s attacking jib and if a make and mend effort is to make fast the defensive unit, then the Iron will be a real force in the latter stages of a crash and dash season. Dust off your Harrington jackets people, lets inject some northern soul into this league!!
God bless our gracious Dean - The sound of the undersound.
Y Griffiny Editor
Martyn Turner
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Saturday 21st February entry
After the superb hangover of getting through the Northern Area Final on Tuesday night and thus securing a place at Wembley on April 5th against Luton Town, surely this would be the stepping stone to promotion and greater things for the Iron?
Not so I'm afraid, after the two man dismissal of Cliff Byrne and David Mirfin things went from awful to terminal when, having held a 2-0 lead and looking comfortable, Scunthorpe United FC managed to throw it all away to finally record a 4-2 reverse. Shocking. I hope the culprits realise what the true cost of their folly might be.
Before I have a "Southampton" moment I must log off and mop my fevered brow.
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[Sigh]
Up the bloody Iron indeed Graham!