TT BLOG

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive blogs about Paul Wotton’s latest presser

PRESS CALL- OCTOBER 16th 2025:

Ahead of three important league games in the next week, today’s presser was overshadowed by the news that our talisman centre-forward Cody Cooke is broken. He’s got a hip injury which- alas- is thought likely to keep him on the sidelines for at least six weeks.

I’m going to skirt quickly over the rest of the manager’s answers today, before considering in a bit more detail what Cody’s impact has been and what the ramifications of his injury might be.

Chesham:

It’s unlikely that Paul Wotton will be a candidate to replace Peter Mandelson in Washington, but he is normally diplomatic on the record about forthcoming opponents. It makes sense. You don’t want to end up seeing your quotes pinned up on the opposition changing room wall. He was complimentary about Chesham’s joint managers James Duncan and Michael (“Muz”) Murray. He said that Chesham is likely to be one of our toughest away games this season.

Denzel:

No dramas, as it turned out. It felt as though Paul was trying to keep a straight face when he explained that the promising young full-back is, in fact, fine. He clearly “felt something” in the warm up and then again halfway through the first half on Saturday. But he definitely hasn’t pulled his hamstring, as evidenced by his ability to train at full tilt on Tuesday morning.

Andy:

Andy Carroll, let’s face it, was the star of the show in the goalless draw against Dagenham & Redbridge. He won friends before the game, being happy to pose for pictures with fans, and he gave Sam Dreyer and Jordan Dyer a tough afternoon at both ends of the pitch. Paul was really pleased with the way the defenders dealt with him though, remembering from his own career as “not a particularly tall Centre Back” that sometimes you have to be cute, and choose the balls you compete for. It should certainly have been a good learning experience for both of them. Paul said he felt calm in the dugout, never really feeling that the Daggers were likely to score, although he also felt much the same about his own team.

Cian:

Young QPR loanee Cian Dillon now looks nailed on to start again at Chesham on Saturday. We’ve got him for the three upcoming games, and it sounded as though we are keen to have a conversation with the Rs about perhaps getting to keep him a bit longer whilst we wait for Cody to return and for Sonny Fish to prove his fitness.

Sonny:

Reports from training this week have been positive. The 24 year old frontman has played a full part and looks to have a bit of pace to supplement his tall frame. Clearly, as I said on the “Yellow Army” podcast this afternoon, you’re always a better player when you’re not in the side, but everyone is keen to see what Fish can do. The manager was at pains to explain that they will have to try to manage his introduction carefully. He doesn’t want to put a timeframe on it. He acknowledged that not having a reserve team can cause difficulties in getting players back, because it’s only in games where they really have that intensity of “opening their lungs” that is needed.

It’s clearly going to be a real dilemma, because if ever we needed strengthening up top that time is now.

Cody:

Which brings us back to Cookie. It seems that we have finally broken the big man.

15 months of fighting centre backs, chasing balls and generally going in where it hurts has inevitably taken its toll. As Paul said, it may well be that never getting a break because of other injuries in the squad this season has contributed to the pelvic injury that now sees us deprived of the services of our number nine.

He could be a huge miss. We are going to have to find other ways to win games. Clearly there is a lot of midfield talent now available, we’ve got 2 decent wingers, a former League Two striker and a young loanee keen (Cian?) to show his worth. It’s not going to be impossible. But Cody does so much of the unglamourous stuff that needs to be done in the weekly slog of National League South.

The Cornishman started his career at Truro, and played there for several seasons as a midfielder before being converted to a centre forward, and he then started banging the goals in straight away.

In 2018 a spell at Jamie Vardy’s summer football academy led Alan Stubbs to take a punt on him, and Cody found himself leading the line for St Mirren in the Scottish Premier League.

It was a huge leap to go from games watched by a few hundred people to turning out at Ibrox & Parkhead. His crowning moment was a hat- trick in a 3-2 win for The Buddies against Dundee.

On his return to the South West, he juggled part time football with teacher training at Marjons. He’s a thoughtful guy, and it may well be that teaching’s loss has been football’s gain.

Whilst at Bath, he played with with Jordan Dyer and Dan Hayfield, and the trio were an integral part of last season’s Torquay campaign having made the switch to join our brand-new squad in the summer of 2024..

Although, as we know, he leads the line with stamina and skill, it’s clear he is very much a team man: It’s much more about team achievements than the individual glory for him. He carried our attack until February last season, and came roaring back after the signing of Ozzie Zanzala had allowed him a brief rest.

Penalties are a real strength. He is very deliberate with them. He refuses to be rushed, and makes keeper and fans wait until he is ready. He is, in short, a very reliable 12 yardsman.

I have managed to get to the final paragraph without mentioning his rabbits. The pain of falling just short at Hemel last April was hugely reduced and the euphoria of his hat-trick greatly enhanced by our realisation that as well as being a new Dad, Cookie was parent to Marley and Bam Bam. His “zombie” song was quickly modified and belted out to the bemusement of many as we arrived at Paddington. Every cloud has a silver lining. Come back soon Cody!