Cod Almighty | Article

by Simon Wilson

14 January 2004

The postponement of the Grimsby Town versus Wrexham fixture before Christmas saw a lot of fans troop home disappointed, especially with the game's abandonment so close to kick-off. Among those supporters were a number of ladies taking advantage of the club's second 'Ladies Day', a campaign not to promote incorrect use of the possessive apostrophe, but to draw more women to watch the Mariners.

A frenzied campaign for the days included a banner hung at the roundabout by King George V Stadium and the back pages of a Christmas supplement produced for the club by the Grimsby Telegraph. The supplement included a candid editorial from the local paper's editor in which she confessed to being a some-time Leeds supporter born into a family of Man Utd fans: a predicament that would no doubt resonate with many Grimbarians regardless of gender.

Despite the lure of early Christmas shopping, the club saw a sharp rise in its attendance for the first Ladies Day when struggling Tranmere visited Blundell Park at the end of November. An amazing 4,406 people turned up for the game - 392 more than the club's previous game against relegation-threatened Stockport. Who knows how many more people would have been lured away from the massed queues at Freshney Place and Meadowhall to spend an afternoon watching the boys in black and white take on Wrexham?

Luckily the rearrangement of the Wrexham game for Tuesday 20 January has presented the club with an opportunity it has grasped with both hands. Taking advantage of the rearranged game's evening kick-off, the commercial department have dubbed the game 'Ladies Night'. And in what can be seen only as a glittering coup, the night will also see a concert by supposedly-Scouse pop supposedly-songstresses Atomic Kitten, who are currently promoting their third album - coincidentally also called Ladies Night.

In an unprecedented link-up, the football club's commercial department will team up with Atomic Kitten's publicity company to produce 'cross-market' promotional material. The first example of this is the billboards (right) that can currently be found across the town. The boards take Atomic Kitten's own billboard promotion for their album and introduces one of the fabulous Blundell Babes.

Speaking about the night, Grimsby Town commercial manager Tony Richardson commented: "People have aimed criticism at this commercial department for not being 'on the pulse' of this town. I, and everyone at the club, hope this event dispels those critics. By putting on a non-football event at Blundell Park, we are bound to attract a huge audience."

Quizzed about his views on the night's special guests, Tony was less forthcoming. "I hear they've had a few songs in the hit parade, but I couldn't comment on their music. As you might imagine, a man of my age has, shall we say, quieter music tastes. You might want to ask one of the younger members of the club's staff like Jonny Rowan or maybe even David Smith."

Over at Radio Humberside - which will be covering the event live despite competition from Scunthorpe's LDV Vans Trophy tie at Sheffield Wednesday - sport editor Alan Partridge-Burns was full of enthusiasm for the event. "If Hull can only get an over-the-hill star like Elton John on at their impressive stadium, then imagine how this will compare. Top drawer!"

First impressions would suggest that there is nothing to link the girls with Blundell Park, but bubbly blonde Liz McClarnon admits to holding a season ticket at Goodison Park - home of Liverpool-based football club Everton. And in a stunning coincidence, Grimsby have an ex-Everton player on their books in Phil Jevons! Phil is bound to click with Liz through their affinity. And you never know - Phil might not only score on the pitch that night. Liz is on the lookout for love after her split from Lee Ryan - also a member of a popular music group called Blue.

But don't bet on Phil hitting it off with Natasha Hamilton, one of the other Kittens. Natasha is a devout supporter of Everton's arch-rivals Liverpool. Phil famously scored a winning goal against Liverpool in the prestigious Worthington Cup 27 months ago. It took a lot of persuading by the other two bands' members to convince Natasha to take part in a concert in aid of the team that the man dubbed 'Scummer' by Liverpool fans plays for.

You never know, though, for Phil and Natasha have both had their injury problems recently. Atomic Kitten famously pulled out of a gig in Hong Kong last year when Natasha was struck down with flu and a chest infection. If Natasha is to avoid coming down with a cold again then she'll have to wrap up warmer than in our artist's impression (right) of the girls at Blundell Park!

Club chairman Peter Furneaux added: "I am sure it will be an event the younger generations - tomorrow's supporters of the future of this club - will enjoy."