Cod Almighty | Diary

My mind's distracted by the light refracted

5 January 2021

Basque Diary writes: At Spanish football clubs, members and season ticket holders are referred to as socios or socias. The larger clubs give members voting rights alongside season ticket holders on important matters like the election of club president. At smaller clubs such as Santutxu FC, where I was a member, being a member contributes to the homely feel found at many lower league clubs across the country.

If your son or daughter plays, you too can become a member and it usually
works out more favourable financially to do so. Your membership will give you
access to games at all levels across the club. Indeed, you can tell how long
someone has been a member by how close their membership number, displayed
on their card, is to one. The nearer to one they are, the bigger the stalwart.

This brings me to today's topic. When we gained promotion back from non-
league in 2016 the Trust, via Operation Promotion, had done a great job of recreating a club-like feel at Blundell Park. The muck-in, communal sense
of the campaign brought fans, players, Trust and, it seemed at the time, board
together like never before. If there's one thing I'd like to see return under the
new board, it is that feeling.

The trust, perhaps with similar in mind, recently announced they have lots of plans in the pipeline. A prematch 'fanzone' was given as an example of these plans but I'd like to see more and would question why the trust plans can't be announced publicly on their website to help drive membership.

Under the new GTFC board I'd like to see the establishment of regional supporters' clubs. Each region's members would priority access to away games in their zone, alongside season ticket holders. Each area could also host a supporters get-together before one match each season; food and drink, Q&A with local ex-players, a club merchandise stand with the trust and SLO also present to take queries or suggestions from supporters.

I'd also like to see the women's team given a proper home - not just a field - and GTFC season ticket holders offered free entry to their games. While we're on the subject, 'Women' should be dropped from their name. They play in a different league and are Grimsby Town Football Club, simply another section so we don't need further clarification in their team name.

With player sales I'd like the club to commit to donating 25% of every sale to the academy fund, rising to 50% in the case of a player sold who came through our system. Support the academy properly and support the club's future. Perhaps a stated objective of the club could be to field a full team of players born in
Lincolnshire within ten years, even if it's just for one match. (the time spent in the Basque region really made a positive impression on you didn't it? - Ed)

In recent years The Mariner, our match day programme, has won several awards
including Programme of the Year. Our groundsman too has won awards for the
usually carpet-like Blundell Park pitch. The team is one part of whole structure
that you can be proud of. It we had a club to be proud of, we really would be
going places.