The Postbag

Postbag: born in Grimsby

16 September 2005

Good day to you and welcome to the letters page. Probably the finest fanzine based GTFC letters page on this side of the internet. Or if not, perhaps joint second, or close runner up or something. Maybe a play-off spot then. Or just missing out on the play-offs. Well, let's just say we're rebuilding for next season.Anyway, you can contribute to the rise or decline of this very page by tapping out some words to postbag@codalmighty.com. And if it's really good, or just makes me laugh I'll even give you the prestigious 'letter of the week' title. Can't say fairer than that.

I like Richard

Well done Richard for showing he's a Mariners fan and is proud. I think he's right, there is a greater sense of value in supporting a team like Grimsby. When we win something we are shouting on the roof tops and we do get to wallow too, a bit too often sadly of late.

Winning Champions League trophies is all very well. However, there is ten times the enjoyment in watching Grimsby play, well at least I try and tell my friends that. It's simply more interesting than the bland world of footballers wanting to be icons that there is in the top level, there is something honest about supporting Town.

I also think supporting Town shows you're made of sterner stuff, especially if you're an exiled fan.

I salute you Richard, and I too will be wearing my Grimsby shirt in the local pub here in Colchester for the Town v Spurs match. I will no doubt be surrounded by a large number of Tottenham fans, but I'll shout and cheer, and cry, and show the rest of the world (or the pub at least) that I too am proud to be a Grimsby fan and I don't hate my father for one bit for taking me to Blundell Park at an impressionable age.

from John Pakey

Birth of Croft Baker

re: Croft Baker. Named after Jack Croft-Baker (later Sir Jack for services to fishing). Alderman of Cleethorpes council. Built sometime after 1905. I will have a look through some of my books about Cleethorpes when I find a few minutes.

from Keith Collins

Sir John

Great piece on the Macca legend, loved every word. Macca's a man who deserves every bit of recognition he gets - and he doesn't get nearly enough. How come its taken nearly 20 years for a decent interview with the main man - how come its taken nearly 20 years to find out that he is 'partial to a dance'? Macca is every bit the Town fan that the Town fans dream he is. His Town XI is surely identical to that of most 25-35 year old Mariners fans. Another top interview from the Thunder. Now give us the next big one: Sir Alan of Buckley.

from Christian Boulter

More drugged tea, vicar

I think I know who should be blamed for the dire second half performance last night. Not the players, or the manager, but the tea lady! The only possible explanation I can come up with for what happened vs Stockport is that they got our amphetamine-filled half-time oranges while we fed on citrus fruit laced with horse tranqs.

from Steve McKatt

Booo Mike the PA Man

re: Up the Mariners. This is indeed one of the most fantastic songs ever created, and I am highly disappointed that this season Mike on the PA (not tannoy, it's a brand name) is not playing it as the team come out of the tunnel. I think the club should be contacted and forced to make him play it.

from Lugz McPie

I don't like Richard

Great site, lads. I've been "looking in" ever since the beginning when it was still a bit shit and I really approve of the little changes you've made along the way. But I really have to ask you to please stop giving space to moaning gets like Richard Lord who regularly bang on about how "real" they are, and how "real" fans are a dying breed, and how great it is to meet other "real" fans and how "real" fans support lower league teams.

Richard - you hate to think that people are made to feel embarrassed when they reveal who they support? That must be a terrible burden for you. Myself, I've never been embarrassed about admitting my support for my team (when asked) and I've never shied away from wearing my colours (when I feel like it). I expect and accept a bit of piss-taking when I do either of these things. Admittedly that's easier to do when it comes from someone who knows what they're talking about. If they don't, it usually means that they are a knob and you can move away from them. But I would go into spasms if somebody tried to "bring me to the front and give me a pat on the back" just for wearing a stripey top.

And if you think having the piss ripped out of you for the team you support is exclusive to lower league supporters, then you need to get out more. If you did, you'd find that, actually, most people don't give a fleas fart which teams' top you're wearing or how much you spend supporting them. Only your self- importance makes you think that they do. Football is a competition. Being a fan is not.

Don't encourage them, lads - unless they're funny. Else, what's the point, eh?

from Martin Rank

Letters Ed responds: Well, each to their own Martin. I didn't mind the article myself, whereas I think Mat Hare is to betting what Tommy Cooper was to magic. Anyway, what do you mean "a bit shit"? Some of those earlier articles were gold dust, especially the ones I wrote.

Shooting diaries in a barrel

Bottom-of-the-Barrel Diary needs shooting. England were trotting along quite nicely until he committed his fingers to tap out the diary.

from Paul Burrows

Letters Ed responds: It all turned out fine in the end, didn't it? That's not to say that I won't still shoot him though...

Sizing it up

Hi all at codalmighty. I was going though your site as a friend told me about it (I am a town fan) and I really like the tee shirts, but being a big lad I don't know what size xl is and feel I need bigger than xl. Would it be possible to get bigger ones or not? Thanks.

from Owen Rymer

Letters Ed responds: Hi Owen. For the T-shirts, chest sizes are medium - 40", large - 44" and extra-large - 48". Hope that helps.

Phil's weekly moan

Please please please do not make a song and dance about Rabid Russ beating the immortal Shanks' record of consecutive away wins. Although I wasn't even born to witness Shanks team in action, I guess that they got the record by playing football not by playing hoof and hope.

from Phil Shorter

Letters Ed responds: I'll only not mention it if you send me a cheery letter next time.

Engineering for beginners

In response to Pete Green's excellent article on 'Croft Baker', there's two main things I'd like to point out:

Firstly, after being born in Croft Baker myself, any so-called Town fan (and this HAS happened to me in my teen years) who mentions anything about me not being "a proper Grimbarian" better watch out, 'cause they'll get a smack (admittedly this HASN'T happened before) for even suggesting such a thing!

Secondly, I'd like to point out that a hectare is the equivalent of 10,000 square metres. In other words, the Croft Baker region must be the same size as 214 B&Q superstores. For those of you who are NOT civil engineers, 259 hectares is the same as 1 square mile, so 214 hectares is a bit less than this. In fact, for all you farmers out there, it's the same as about 529 acres... Jesus, I fell asleep for a minute there, sorry. Class dismissed.

from Dave Clark

Friendswithdaftnamesreunited

re: Croft Baker. I was born there too! My mum told me that when she was in there having me there was a Mrs Pipe on the same word who called her new son Dwayne.

Can it be true? My mum's not really known for jokes but perhaps someone out there is Dwayne Pipe, born in Croft Baker in October 1971. I know I could have a look on friendsreunited but where's the fun in that?

from Rich Mills

Things you know if you're not quite from Grimsby 1

Your story has awakened a sense of guilt in me. I left Grimsby in 1972 and ever since have replied "Grimsby" to the question "Where are you from?" Despite living variously in Suffolk, Yorkshie and now Leics. However the real truth is I'm not from Grimsby, I was actually born in Broughton, moving to Grimsby when I was two years old. Should I really be supporting Scunthorpe? No surely not (although it would explain why I'm not wracked with envy at seeing them doing so well the last two seasons).

Whatever, I have to say Grimsby is in my blood, I may not get "home" very often, I don't even see The Mariners play much but I'm still Grimsby through and through. However if you'd rather I stopped saying "I'm from Grimsby"...?

from Martyn Wyburn

Letters Ed responds: Hey, if these 'Croft Baker' meggies types can get away with it, why can't you?

Things you know if you're not quite from Grimsby 2

How many other people would know that the Mariners were originally called Grimsby Pelham? Or that Matt Tees scored the first hat trick of the 1971/72 season? Incidentally I was introduced to some folk from Lincolnshire recently, I proudly told them that I was a Yeller Belly too, but when I said I was from Grimsby they looked down their noses at me and seemed to think that it hardly counted!