Cod Almighty | Diary

You can take the person out of Grimsby, but...

12 September 2024

Well, well, well! A couple of local lads have put their money where their mouths are and jumped on board the Good Ship Grimsby (sister ship to HMS Piss The League, I do believe) to steer her ever further into calmer waters. James Harrison and Miles Gooseman could have continued enjoying quieter lives, in Essex and Singapore respectively, but instead chose to stick their heads above the parapet and put a wedge into the club to support the town where they were born and raised. Good on them.

We all do our bit; typically by throwing what disposable income we have into the club via tickets and merch. And I’m sure we’d give more if we had more. After all, we’re all Town, aren’t we? The Mariners have given us many happy memories — and even when they’ve sent us home feeling disappointed, angry or frustrated, they’ve always at least been there. They’ve been there since 1878, giving people of the town and from the town an identity they can carry with them, wherever life takes them. And when they want to return, as James and Miles have, Grimsby always welcomes them.

Like Jason, Andrew, James and Miles, your West Yorkshire Diary left the town many years ago to seek opportunities that didn’t appear to exist in the area. Those who have achieved success to the point where they can invest serious lumps of cash into the club all reside away from the town. That’s not to say you can’t achieve success in the town, but it can be hard to believe it’s possible if there’s no one there proving it.

But if you’re born in Grimsby, or from Grimsby at least, you’re already made of the right stuff. This is what 1878 set out to do; to use the club to raise the aspirations of the town. Invest in the local communities, champion our successes, grow our ambitions, and inspire people by showcasing the talent that’s within all of us. Football is just the start, and while sitting 16th in the fourth division might not be inspiring swathes of North East Lincolnshire right now, it’s the improvements off the pitch — the ground improvements, the community involvement, the fan consultations, the nod to our heritage in the shirt designs, the serial award-winning matchday programme we produce, and much more — which consistently provides a shot in the arm for a town that used to be called Great… and will be once again.

Greater Together, and all that. We love you Grimsby, we do. Every one of you. UTM!