Cod Almighty | Diary

The spirit of '98

11 June 2025

1998 was a landmark year. The Good Friday Agreement brought a fragile peace to Northern Ireland, Monica Lewinsky became a household name for the wrong reasons, and the £2 coin entered circulation. Starbucks opened its first UK store, Britpop gave way to boybands and R&B, and war epics like Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line dominated cinema. In football, France lifted the World Cup on home soil, but England's campaign ended in heartbreak – penalties against Argentina, Beckham's infamous red card, and that unforgettable solo goal from a teenage Michael Owen.

So why revisit 1998 now? Well, the 25/26 Grimsby Town shirt was beautifully launched yesterday paying tribute to a kit that symbolised an unforgettable moment in the club's history. Ask any Town fan of a certain age what 1998 means, and they'll reply with one word: Wembley.

For a club not accustomed to football's grandest stage, to reach it twice in one season was nothing short of miraculous. While the play-off victory in 1998 was arguably more significant in terms of league position and financial reward, it was the Auto Windscreens Shield Final that truly captured the soul of the club and its supporters. It marked Grimsby Town's first ever appearance at Wembley – a stage that, for many, felt light-years away from life in Division Two. And with no guarantee it would ever happen again, the town responded in the only way it knows how: by rallying behind its team with everything it had.

Grimsby embraced the moment like never before. Thirty thousand tickets were snapped up, sales of face paint and flags soared, and fans descended on London in droves. Trafalgar Square was taken over the night before, while on matchday the A46 and M180 became a black-and-white convoy. The town itself was deserted, save for a famous banner at Bradley crossroads that read "Last one out, turn off the lights" with a cheeky note to whoever got home first: "Put the kettle on."

Wembley Way is always special, but when it's your team making that walk, it becomes something else entirely. Grimsby away followings are known for their passion, but this was unprecedented. Thirty thousand Mariners marching together, singing, dreaming, believing. And then, 'Sir' Alan Buckley, suited and booted, leading his side out to a thunderous roar; a surreal, spine-tingling moment etched into memory.

The match itself was a tense, emotional battle. After a 1-1 draw in normal time, it was Wayne Burnett who made history, calmly flicking home the golden goal in extra time. He wheeled away in celebration, straight to the jubilant Grimsby end and unknowingly creating an iconic photo, with a stunned Eddie Howe, now Newcastle's manager, frozen in the background, hands on head in disbelief.

Now, 27 years later, that iconic shirt has been reborn. With anything as subjective as a football shirt it expectedly divides opinion; the bolder use of red, the lack of polo shirt style collar and interesting shoulder design amongst the early comments. So perhaps an early assessment would be that the jury is still out, and it needs to be out in the world before more informed opinions can be made.

However, with the shirt comes the memories. But more than memories, what endures is the Grimsby Town spirit. The spirit of '98 was defined by heart, determination, and unity; a refusal to give in, even after going a goal down. Over the years it's hard to deny that perhaps that spirit has wavered, but under the new owners, and Polly and David, something is stirring again. That same thread of belief and belonging now weaves through the club and community once more.

Whether you lived through those unforgettable weeks in '98 or are hearing the story for the first time, the spirit lives on in all of us; you've probably demonstrated it in more recent successes. But if you wear the shirt this season, whether bought or gifted, do us one favour: honour it. Rewatch that final. Feel the pride. And remember exactly where it came from.

UTM