Grimsby Town open-top bus tour

Play-Off winners’ open top bus tour and civic reception www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport

HEROES’ WELCOME

Picture: Jon Corken

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GTFC: We’re back where we belong!

WINNERS! Grimsby Town FC promotion winning side head off on their tour along Grimsby Road as fans line the route. Pictures: Rick Byrne & Duncan Young

YOUNG FAN: Please stay, Paul Hurst, says young town fan Bailey-Rae Rowbotham, aged 9.

SUPPORTERS: Hayden Newbegin with son Ashtun.

BIG SMILES: Jenna Thompson with her nephew Oscar and niece Ebony.

WE’RE GOING UP! Eddie and Chloe O’Rourke.

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‘I’ve seen highs and

THOUSANDS lined the streets to see by Peter Craig their heroes as Grimsby Town’s pro- peter.craig@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk motion-winning team enjoyed a Twitter: @GTPeterCraig rousing open top bus parade.

Mariners players and staff were welcomed to Grimsby Town Hall for a civic reception after a tour through Grimsby and Cleethorpes yesterday evening.

They enjoyed the acclaim of supporters after Sunday’s 3-1 Conference National League win over Forest Green Rovers at Wembley.

Mayor Cliff Barber led the Mariners

fans in song outside the Town Hall.

One of Town’s biggest fans Matty Dawson died in August 2011 and gave his name to one of the entrances to Blundell Park.

His parents Dorothy and Steve, of Louth, were at Wembley and at the promotion party in the town centre.

Dorothy said: “I feel robbed that he is not here but he will be looking down on

us and planning to get his season ticket for the new season. He would have been so chuffed. And they are playing Queen – his favourite band.�

Club chief executive Ian Fleming said plans were already underway for next season, with Town’s first game in League Two on August 6. He said the board of directors were euphoric at the board meeting earlier in the day. “This win has been so special. I had to keep pinching myself on Sunday,� he said. “This civic parade and reception is for

LINING THE STREETS: Fans outside Cleethorpes Leisure Centre.

lows but this is best’

the players and management to enjoy.

Our difficulty is we have to start back straight away planning for next season.�

Town director Philip Day declared: “This is only the beginning.�

Mariners fan Simon West said: “All we need is for this place (Town Hall) to approve a new stadium. They played brilliant on Sunday.�

Mariners-mad Harrison Blakey, 5, was in tears having seen his heroes. He had his football signed by Town winger Andy Monkhouse.

Supporter Fran Hookham, 83, has been following the Mariners since the World Cup victory year off 1966. “I have seen the highs and lows but this is the best. I like (Paul) Hurst,� she said.

She was joined by daughter Claire Scrivener at the parade.

Big Town fan Phil Chessman was still euphoric after winning on Sunday.

He was with 11 other members of his family including Alan Young, who flew in from Abu Dhabi 3,800 miles away. “We had a great time,� he said.

Scott Cummings and Samantha West waited outside Grimsby Town Hall fresh from the Wembley victory. Samantha said: “It means everything for the town.�

Scott said of the parade: “It’s brilliant.

Everyone has come out from the pubs.�

Season ticket holder Chris Woodforth celebrated at the promotion party at the Town Hall with son Jack, 9. “I still can’t believe it. I am so emotional I could cry,� said the proud dad. � ON THE WEB: See pictures and video and recap our live blog at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

CHEERING ON TOWN: Emma, Robbie and James Burnett with Marcus Raven.

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GTFC: We’re back where we belong!

GTFC ‘needs a new home’

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THE dream of a new stadium for by Peter Craig Grimsby Town FC is alive and kick- peter.craig@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk ing.

Twitter: @GTPeterCraig

At the civic reception for the victorious Grimsby Town team, club director Philip Day said: “Great Grimsby is already great, but now all the greater for Grimsby Town being back in the Football League. “We now have a strong foundation and something to build on and within that achievement, it cannot be underestimated that Grimsby Town needs a new home. “Blundell Park, built in Victorian times, has done us proud for 127 years. Sadly today it is dated, not fit for purpose and holds this famous football club back.

Primarily this is because the clubs counterparts have, one by one, moved into first class facilities fit for family football. “I hope this significant achievement, witnessed by tens of thousand of local people, at Wembley and on TV and radio, serves to crystalise everyone into understanding that relocation is vital, vital to ensure a lasting legacy remains for future generations, to be able to experience these priceless moments.�

Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Ray Oxby said: “I’d just like to reiterate the council’s commitment of trying to turn the dream of a community stadium, a stadium the club will be a key part of, into reality. “There’s still a long way to go, but in the same way that Town’s promotion journey

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wasn’t always easy, I firmly believe it’s a dream worth chasing – and I say that both as a fan and the council leader.�

He congratulated the squad.

The leader said: “You’ve done us all proud and shown that the football club is what a real football club should be – right at the heart of the community and right at the heart of the area. “Grimsby is back on the sporting map, regionally, nationally and internationally in the same way as the area is back on the economic map as a key player in the Humber being Britain’s Energy Estuary. “All of it adds up to a place that’s on the up and up, so let’s hope it all continues.�

North East Lincolnshire’s Mayor, Councillor Cliff Barber, stood in front of the promotion trophy and said the victory at Wembley was the “icing on the cake of his mayoral year�.

He said: “At last we are on our way up.�

He thanked everyone connected with the club “including the pie and beer sellers�.

He said the fans and directors, who made promotion possible, deserved thanks for their loyalty. â—? ON THE WEB See videos and recap on a live blog by logging on to www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

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WARM WELCOME: The bus arrives at the Grimsby Town Hall.

Picture: Duncan Young

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‘The last few days have been surreal’ CELEBRATION: George Kerr mixes with the fans.

ON A HIGH: Grimsby Town FC’s promotion-winning side on their tour to Grimsby Town Hall.

Picture: Jon Corken

“I HAD an open top bus parade about by Matt Dannatt ten years earlier in my career and it Football Writer was good, but this was absolutely matthew.dannatt@gsmg.co.uk incredible.�

Twitter: @mattdannatt

Those were the words of Grimsby Town captain Craig Disley at last night’s celebrations to mark the Mariners’ incredible promotion back to the Football League.

Disley and his team-mates were cheered on by fans who had lined the streets of their open-top bus parade from Blundell Park, which culminated in a huge party in front of the Town Hall.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Disley said: “I can’t put into words how great it was for the players to see the fans out in force, from the moment we left the ground to

when we pulled into the Town Hall – it was just phenomenal and I thank them all for coming out to support us. “The last few days have been surreal.

It’s been the culmination of all those years and to have finally achieved it is fantastic. I always knew we were going to do it – there was never any doubt that this was going to be our year.

Scenes like we had during the tour – especially at my age – is why we’re in the game. I had an open top bus parade about ten years earlier in my career and it was

good, but this was absolutely incredible. “I’m so looking forward to Sunday and carrying on the party down at Wembley.

I’ve no doubt the fans will be out in force – let’s have a party and emulate the side of ’98!�

Padraig Amond, whose name was chanted by the hundreds of fans who had gathered in front of the Town Hall, also urged as many supporters as possible to head down to Wembley again on Sunday for the FA Trophy Final with Halifax.

He added: “This was the night when I think the achievement of what we’ve done sank in. “We’ve enjoyed the last couple of days – and rightly so – but to go on the tour and

share it with the fans was incredible. “We knew that there was going to be a good turnout, but we never expected anything like this. “It was a fantastic turnout from the whole town. “Now, I’d urge as many people who can get there to get there on Sunday because it’s going to be the mother of all parties. “I’ve not come down from Sunday yet and I don’t plan on doing either! The tour and the celebrations at the Town Hall have just kept me going and it’s brilliant. “I don’t want to forget the feeling that I’ve had over the last few days. I’m just so, so happy that everything has worked out as it has.�

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His name will be forever written into the club’s history books as the man who helped lead Town back into the Football

League and he told the Telegraph of his delight at being able to share the moment with the fans last night.

He said: “I’m amazed by how many fans were out on the course that we’ve taken and then the scenes when we were at the Town Hall were just amazing – it just goes to show what can be achieved when a football club does well. “This is what it’s about. It was great to be able to give something back by shaking hands, taking a few photos or signing autographs – that’s what it’s all about. “The amount of people who turned out along the way to clap the players and cheer us on made for a fantastic, fantastic day and one I’ll remember for a long time.�

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