Internet Football Ground Guide - Away Days, Blundell Park, Grimsby Town

Blundell Park - Grimsby Town
Saturday September 9th 2003
V Peterborough United, Division Two, 3pm
By Alan Davis

When our 1st 3 games of the season were announced I couldn't be happier. We had Brentford 1st, who had played host to my first ever away trip and I will always be very fond of; Notts County, the game that Poshies traditionally take over 2000 to, and Grimsby. the one I was looking forward to the most. Having shared close banter with a Scunthorpe fan for a few years, and knowing their hatred for the "codheads", coupled with the many reports I had had of the character of the ground backing onto the sea, it was the fixture I was looking out for before a ball was kicked and seeing I live in the very south of Lincolnshire and there aren't many teams from the homeland to go and visit!

Our journey began at 10.30am, a full car of 5 and a map close at hand. A scarf was draped out of each front window and we were away. We took a direct but very back road to Louth and then the A16 into Grimsby and made good time. The ground was signposted once and that was enough as we continued along into Cleethorpes and saw the floodlights to the ground on the left at 12.45pm. 3 of the group had a McDonalds and I had Grimsby fish and chips from Josh's which was superb. The home fans seemed really friendly, with quite a few sharing quips as we passed. Given the earliness of our arrival, we went over the footbridge over the railway line by the away end and had 15-20 minutes wandering on the sand/mud there looking at the ships leaving and entering the Humber Estuary. Seeing a large cloud looming we decided to head back towards the ground at 2.00pm. From the bridge it was good to see how the ground fitted well into the surroundings and gave us a chance to feel the cool North Sea gales that are renowned for hammering Blundell Park. Luckily at the time of year we travelled it wasn't too cold.

View From The Railway Bridge:

Blundell Park From Railway Bridge

Grimsby don't offer student discount, which I found frustrating seeing they offered an unemployed discount for the home end. The jobsworth stewarding on the turnstile was annoying too with them wanting to unsuccessfully confiscate my digital camera. Entering the side turnstile was fitting as it gave a chance to see my home for the next 2 hours in all its glory. The stand reminded me of Oak Road at Luton, a converted terrace with a low roof. Well low roof was an understatement. We stood 4 rows in from the back and could just see the crossbar at the far end. No fans used the back 4 rows sitting or otherwise for this reason. I couldn't help but picture us in this stand as a terrace and the amazing atmosphere we could create. Each stand had a few unused temporary seats which detracted from the character slightly but I can see how they were necessary in their days in division 1. As expected within 5 minutes the heavens opened to one of the most fearful downpours I have seen, and then as quick as it had come, it was replaced by bright sunshine, which illuminated this fascinating ground. The clubs drummer entered the ground with his group and took position nearby to us, which was good as it guaranteed us to be at the heart of the atmosphere. A stray football found its way into the low roofed shed and we wasted a most exciting 20 mins throwing that about, each throw cheered. The Stewards to their credit watched on and laughed along, a welcome change from the stance taken towards most away fans at most grounds nowadays.

The game started at a lively pace and our 600 faithful got well behind our team as most of the action was at the far end as we pushed for the opener. We duly got it courtesy of a fantastic 15 yard curler which lodged in the stanchion centimetres behind the angle of post and bar by Adam Newton. Grimsby slowly got into the game and then came in my opinion the defining moment of the match. Andy Clarke drifted out right and put in a lovely cross over the defence, which David Farrell caught on the volley from 25 yards and was heading precision top corner until somehow their goalkeeper took off and somehow got a faint but sufficient deflection. It will be difficult to imagine let alone see a better save anywhere. Half time came and went and Grimsby came out with greater purpose and eventually scored a breakaway goal which the defence failed to respond to well enough and that's how it ended, 1-1 despite The Posh pushing close in the dying seconds shooting towards us. The roar when they scored was striking. As a final note on the ground, the toilets were clean, the food good and having highlights of the 1st half playing in the bar at half time was superb! More clubs do it! The day was easily as good, actually better, than I had hoped.

After the game we returned to the car and left out the one-way system out the back of the ground and saw the players boarding the bus (about 5.15pm, didn't they shower!!!?), got away ok and dissected everything that could be from the ref (was Paul Danson, enough said), the food, Newton's goal, the ground etc. I really hope this fixture is there next season. This trip will be well up the list to revisit.