Yep. More football again. More self-indulgence. Today was the play off final for the National League (the fifth tier of English football). Grimsby Town versus Solihull Moors.
For the third time in this extraordinary fortnight Grimsby went behind before winning the game in extra time. This time the winning goal wasn’t left as late as the 119th minute. For a large part of the game Solihull were the better team. Very neat, progressive football. Just lacking the quality finisher required of the top teams.
This Grimsby team just do not know when they are beaten. The fans do not know when they’re beaten either. They, no we, continued to cheer in the team when they went behind.* I like to think that was part of the difference come the end. I’m hoarse. It was great to spend the day with family and friends, old and new. It means so much more.
* for more on the never say die attitude read about the crowd funder to help hard-up families get to the game.
It’s quite rare for teams relegated to this division to bounce straight back, and many of us never thought it was likely before the last 3 games. Possible but not probable.
Well done to all at the club who contributed to the remarkable turnaround of the last year. The players, coaches, management, analyst, Matchday staff, grounds staff, board, supporters trust, sponsors, local media, and fans. There’s a moral in this story, but I’d just like to say, …king get in!!
I'm happy for you and your fellow fans! Not being that much of a football fan, I can't begin to imagine the highs and lows you go through each year, but let's hope you get more of the former and less of the latter for the new season.
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve. You certainly go through highs and lows with Grimsby Town. Obviously the expectations are set lower than with other clubs, but it’s all relative.
DeleteCongratulations on your return to the football league! Hearing it on the radio 4 headlines, just after Wales qualifying for the world cup and England winning a test match for the first time in it seems forever,historic headlines!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Good news all round. My day was capped off by getting a call from my wife while I was stood on the platform at Vauxhall station asking if I wanted to be picked up from anywhere. It may not sound much but I was drained, so it was very, very welcome.
Deletecongratulations all! Only 5 more years to the Premier League?
ReplyDeleteThanks David. Two weeks ago I’d have said ‘not in my lifetime’. But now I’d say, ‘if Brentford can do it…’
DeleteYay! I can go see some home games next season too. No local Derby though due to Scunnies fall from league status. My first team have an important local derby now Burnley are back in the Championship too.
ReplyDeleteWe’ve got Scunny in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup though. It’ll provide some welcome cash for plucky little Scunny to play a Football League team. 😉
DeleteNice one.
ReplyDeleteIt was rather pleasing.
DeleteOne has to respect the level of commitment following a not particularly impressive local team - its pretty easy to support Man Utd, Chelsea or Liverpool (unless the French police are involved, but thats another story!) A mate of mine is the same - he used to (and probably still does) travel from Montrose to Berwick on a Weds night for a midweek game...absolutely mad! it must be 300+ mile round trip
ReplyDeleteI can’t pretend to put that much effort in Keith! It’s a long time since I did a 300 mile round trip midweek. I know of a family in Plymouth who have Grimsby Town season tickets. That’s a 700 mile round trip. Mad!
DeleteChris