Head to Head: Grimsby

By Paul Holmes
August 6 2002

With the season approaching fast we have given the fans of Division 1 teams the chance to let us know their feelings on the coming season. Next up is Grimsby fan Gary Spate.

Who are you playing on Saturday(10th)?

On Saturday we travel to Carrow Road to face the pie-eating Norwich City.

What result are you expecting?

It will be a tough game but I'm confident the Mariners will scrape through with a 2-1 victory.

Who should we look out for in your team this season?

As always, our inspirational 'keeper Danny Coyne will command from the back. In defense there's new signings Darren Barnard and Steve Chettle, both will be looking to repay the Mariners for giving them to chance to play first team football again after being released by their old club Barnsley. Our opponents should also look out for midfielders Alan Pouton and Terry Cooke - both will have a hunger for success this season. Up front it looks like Phil Jevons will be out to show his club that he deserves to stay at Blundell Park.

Any youngsters expected to break through?

Iain Ward and Jonathan Rowan are perhaps our two hottest prospects. Jonny did break through to the first team last season but injury set him back a peg or two, the striker will be looking to find his way back into the starting lineup this season. Young defender Iain Ward finally broke into the first team in the final game of last season, he will be looking to build on that this season.

Are you happy with your manager?

Words cannot explain how magnificent our current managerial duo have been since their appointment following the sacking of Lennie Lawrence. Paul Groves and Graham Rodger are the youngest managerial duo in the Football League and are hoping their first taste of football at the helm is a successful one.

Will he do a good enough job, in your opinion?

Despite being a little apprehensive when they were first promoted to manager and assistand manager respectively, Paul Groves and Graham Rodger have done exceptionally well so far, I believe they have got what it takes to steer the Mariners clear of relegation once again.

Who are you looking forward to be playing and why?

Ipswich Town. A Division One team in Europe who are one of the favourites to jump straight back up into the Premiership. I have friends who are Ipswich fans so both ties will be exciting for me to watch.

Finally, where will you finish?

Just after the last season ended I predicted a 14th place finish for the Mariners this coming campaign. However duo to several departures this summer I will play it safe and say we will be lucky to avoid relegation. 19th place would be classed as a successful season for us this year.

A big thanks to Gary Spate over at the Grimsby site