Sky Bet League 2
Saturday 14th April 2018
Kick Off: 3.00pm
Stadium: Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, DN35 7PY
Telephone: 01472 605 050
Club Colours: Black & White
Nickname: The Mariners
Key Personnel
Michael Jolley is the current “gaffer” at Blundell Park backed by assistant manager Paul Wilkinson. Michael was a youth player at Barnsley until 1993 but then went to Cambridge University and gained his Masters degree in Economics. He won three football “Blues” while at Cambridge. He worked the Stock Market in London and New York before returning to football as a coach at Crystal Palace in 2004. Various positions in and out of the game followed until 2017 when he managed at AFC Eskilstauna in Sweden before taking over from Russell Slade at Grimsby in March of this year.
Brief Directions by Road
The first thing to remember is that the ground is in Cleethorpes and not Grimsby. For you Motorway enthusiasts the M1 and M180/A180 will take you straight into the heart of Grimsby and staying on this road you will see the Stadium. However the trusty A1 will get you to Newark-on-Trent where you take the very pleasant A46 signposted Lincoln. This road is basically all you require as when you reach Grimsby look for signs for Cleethorpes and signs for the ground. Failing that head for the seafront and you will see the floodlights!
Car Parking
No car park I am afraid but all the local streets are unrestricted.
Directions by Train
A train from Kings Cross to Cleethorpes will take around 3 hours including a change at Doncaster or Newark. Cleethorpes station is only a goodly 25-minute walk to the ground. Basically turn left out of the station and head for the sea front. You will eventually see the ground on your left. Please note Grimsby station is a long way from the stadium. If travelling by boat from the North Sea, head west towards Cleethorpes and you will see the floodlights straight ahead.
Eating and Drinking Locally
Inside the ground away fans are offered a dedicated bar with TV and serves up a very decent pie and peas.
Outside the ground is The Blundell Hotel, which is advertised as a home only pubs but I had a very safe drinks in there without a problem last time were there. It is close to the ground on Grimsby Road. The Rutland Arms also on Grimsby Road is 10 minutes walk north from the ground offers real ales in abundance.
Haddock and Chips is in the blood of folk from this part of the world and The County Fish Bar 277 Grimsby Road is perhaps the best plaice to sample it take a way style, don’t miss out! I found the outstanding Ocean Restaurant in St Peters Avenue in the town for a sit down job. Extensive menu including steaks, ribs and fish, very reasonable prices, and has my personal recommendation for a pre or post match meal. In fact I have received numerous texts over the years about the quality of this establishment and once a very personal recommendation from the late but one and only Dennis Signy as he took his Lady wife Pat for dinner there on a couple of occasions – oh how I miss that gentleman. For a superb old-fashioned fry up or all day roast dinner seek out Browns Restaurant on Cleethorpes’ Promenade. Proper “boiled and then fried” Chip Potatoes.
Ground Description
With a ground capacity of just over 9,000, the tall Findus Stand was built in 1980 and is the focal point at Blundell Park – It dominates the ground. It seats around 3,000 in two tiers. The view from this stand is one of the finest in football and it can be clearly seen from the ferry on the Humber Estuary. To the left is the Pontoon Stand and to the right the Osmond Stand. They both provide covered seating for around 2,000. Finally we come to the main stand. A section of this remarkable stand is I believe the oldest surviving structure at a League ground. It is dates from 1901 and is the central section closest to the Pontoon stand. The stand was extended to meet the Osmond Stand in 1931 and now seats 2,300. These structures are disappearing fast! The club was hoping to relocate to a new ground on the western outskirts of Grimsby at Great Coates, adjacent to the A180 dual carriageway. This has now fallen through and another site is being considered at Peakes Parkway about 2 miles from the current stadium.
We will be allocated a section of seating in the Osmond Stand.
Admission Prices
Osmond Stand: Adults: £20, Concessions £13, Under 15’s £7. If tickets are purchased before 1.30pm on matchday there is a possible saving of £2.00. Please click here for further details.
Previous Meetings and Memories
Our previous visit was in November 2016 when two John Akinde penalties featured in a “Desmond” in front of over 5,500.
In 2009/10 when each team won at home, the 3-0 Barnet win featured goals from O’Flynn, Adomah and Bolaise. A 2-0 defeat at Grimsby in May 2010 was a lifeline for the Mariners at the time, but they were still relegated to the Conference a week later. Barnet’s only win at Blundell Park was in September 2008 when a Neil Bishop goal bought home the spoils.
Overnight Stay Factor
Oh yes, it’s seaside time once again. Candy Floss, Toffee Apples, Doughnuts freshly prepared while you wait, Bingo and of course “in and out shops” galore! One of my countless Barnet FC related dinner party stories is the one about Mrs Reckless and I sleeping in the same bed as Comedian Ken Dodd RIP (not at the same time I hasten) as he use to stay in the Tudor Guest House when he was on tour. He first stayed there in the 1960’s. Diddy? No Doddy! Seriously lovely hospitality and run by the same family for 50 odd years and they take great pride in recounting stories of the comedy legend. (Smoked Kippers were even on the Breakfast menu – splendid). I am available for after dinner speaking by the way, reasonable rates etc.
Celebrity Watch
The following F list celebs and Barnet players have been spotted on the seafront over the years, Big Daddy, Captain Birdseye, Roy Chubby Brown, Gary Breem, Kevin Mullett, Lee Roach, Robert Codner and Elton John of course. Bit fishy? Yeah…
