Grimsby Town's FA Trophy run a 'massive boost' for club finances
GRIMSBY Town's cup run to Wembley could net the club about £200,000 – as well as glory.
As well as the hope of coming home with the FA Trophy on Sunday, Grimsby Town bosses hope the successful campaign in 2013 could give the club a big financial boost.
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Drumming up support: Grimsby Town's football players spent time at Cleethorpes Tesco helping to promote the Wembley merchandise. From left, Sam Hatton, James McKeown, Ian Miller, Shaun Pearson, customer assistant Natalie Wood, fan Thomas Jones, Andy Cook and Richard Brodie. Buy this photo at www.thisisphotosales.co.uk/grimsby
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Big fan: Isaac Lilley, 6, of Cleethorpes meets his favourite player, Sam Hatton. Buy this photo at www.thisisphoto sales.co.uk/grimsby
Grimsby Town's commercial manager, Dave Smith, said the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2008 earned the club up to £500,000.
He said: "From this whole tournament we hope to get up to £200,000. It is a massive boost. It all goes together from competition fees, ticket sales and merchandise. It makes it a great success.
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"Our priority is the League and promotion but Wembley is also for the players to enjoy. You never know when you will ever get to play at Wembley.
"We have been four times in 15 years yet a club like Swansea has only been the once. Let's enjoy it while we are there."
About 17,000 fans are expected to cheer on The Mariners.
That is slightly down on the 26,000 who travelled to the stadium in 2008 and the 31,000 who cheered on the victorious side in 1998.
Mr Smith said: "It is an expensive time to be going to London and we are grateful to all those who are behind the team and the club."
Grimsby Town players sold hats, scarves, flags and hats at the Tesco Extra store, in Cleethorpes, yesterday to drum up support.
Player Ian Miller said: "It is a big occasion for the town as a whole. It is bringing everyone together.
In Pictures: Grimsby Town players meet fans at Tesco Cleethorpes
"To take nearly 20,000 people to Wembley just shows you what support we have got."
Richard Brodie said: "We have had a good response. Now the League games are out of the way we can concentrate on the game at Wembley. It has always been there in the background. Not that it has distracted us from the league campaign. That is the bread and butter. The main prize is promotion."
Fan Jayne Read, 47, of New Waltham, said: "It has made my day meeting the players. I was especially pleased to meet James McKeown, the goalkeeper. Me, my daughter Chloe and sister Julie are all going and we have bought our 2013 cup scarves and hats."
Six-year-old Isaac Lilley, from Cleethorpes, met his idol Sam Hatton.
He predicted a 2:1 win for Grimsby Town and said: "I will be shouting super Grimsby when they come on the field."
Katie Wakefield and her dad Malcolm will be meeting up with her sister Kelly, who lives in Southampton and flies the flag for Grimsby on the south coast.
She said: "I am very positive of a win. It is going to be 3:1 to Town."
2 Comments
by Glebe82
Friday, March 22 2013, 1:14PM
“Why don't you speak the truth and admit you are an Imp or a scunny fan... You're talking drivel.”
by MidsMariner
Friday, March 22 2013, 10:51AM
“Richard Brodie said: "We have had a good response. Now the League games are out of the way we can concentrate on the game at Wembley.
This slip up comment says this is what have been waiting for..... now we can play football again ...at wembley.... has he forgotten there are more league games......
come on speak the truth ....this was the goal ..not promotion.... if you cant score at blundell park, mansfield or nuneaton ...why do you think you can score at wembley??? oh yeah forget as you said the league games are out of the way .....”