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Going The Extra Mile

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 12/05/2005

IT is all over for this season. There remains only the playoffs, the Champions League and the greatest of them all - The Cup Final! I think a number are glad to see the back of this season. More than a few I would venture.

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But one can never complain that our season, was boring. We have had our share of bad luck, bad results and according to some, bad management.

But we survived! We avoided relegation and at the beginning of this past season, we would have given our right arms to be 18th at the finish.

How pernickety and full of misplaced expectations we quickly became after a couple of good games.

Fourth Division? "Not for us" said some, forgetting the two seasons before.. "We are a first division team. We are too good to be in this division." (Which was good news for most of us, who were grateful just to be allowed into the bottom division after the previous two fiasco's we called seasons.)

Others dreamt of the million pound player acquisition budget they thought Russell Slade had. There were calls to buy this player, that player and even calls for Slade to bid for Beckham. (A slight exaggeration but peruse through the message board archives. I am not far wrong)

And then came the biggest blow. The tax man came and demanded his pound of flesh. Nay! A ton of flesh!

"But fear not" said the man in the grey suit. "We will be safe. But only if you help"

And like magic, our most loyal of supporters disappeared.

I bet you know some of them. Those guys who sit in the Imp, or the Blundell Park Hotel all through Town's games - supporting the Mariners. Or those who look for Grimsby's result first in the football news, proclaiming their lifelong commitment to the Mariners.

People who forgot the location of Blundell Park 20 years ago! The guru's of Grimsby.

Even worse, those regular supporters, who get cut price tickets by buying in advance - the season ticket holders, had deserters in their ranks. People threatening not to renew for next season. Why? Because we do not, at this time, look like contenders for Europe!

I would remind those people that we are not even contenders for the Lincolnshire Cup at the moment.

But we still had the Trust. Who can forget the Trust? Well almost everybody, if one looks at the membership figures compared to our actual supporters numbers.

I would venture a guess here. If Town ever get a new stadium, I bet there is a "Buy a brick for ten quid" scheme.

But I also bet, if it ever happens, you would not get enough subscribers to build a brick shithouse!

Thank God we have at least 300 odd people who can see the plight we are in and have responded by joining the trust and helping all they can. Their names should be printed in gold on BP's gates! And not forgetting those other people who have not joined the trust but have supported them and put their money into their projects.

As for the Trust committee, if you are looking for commitment, look there first.

And I suppose that is where the season finishes. Nothing has changed. It is almost the same situation that has existed over the last four years. Will it ever change?

Well yes it will. But only if YOU help. No one else can change it. You see, contrary to popular opinion, the 'powers that be' do not sit on the board. They sit in the stands!

The power in football clubs lies in the hands of the supporters, because without them, the club would not exist.

So why not do the extra mile? I know how much people expend on following the Mariners home and away. It adds up to a significant figure.

But we do need to go that extra mile, The season is over so here is a good chance. How about joining the trust? It amounts to less than one visit to BP and you won't be expending any more on that until August.

So you are not being asked to go broke. Just a little helping hand. That's all.

Isn't that a cheap price to pay to 'Keep The Mariners Afloat'?

Go on do your extra mile. Join the trust, but if you have already done so, how about a donation of 15 quid. click HERE to do your bit, however small for your club. You know it makes sense!

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