|
Fishy:
Please could you give a brief introduction of yourself.
Chiffy:
I'm 26 years old and live just off Grimsby Road which is quite convenient.
My local is Dominics on the High Street in Cleethorpes and I have two GTFC tattoos, break the pain barrier for the love of my team, that's what I say. Oh yeah and as usual, my other half hates footy!!!
My two claims to fame are buying King Ivano Bonetti a diet tango in the pier and fitting Graham Rodger's bathroom with lino when he first moved to the area, helping him clear his fridge full of beer at the same time!!
I'm also famous for driving my John Turner's pie wagon around Town, you may have seen it, a big white thing with green writing and a red 'I HATE MAN UTD' sticker displayed in the front window.Honestly, the times I've spoke to town fans on the net and they've said "hey, I've seen that van"!!!
Chiffy (left) with Ryan
Fishy:
When did you first start supporting the Mariners, and what was your first game?
Chiffy:
I first saw Town play in 1988/89 vs Burnley, we won 4-2 through Knight, Cunnington, Childs and King Alex. I hated footie but my mate bought me a ticket for my birthday and I love him for that.
Fishy:
Who is the best player you ever saw wearing a Grimsby Town shirt?
Chiffy:
The best player I've ever seen is Diddy Dave Gilbert, I can remember a through ball vs Stockport in the 88-89 season which was the most impossible ball to play. I still don't believe he did it now!! Plus he could put a quality ball in from anywhere, none of this take the last man on, which he always could anyway, just get it straight in the mixer when you get the chance, that's what I adored about Diddy
Fishy:
If there is one game you were allowed to go back in time and watch what would it be and why?
Chiffy:
If I could go back in time to any game, excluding the Wembley double '98, which everyone must say, it would have to be the Villa League cup match in about 94 I think it was. Steve Sherwood was amazing and Villa were one of the top teams then. We drew 1-1 and when Diddy put us 1-0 up the away end went beserk!! I still watch the video and get goosebumps when the flowing move started to set up the goal. The whole night was electric as we clung on in extra time with the valuable away goal.
Fishy:
What are your favourite and least favourite away grounds?
Chiffy:
My favourite away ground is Anfield because of the warm feeling you get from the home fans. Also the atmosphere is always fantastic plus i share a hatred of Man Utd with them...which is nice!!!
My worst ground is Hartlepool. We were 3-0 up in the 1st leg of the cup a few years back and off we went on a cold, wet and windy night. When we arrived we thought the game was off cos it was so quiet!!! We won 2-0 on the night but the stadium was a shambles, only 3 stands, a gaping hole down the side of the pitch!!! I always remember Mendonca going through 1 on 1 and running without the ball cos it got stuck in a puddle!! Also taunting the home keeper with the usual 'fat' songs. Then Dobbin picked the ball up 25 yards out in the last minute, we all screamed at the keeper that he would be 'picking this 1 out' and guess what? He did!!! Thanks to a huge mudpit in the goalmouth. The whole night was not a pleasant experience because of the lack of grass and ground facilities.
Fishy:
What, in your opinion, are GTFC's best and worst seasons since you have been supporting them?
Chiffy:
The best GTFC season apart from Wembley 98 was the 89-90 season. I just loved it when we took a massive away following to every game, I mean 2000 odd to Rochdale for a small club like ours is a good crack and we had promotion thrown in for good measure. A great season in my books.
The worst season had to be when we were relegated under Brian Laws. Especially winning our last game 4-0 and still going down. The one good thing to come out of that was Lawsy did the same thing with Scunny!!!
Fishy:
What is the most eventful day you have ever had in the course of following the Mariners?
Chiffy:
My most eventful day whilst watching town was when we drew 2-2 away at Oxford. We broke down somewhere near Norwich and the car was a goner so we legged it to the nearest boozer where everyone was carrotcrunchers and had to pretend we were Canary fans along with the rest of em. Even down to the accents. They lost 2-1 to Coventry and we heard that Town had taken a 2-1 lead in the last minute so we were overjoyed and got some very dodgy looks. Then one bloke accused us of being Ipswich fans but then Oxford leveled in injury time so we were sad again and that was good enuff for them!!!The beer was garbage too so it was a pretty eventful day. We didn't get to watch Town, impersonated farmers, then had to wait hours for the AA, as usual!!
Fishy:
Who is the greatest ever GTFC manager?
Chiffy:
The greatest ever manager was obviously Alan Buckley. The guy was a genius when it came to bringing cheap talent to a small poor club and using it to its full potential. Hang on, my mates just nudged me and told me to write 'MIKEY LYONS BLACK N WHITE ARMY'!!! Me mate is a yorkie!!!
Fishy:
How many games a season do you get to now, and what do you do while Town are playing games that you can't get to?
Chiffy:
I go to all the home games and haven't missed one since the first day I went , so that's 12 years I make it. I used to go away a lot but I was younger then and now have more things to think about. I get to about 6 away games a season I think, depending on if my mates just decide outta the blue to go. I work on Saturday mornings so hats a problem for away matches but home matches, nae bother!!
Fishy:
Name your all-time starting eleven since you have been watching Town?
Chiffy:
1. Dave Beasant
2. Macca
3. Gary Croft
4. Futcher
5. Andy Tilson
6. Wayne Burnett
7. Gary Childs
8. Dave Gilbert
9. David Nielsen
10. Clive Mendonca
11. Ivano Bonetti
Subs: Coyne, Groves, Lester, Cunnington, Okorie or King Alex
Fishy:
Do your children support the Mariners?
ChiffyMy girlfriend's son, Ryan, whom I've been with since birth, is only three but has a Town strip and I took him to see his first game pre-season vs Luton this year. He lasted longer than I thought, over an hour in fact, but preferred running up and down the front of the Ponny than watch the boring footy. Don't get me wrong, he loves playing and watching it but his mind starts to wander before 90 minutes is up. He knows who Town are and can distinguish them from other teams when they're on Sky so one for the future. Oh yeah and a special big boo to his grandad who, despite not watching Man Utd, keeps trying to sway Ryan into supporting them nonetheless!! Now there's a surprise!! Typical Manc bloke, Man Utd are at the top of the tree so lets support them, I don't think so Kirky unless you actually go and see them once in say 15 years, it doesn't count. Ryan is a mariner through and through.
| 
