Grimsby Facing Cup Pay Day

By: Fishy News Team
Date: 14/10/2001

GRIMSBY TOWN's dream Worthington Cup draw against the winners of the Arsenal/Manchester United game could herald a massive pay day for the Mariners, with the possibility of £500,000 from gate money plus the knock-on effect of club shop sales.

The game will be played during the week commencing November 26 and Town fans are expected to take up their full ticket allocation. Supporters are advised to order their tickets immediately they go on sale if they do not want to be disappointed.

In their article the Grimsby Telegraph said: "The club, players and majority of fans will be desperate for United to beat the Gunners in their third round tie on November 6 at Highbury. For that will mean a trip to the Theatre of Dreams to face David Beckham and company. With a potential gate of 67,000 that could mean a massive pay day for the club, maybe as much as £500,000."

Phil Jevons who scored the winning goal at Anfield said "We are all delighted,"

".…It's a chance to play in another super stadium against the best teams around!!…."

Manager Lawrence told how he heard about the draw: "When we were in the hotel, just after the pre-match meal, me and John Cockerell were talking and Menno (Willems) shouted down that the draw was on. I got half way up the stairs and there was a massive cheer so I just knew. It could not have been better for us, for the fans and financially. It's a chance to play in another super stadium against the best teams around."

"I've got a good record against Manchester United at old Trafford, Arsenal less so."

Tim Harvey, added "Man United is the one big club we've not played in the last 15 years. We can go back to the Arsenal FA Cup game of 1986, and we've played the rest of the big guns since. The club would love to see it at Old Trafford but wherever we go it will be another fantastic occasion and a great day out for the fans."

"It will be good, not just the gate receipts but also the knock-on effects of shirt sales which no doubt will come on the back of it. "Special thanks from everyone at the club to Robbie Earl and Barry Venison who drew the numbers out."

Full fourth-round draw:

Leeds United v Chelsea
Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Blackburn Rovers v Manchester City
Arsenal/Manchester United v Grimsby Town
Bolton Wanderers v Southampton
Watford v Charlton Athletic
Newcastle United v Ipswich Town

Fourth-round ties to be played week commencing Monday, November 26.

Grimsby have not played Manchester United since the 1947-48 season, and they have only played the Gunners once in the last 50 years, when they were famously defeated 4-3 at Blundell Park in the 1985-86 season. Last time Town played at Old Trafford was 53 years ago when they won 4-3, a scoreline that many football fans around the country would love to see repeated!

Arsenal Head-to-Head
Man Utd Head-to-Head

Almost 55% of Grimsby fans had chosen the English champions as their favoured opponents in the next round in this site's exclusive Poll, with just under 10% gunning for North London club Arsenal.

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