Cod Head of the Week: Dave Pearce

Fishy:
When did you first start supporting the Mariners, and what was your first game?

Dave:
I first started following Town around 1947/8 and my first game was against Spurs at BP in a crowd of more than 20,000. We lost 2-3 and in the Spurs side at full back was a certain Alf Ramsey who went on to manage England to world cup success in 1966. Tommy Briggs, who subsequently played for England in a 'B' international scored one of our goals. Since 1953 I have been an expatriate supporter from my London suburbs home.

Fishy:
Who is the best player you ever saw wearing a Grimsby Town shirt?

Dave:
Its very difficult to pick just one of several outstanding talents who have played for town. Joe Waters was an amazingly skillful and perceptive player, Jimmy Hernon was a wizard, Billy Gilbert an artist but I more recently John Oster has displayed that something special that makes the crowd buzz.

Fishy:
If there is one game you were allowed to go back in time and watch what would it be and why?

Dave:
Has to be Everton away in the cup (in 1985?) and Wilkinson scoring in the last minute, stunning the scousers and sending us away delirious! Or it could have been our valiant fight back from 2-4 down against Man City in the 1950's. On a cold, wet evening the famous Tommy Briggs scored in the last minute against Bert Trautman to force a 4-4 draw. Delirious again!

Fishy:
What are your favourite and least favourite away grounds?

Dave:
Favourite is/was Wembley, least favourite Northampton.

Fishy:
What, in your opinion, are GTFC's best and worst seasons since you have been supporting them?

Dave:
Probably the best was escaping relegation last year against all the odds. Worst was being bottom of the 4th Division at the end of the 1960's.

Fishy:
What is the most eventful day you have ever had in the course of following the Mariners?

Dave:
Going to Wembley twice and on the second occasion having to fly from Malaga and back in 24 hours, getting stuck on the train from Gatwick and only just making it in time.

Fishy:
What is the strangest thing you have ever done at a game?

Dave:
As a 10 year old, got into my one and only a scrap at a footie match with another child at my first game! It was only about who would stand where against the rail.

Fishy:
Who is the greatest ever GTFC manager?

Dave:
Purely on what the records show, it has to be Frank Womack in the 1930's, before even my time, when town finished 5th in what would now be the premiership around 1934/5/6. However Laurie McMenemy gets my vote for transforming the town from strugglers to winners in the 1970's

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?

Dave:
Not many as I live near London. I try to get to most games within 50 miles and maybe a couple of home games in a season. I follow livescore.com and The Fishy on the net plus skysports on TV.

Fishy:
Name your all-time starting eleven since you have been watching Town?

Dave:
George Tweedy
Macca
Ken Moody
Duncan McMillan
Billy Gilbert
Paddy Johnson
Joe Waters
John Oster
Matt Tees
Tommy Briggs
Kevin Drinkell

In a 1-3-4-3 formation!

Fishy:
Do your children support the Mariners?

Dave:
Regretfully we are spread around and my two 'kids' follow QPR and Murcia in Spain. But they do have a soft spot for town and we chat frequently about the team we seldom see.

Dave Pearce