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Fishy:
When did you first start supporting the Mariners, and what was your first game?
Phil:
I have supported Town since I can remember enjoying football. The earliest occasion I can find is now 14 years ago, when aged 5, I travelled down to Dunsford Road, Wimbledon for a FA challenge cup game which was played on the 18th of February 1989. The ticket cost £4.50 - those were the days!!
Fishy:
Who is the best player you ever saw wearing a Grimsby Town shirt?
Phil:
Alan Pouton is a current god. When he walks his dogs what else can I do apart from drop to my knees and worship him (imaginary). In terms of skill, Ivano Bonetti was a huge class act for the club. For the likes of Grezzer's and Wilko's ego John Oster is a product of their hard work as also is the likes of Simon Ford, and Flash Mansaram
Fishy:
If there is one game you were allowed to go back in time and watch what would it be and why?
Phil:
I think everyone would love to be back at Anfield and enjoy the game knowing the long journey home wasn't going to be that long after all, instead of using several packs of chewing gum and experiencing several nervous breakdowns before we came away 2-1. Being able to appreciate that game, would be the reason for me re-watching the marvelous battle.
Fishy:
What are your favourite and least favourite away grounds?
Phil:
I have travelled to Selhurst Park to many times to watch Town take on Palace and Wimbledon, but I cannot actually remember a victory, so Selhurst Park has to be one the worse ones. Wembley has to be one of the greatest grounds I have been to, not just because of the two excellent victories in the Play-Offs and Auto Windscreens but the national heritage which has being placed in the stadium over the centuries.
Fishy:
What, in your opinion, are GTFC's best and worst seasons since you have been supporting them?
Phil:
The best season I feel is yet to come! As a supporter I always feel - and expect - more than possible for my team. Great expectation are for me to gain and sustain a respectable league position and finish mid-table. Overall the season under Alan Buckley in 97/98 in Division 2 was good because we seemed to win nearly every home and away game and that season was capped with two Wembley visits. Obviously for any fan or player the worst thing is to be relegated so the previous season 96/97 was bad - relegation hurts. But as I heard so many times: "we'll be back", and the support through Division 2 was therefore stronger due to that belief.
Fishy:
What is the most eventful day you have ever had in the course of following the Mariners?
Phil:
A few years back I remember during the Christmas period we played Luton at home, with the spice of it being Christmas and all the games so close together (a fan's ideal setup) winning 7-1 and seeing Ivano Bonetti knock the oppositions' midfielder out with a free kick just made my day. Also beating Fulham on the last day of the season with a Groves' strike to secure safety and Liverpool, Wembley all matter equally as much.
Fishy:
What is the strangest thing you have ever done at a game?
Phil:
I can't really say I have done that many stupid things. Possibly one of the most regrettable things was throwing my Big Black and White hat for Wayne Burnett to wear after his golden goal only for me to totally mis-throw it and lose it over the railings. To this day my hat has not returned - we did spend a emotional two hours together mind!
Fishy:
Who is the greatest ever GTFC manager?
Phil:
Obviously Paul Groves
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?
Phil:
I go to every home game without failure, cancel birthdays, days out and weddings. I try to get to at least 15 of the away games, this year is the first time I have spent 6 hours travelling to Portsmouth, Brighton, but the worst one must be Wrexham. Even though I would like to think I can get to 35 out of the 46 league games per season.
Fishy:
Name your all-time starting eleven since you have been watching Town?
Phil:
|
Coyne |
| Enhua | Todd | Macca |
| Bonetti | Groves | Pouton (C) | Santos | Oster |
| Kabba | Mendonca |
| Subs: Handyside, Boulding, Batch, Lester, Campbell
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Fishy:
Do your children support the Mariners?
Phil:
No, but believe me, my family does not believe in glory supporters and will have Grimsby Tattooed on them for life!
Fishy:
What do I mostly hate about home games?
Phil:
Two things that really really really wind me up at home games.
Obviously Grimsby has a population of around 60,000 people, so why is it such an effort for Grimsby to attract 5 or 6 thousand. Then the 5 or 6 thousand who do attend needn't bother due to the amount of noise they make. Experience from all games show the away fans always make more noise, and believe me at away watches as am sure you know every one sings and gets behind the team, i.e. Derby on Boxing Day, Liverpool last year, and Wembley. The facts is all the so-called people who go to the glory games of Grimsby are not supporters of Grimsby but Liverpool fans or just there for a day out.
The second thing is the amount of people who sit in the crowd and moan about the team, throw abuse at them and carry on like there's no tomorrow but actually only watch them when they want and when there is a big home game. These sort of "part timers" (nah nah nah) are OK going but should not
be given the option of complaining.
Fishy:
Who are the best players to grace Blundell Park?
Phil:
Ruud Gullit, Gianfranco Zola, Glenn Hoddle are a few big hits who have shown their faces around the place in the past. Also Gary Lineker, an "x" town trialist I believe.
Fishy:
Who are the worst players you have seen play for Town?
Phil:
Jim Dobbin, Andy Love, Jason Pearcy, Menno Willems.
Fishy:
Who are the players you have must regretted leaving?
Phil:
Steve Kabba, David Neilson, Jack Lester, Andy Todd.
Phil Morgan
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