Handyside: Why I Left Grimsby Town

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 11/07/2001

"Grimsby and Lennie Lawrence were superb to me. They gave me plenty of time to think about my decision and I like to think I've left the club on good terms. I'd been there for 10 years since joining as a trainee and it was a wrench to leave. I feel now is the time in my career for a new challenge."

So said Peter Handyside today quashing rumours that he was leaving Grimsby because of disagreements with Lennie Lawrence. Speaking on why he chose to leave Grimsby Town and sign for second division club Stoke City he told the Grimsby Telegraph "There were a few other clubs showing an interest in me, mainly Scottish and English first division, but something about Stoke intrigues me.

".… Going to Wembley twice and winning both times has to be special!…."

"I have been watching the team's progress in the last couple of years and feel there has been an element of bad luck in failing to get promotion. On top of that John Rudge (Football Executive) really sold the place to me. The stadium is superb and I feel exciting times are ahead."

"Luck always plays a part in promotion and you need things to go for you and avoid having that bad run which goes on for too long. But I feel the set-up here is one which is geared for a higher division."

"I will try harder to prove myself that much more. When you have been somewhere for 10 years you maybe don't have to try as hard to please. I wish everybody well at Grimsby but if Stoke can get promotion, with their supporters and stadium, they will have something else to build on."

"I was lucky. Alan Buckley gave me my debut when I was 17 in the first division and in 10 years I have only had one year in the second division."

"Going to Wembley twice and winning both times has to be special," he said.

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