A Promising Experience

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 02/08/2025

SO, how's the off-season been? Well, we all know that football sits in a parallel universe to the rest of reality, but the bluster, hype and mystery from GTFC HQ have been epic. Ticket prices went up and then went down 24 hours later.

Season ticket holders were belatedly asked to move seats for understandable reasons but it's equally understandable why season ticket holders wouldn't want to move, having chosen their seats. Both were couched under the banner of “listening to supporters” but do they? A survey came out about flags but I'm not aware of any wider “experience” survey, which would have been more helpful in my view. Facilities, ease of access and comfort issues are important but efforts seem to have been directed towards improving the atmosphere and selling replica shirts and leisure wear. I know buying a shirt is optional, but I have trouble aligning the commercialism and tugging at supporters' community heart strings with the fact that North East Lincolnshire is an area of economic disadvantage. There's a sinister edge to these exhortations to spend more money and be part of the devoted herd. Even David Artell was at it at the end of last season, dictating that we should turn up, shout and stay to the end. To be fair to him, I watched his pre-match interview about today's game, and it was largely measured and appropriate, covering the subjects of football and atmosphere without hysteria or hyperbole. I'm not sure how he could substantiate his claim to smell the atmosphere in an empty ground though, unless he's psychic. But here's the rub, whether the flags are there or whether we're wearing the latest replica kit or not: unless we do well on the pitch, a day out at Blundell Park is not such an unmissable experience as Town's marketing department seems to be claiming. Now mercifully is the time to demonstrate this part of the experience.

The last time we played Crawley, they were on the up while we were grateful to be staying up in the division. Progress was made last season, and we seem to have made some good signings since. Some are known, others are not as you'd expect, but I'm particularly impressed with the signing of Walker and Pym. I'm pleased that we can now get back to thinking about what Mr Artell calls “pitch geography”.

The starter line-up for Town read: Pym - Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet, Sweeney - Burns, Green, McEachren, Khouri, Vernam - Kabia. So three newbies in there. We all looked forward to see what the new version of Artellball was going to look like. For Crawley, there was a familiar name in former Town favourite Gavan Holohan. 6,806 spectators were at Blundell Park today.

But first it was tifo time. Not time for tea, but people holding up cards. Not sure why but that's what some did in the Pontoon upon instruction. It was not quite the standard of the Beijing Olympics but at least I now know what a tifo is. All we were missing is vuvuzelas and everyone being told to follow the preset mass-choreographed routines of the Birdie Song. That's for the future - hopefully not - but coming back to the here and now it was game on. Town started the new season, kicking off towards the Osmond end. Vernam showed his skill in the first minute, bursting between two defenders but his cross was cleared. Town won a free kick deep in the Crawley half after 3 minutes. A short passing movement allowed Sweeney to hit a fierce shot which Davies did well to save on 6 minutes a good through ball from Tharme saw Green descending on Davies. Green attempted to chip Davies and in his follow through fell over the Crawley keeper. The referee awarded a penalty. Kabia stepped up and drilled the ball low to Davies's right. Town 1, Crawley 0. Town had been on top but it seemed a harsh penalty decision. Town then won a corner after an interception by McEachren and good skill by Burns. Green went close with a low header. On 16 minutes a mazy run from Vernam, who had started well, led to a cross which Burns stabbed wide. Another attack moments later involving Green and Kabia resulted in a corner. Burns found Green whose header was inches over. Town were dominating this game so far. Burns won a corner with a cross on 24 minutes as Crawley continued to struggle. Crawley did win a corner on 28 minutes but magnificent anticipation by McEachen saw Town start an attack which was stopped when Scott fouled Vernam in the Crawley half. Following the free kick Town won a corner. Burns teed up Vernam for a cross which McJannet ran onto, hammering his header into the top corner. Town 2, Crawley 0. The game was halted on 35 minutes for an injury to Crawley's Forster. But Town were unstoppable so far, breaking forward on the restart. After good work by Kabia. Vernam and Sweeney combined. Seeeney's cross-shot was high and saved easily by Davies. Town earned their sixth corner after good work by Burns. Crawley struggled to clear their lines on 42 minutes and Town pressed again, but Rodgers's side-footer was clumsy and went well over. Town continued to apply pressure as 7 minutes were added to the half. It was a scrappy end but Town could have added to their lead when on minutes Kabia took advantage of hesitation by Conroy and delivered a shot which skimmed the crossbar. So 2 - 0 it was to Town at half time. I can't remember seeing such a dominant performance. Crawley's error-strewn and leaden play were matched by Town's fluidity. I had seen teams recover after a woeful start so a Town victory was not a foregone conclusion, but we were well on top here.

Crawley started the second half by winning a corner. It came to nothing. Town were soon back to the composed display they had shown in the first 45 minutes, moving the ball around with purpose. Crawley won another corner on 56 minutes after capitalising on a weak clearance by Rodgers. Brown then had a shot from range but it was mishit and well wide of the target. The game stopped for attention to McEachren while Crawley made substitutions. On the restart Town moved forward quickly. Vernam laid the ball off to Sweeney in Crawley's box. Seeeney's shot was saved low at the near post by Davies. Vernam and Sweeney were working well on the left for Town. 63 had passed. Burns pounced on a defensive error. His shot was blocked by the ball came back to Khouri who fired a low during shot though the defence and past Davies's outstretched left hand. Town 3, Crawley 0. The margin of the lead was totally deserved. Four minutes later Roles chipped a ball upfield. Tharme misjudged it, allowing the dangerous Tschimanga to seize possession. With Pym rushing out, Tschimanga's chip sailed over the bar. This was Crawley's best and only chance so far. Relentless Town responded with another well worked attacking move. After 70 minutes and with Town still in control, Gardner and Walker came in for Green and Kabia who had both played a significant part in Town's fine performance. After every stoppage Town had seized the initiative and once again Town were on the attack, with a shot by Gardner being deflected before Khouri fired in a shot which he was unable to control. There was an ironic cheer when Crawley's Williams had a shot on target on 80 minutes. On 82 minutes Amalazor replaced Burns, with Warren and Briwn coming on for Rodgers and Vernam as the clock ticked down with the game out of sight. Town continued with their fluid passing game, even with the substitutes on. All Mr Artell's talk about training routines was being enacted in the game. As the 90th minute approached, Conroy received a yellow card for a dreadful foul on Khouri deep into the Crawley half. It hadn't been a dirty game. As 5 minutes were added, a cross from Brown had to be tipped over the bar by Davies. I can't recall ever seeing such a one-sided game. Town's skill, work rate and determination were such that Crawley were eclipsed. Town didn't stop for 90 minutes. With seconds left, Town put together another fluid move, with Walker crossing to Amalazor whose overhead bicycle kick was unsuccessful. But for Town this was an entirely successful day. It ended: Grimsby Town 3, Crawley Town 0.

E stands for Experience and hopefully Excitement, while according to Mr Artell P is for Progress. It's too early to be making predictions with 45 league games to go but we can add P for promising. I wouldn't say today's performance from Town was always exciting, and it didn't need to be, but it was highly professional, clinical and skilful. The teamwork and endeavour were outstanding. So the on-pitch experience was impressive. This is the kind of experience which leads to justified eulogising and other good things.

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