Millwall, 20th January 1996

Hello again and welcome back to Get With The Programme, an occasional celebration of Grimsby Town matchday programmes. Today we're going back to January 1996 as Town prepare to face West Ham in the FA Cup by hosting The Hammers London rivals, Millwall to Blundell Park. 

The heady days of sitting in second place of the Division One table are far behind Town as the side find themselves mired on a dismal run of form that has left them winless in their last six outings in the league (the last league win was on November 23rd 1995 when Ivano Bonetti scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over Tranmere at BP) although morale has been boosted thanks to a 7-1 demolition of Luton Town in the team's last home outing. 

Goalkeeper Paul Crichton is our cover star, modelling a fetching and very 90s goalkeeper shirt while inside we are introduced to today's visitors who are managed by future Republic of Ireland World Cup gaffer Mick McCarthy. 

The Blundell Park news informs us that there are bargains to be had in the club shop January sale and that fans can pick these items up from either the club shop or the (much missed) club section at Asda. The second issue of the Mariners Independent News is nearing completion while the fund to keep Ivano at the club is £8 better off following the efforts of the Raworth brothers of Sutcliffe Avenue on their sponsored run. Finally, a Mr Risley is in the money after scooping the £235 jackpot of the half time bonanza.

Who remembers Chicago's? For many Grimsby kids it was THE birthday party venue (well either there or Fantasy World, I'm digressing here but did anyone else's mum warn you against the dangers of eating the sausages at FW?), well to make it even cooler, the players even hung out here (evidenced by them all looking really pleased as they sipped their soft drinks..). 

Local songsmiths The Rumble Band were at the Luton game and took to the field to have a photo with Mighty Mariner to promote their special gig at the Auditorium which formed part of John McDermott's (first) testimonial season. 

Our central pages depict action from the New Year's Day draw with Huddersfield with the picture capturing Steve Livingstone's goal celebration before the action shifts to the opposite page and shows us Jamie Forrester netting the first of Town's magnificent seven against Luton. 

As we see the individual kit sponsor for each player, former Sheffield United man Ashley Fickling is profiled before the programme comes to an end with a primitive version of @OnThisGTFCDay as The Mariners fortunes on January 20th down the years are documented. 


Future/Former Mariners

Remarkably, none of the players in Millwall's ranks on this day had either played for Town previously or would go on to ply their trade at Blundell Park. The closest we get are Tony Witter and Jason van Blerk who turned out for Scunthorpe United and Hull City later in their respective careers.



That's your lot for this one. Do you have any memories of this game? Do you have any requests for specific programmes you'd like to see? Hit me up on Twitter @Dan_BarkerGray and I'll see what I can do. 

All the best and Up The Mariners! 

Dan







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