|
 There's still a long way to go, but following a successful outcome at tonight's NELC Planning Committee meeting, GTFC has taken the first step towards a move to the new stadium at Great Coates.
GTST would like to thank all those who filled in stadium support forms, registered their support on Shona McIsaac's website and turned out in force at the Town Hall tonight. With probably 75-80% of the audience made up of Mariners' fans, the Committee could have been left in little doubt that there is in reality only a small minority of the local public against the building of the new stadium at Great Coates. Excellent presentations to the Committee by John Fenty, Canon Hunter, Oliver Cowling and our own Trust chairman Dave Otter also helped the Committee to make the only sensible decision possible. Below is a transcript of Dave's presentation to the Planning Committee.
Good evening my name is Dave Otter. I speak to you not only as the Chairman of Grimsby Town Supporters' Trust (which represents the fans of the Club) but also as someone who is proud to have been born and bred in the town and who cares deeply about the future of North East Lincolnshire and the quality of life of its residents.
In a footballing sense there can be little argument with the application that you are considering. After over 40 years of watching the Mariners playing at Blundell Park I have fond memories of, and great affection for, the current home of Grimsby Town Football Club. My father used to sit me on his pushbike all those years ago and cycle to the ground. I, in turn, made the fortnightly pilgrimage with my children. The place holds fantastic memories - particularly the days of Lawrie McMenemy, George Kerr and, more recently, Alan Buckley.
That does not detract, however, from reality. Blundell Park is no longer fit for purpose and that fact will never change whatever efforts are made to paper over the cracks. The facilities are antiquated and inadequate and do not, in any way, meet the requirements of a 21st century football club. Parking is a nightmare for fans and residents alike and no amount of redevelopment of current facilities will ever change that.
This application will enable the Club to offer better facilities, which will inevitably result in higher attendances and the ability to attract better players to the Club. It will also provide the opportunity for the Club to benefit from income streams for 365 days a year rather than the primarily football related income the club currently receives.
In short, it will enable the Club to survive without relying on the generosity of wealthy benefactors as is the case at the moment.
But this application is about so much more than a new stadium.
• It offers the possibility of significant inward investment and a retail development which may just persuade people to shop in NE Lincolnshire rather than travelling down the A180 to Meadowhall or Doncaster.
• It offers the promise of hundreds of full and part-time jobs within both the stadium and the retail development.
• It offers a real opportunity for enterprise and regeneration which will complement and enhance the Council’s excellent work in securing Local Enterprise Growth Initiative funding.
• It offers facilities that can only benefit and enhance the quality of life of local people.
• It will provide a fantastic gateway to Grimsby.
• It offers something we can all be proud of.
Even if you are not interested in football you cannot argue with the positives that this Club brings to the town when the team is doing well. It advertises the town, it promotes the town and it brings pride to the town. Ask anyone who lives elsewhere what they associate with Grimsby, they will say fishing and football. The fishing industry has all but died. Without a new stadium, and all its associated benefits, the same fate could befall professional football in this area and that cannot be allowed to happen. The Football Club is an integral part of our heritage and its demise would be a hammer blow, not only to the fans but to the whole of the area.
Tonight you have the opportunity to do something about that.
Please don’t let it die!
|
