The Big game
Local heroes Tony Sutton watches the derby match between Lincoln City and Grimsby Town, the rival English football teams that he followed as a child
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f you’re expecting to see pampered stars on multi-million pound salaries, you’re in the wrong place. Lincoln City don’t play in the English Premier League; they’re five divisions down, in a league named after its motor distributor sponsor – the Vanarama National League. But league status is not important tonight – it’s the biggest football match of the year. Lincoln, who play in the ancient East Midlands cathedral city, are facing their biggest rivals, Grimsby Town (aka the Mariners), who have travelled from what was once Britain’s biggest fishing port, 80 km away on the North Lincolnshire coast. These teams have met more than 100 times in various contests, with Grimsby (aka the Mariners) being the most successful, since they won the first tussle 1-0 way, way, back in 1884. ——————— My home town, Horncastle, lies midway between the two. I spent my pre- and early-teen years watching Lincoln, while supporting the Mariners. Why didn’t I watch Grimsby? Two reasons: Ease of transport – there were regular bus services to Lincoln every half-hour, while the
38 ColdType | Mid-May 2016 | www.coldtype.net
TROUBLE BREWING: Grimsby fans set off fireworks in the stand at Sincil Bank, the Lincoln ground.