A fixture with a purpose

The Wilderness Boys v The Mariners – A Fixture with Purpose

Grimsby Borough FC (The Wilderness Boys) are proud to announce details of our upcoming pre-season home fixture against our EFL neighbours Grimsby Town FC (The Mariners) a game that promises to be one of the highlights of our summer calendar, both on and off the pitch.

The two sides will meet on Tuesday 8th July at Bradley Football Development Centre, with Borough preparing for another competitive season in the Northern Premier League East, while The Mariners begin their build-up to a fresh EFL League Two campaign under Artell and Pearson.

With plenty of excitement around the GTFC squad and potential new summer signings, we’re expecting strong demand for tickets and thanks to the Bradley FDC (Lincs Inspire), we’ve been able to increase capacity to 1,500 to give more fans the chance to attend.

But this fixture is about more than just football. In a move that reflects both clubs’ commitment to the local community, Grimsby Borough will donate the full value of every ticket sold after the 1,000 mark to The Grimsby Town Foundation and The Mariners Trust. That means every additional ticket could help raise thousands of pounds for vital local projects with a target total of £5,000 if we sell out.

Jason Flint - Chairman

"We are obviously delighted to host our EFL neighbours in pre-season again before our upcoming NPL season. The Mariners had a really positive year last season and will undoubtedly be preparing for another tough campaign in League Two, where fans will be excited for another potential push for the play-offs.

The fixture plays a huge part in our commercial setting as it gives our club a massive opportunity to benefit from the many GTFC fans who will want to see their latest squad on their doorstep, and I'd like to thank The Mariners - particularly David and Shaun for their continued support with the fixture. It's no secret that Grimsby Borough and the volunteers here have to work tirelessly to raise the funds required to operate and exist within a non-league setting, and it isn't getting any easier. A sell-out at this game gives us a huge head start, and hopefully the many loyal and extremely committed Mariners support base attend our game.

We’ve discussed an initiative with Bradley FDC (Lincs Inspire), who have kindly allowed us to increase the attendance to 1,500. This led to conversations between myself, the Board of Directors, and our Management Team on how we can both improve the event and support GTFC on the back of it. I feel really proud of our approach as we look to continue our positive work within the local community.

I’ve been in conversation with Wayne Brightmore (Chairman at The Mariners Trust) about how we can capitalise on the opportunity and work together to make the fixture a stronger event for both clubs—something to look forward to for reasons outside of the 90 minutes of football. We’ve both agreed that raising money for The Grimsby Town Foundation and The Trust would have a huge impact on The Mariners' work within the community, and I genuinely hope this is something we can build on going forward.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the game and hope for an attendance we can all shout about. We wish The Mariners and everyone associated with the club all the very best for the upcoming season - we are all behind you."

Dan Barrett – First Team Manager

“We are really looking forward to the game vs the mariners. Grimsby had a very good season in my opinion last season and David and Shaun seem to have created a great environment.

The Dock Tower Derby is always a great occasion, and I’ll continue to say it, the Mariners fans are the best in the land! Due to our season being finished I was able to get to the game vs Wimbledon and what an atmosphere they created, it was electric. Long may it continue.

We have a great relationship with the club and Youth set up at Grimsby and the model working together has done well in previous seasons, Cam Gardner’s success story being the standout.

The club have been working behind the scenes alongside the existing sponsors we both share to come up with a plan to help benefit both clubs. Hopefully the idea of the Mariners trust and Grimsby Town foundation benefitting from our game, we will get some good numbers through the gate for an always exciting clash. Hopefully we will see you all down at the ground for the game in the famous black and white shirt (which is a thing of beauty).”

Wayne Brightmore – Chairman of The Mariners Trust

“The Mariners Trust are pleased to support Grimsby Borough FC's fantastic initiative, "The Wilderness Boys v The Mariners – A Fixture with Purpose." We sincerely thank Jason Flint and Grimsby Borough for their generous commitment to donate proceeds from ticket sales (after the first 1,000) to both The Grimsby Town Foundation and The Mariners Trust.

This act of community spirit will significantly boost our efforts and the Foundation's vital work in the local area. It's a brilliant example of how local clubs can collaborate for the greater good.

We hope Mariners fans turn out in force for this pre-season friendly on Tuesday 8th July at Bradley FDC. Let's pack the ground, support both teams, and help raise crucial funds for our community.

We look forward to a successful and well-attended event!

UTM!”

Blackrow Group – Club Sponsor

“A fantastic gesture from Boro ahead of The Dock Tower Derby.

As proud sponsors of both clubs, we’re thrilled to see the club pledging to donate all funds raised above 1,000 ticket sales to the Mariners Trust in support of the Grimsby Town friendly. A great example of football giving back to the community

Let’s pack out Bradley and help make a real difference!”

Tickets Available Now Tickets are available online via Eventbrite, at the GTFC Ticket Office, and in person at The Coach House, Humberston.

We’re calling on both Borough and Mariners fans to pack out Bradley FDC and make this more than just a pre-season fixture. With your support, we can create an electric atmosphere and raise vital funds for a fantastic local cause. Let’s sell it out, make some noise, and show what Grimsby football is all about.