EVERY ONES A WINNER

Printed in the FA Cup 1st round game v Grimsby Town Sunday 5th November 2023  We drew 1-1 in front of a record Arbour Park crowd of 2,205

I must admit Grimsby Town had never really been on my football radar. I've never been there - the nearest I've got as a Slough supporter is Gainsborough in the FA Cup first round, and we all know what happened there! (6-0 to the Rebels since you ask). I know it was famous for its fish, but like all older industries had struggled economically.

Then I started clocking articles by one of their new owners that totally resonated with me about what a football club can achieve away from the 90 minutes on the pitch.

The articles were written by Jason Stockwood co-chair of Grimsby Town and majority shareholder. He left the town at 18 and eventually became a successful businessman in the travel, insurance and tech industries. He is honest about his past being brought up by his grandma and a single parent mum on a council estate with three brothers with different dads ‘an undercurrent of alcoholism, and casual violence; basically a full house on those recently-minted social deprivation indexes.’

Gradually the pull of his old town – and the fact that his children started getting cockney accents – drew him back. I often wonder about being away from a place gives you the chance to see it from a new perspective, with all its opportunities rather than just its problems?

In a recent article he wrote : “Football serves as an alibi for intimacy, an excuse we sometimes need to be together. The matchday rituals represent certainty, comfort, and hope in an increasingly complex world. We can orient ourselves and sometimes anchor ourselves by sharing the same experiences and spaces. It’s a chance to do something and nothing together for a few hours each week. The first day of the season reminded me of the first day back at school – people greeting each other like they hadn’t seen each other for years, animated by familiarity and excited about the renewal that the space of six weeks has opened up for us all.

There is something uniquely powerful about football and the connection it creates with the people and the place I love. Those connections and relationships are the essence of life and, for me, represent the most positive use of our time.”

The clubs community partners include Navigo (mental health), East Marsh United (who tackle everything from housing, education to arts and a whole lot more inbetween) and the NSPCC, while the players support the Sunflowers Children’s Action Group – a local charity for children suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

Infact what Grimsby Town are trying to do – with a lot less money – is similar to Wrexham. It’s easy to focus on just the money being pumped into the Welsh club, which has obviously made a massive difference. But it seems to me that those Hollywood owners have really made an effort to understand the place and how they can help build on its strengths that benefit everyone economically and socially.

I managed to ask Jason a few questions before todays big game (and after they’d just partied ways with their manager).

Q: Have supporters bought in to all the community stuff that you are doing ? Have the community organisations benefited from increased exposure?

"The number one priority for us as custodians is to improve the football and associated infrastructure. This will then give us the license to build on the community work our Foundation already does.

Away from the club I have co-founded another organisation more focused on

social impact called Our Future that has broader social aims. This has started to create momentum with a number of partners in the area. The football club is one of those.

Not sure if we have attracted new fans but hopefully some of those associated with the club are proud of the work we are trying to amplify and accelerate.”

Q When you’re having a sticky spell – like now – do people complain that all this other stuff is getting in the way of the football? How do you keep in touch with supporters and keep them on board?

“A few people do, but I always think this misses the point as it is not a zero sum game. In the same way as we were accused of focusing on upgrading the sausage rolls rather than the football when we had an early bad run. Football is our priority but we can multi-task.

We have 2 board members from our Supporters Trust on our board, we try to be transparent and available in the media, we do Fans Forums and I also write a column in The Guardian which reflects my personal views on football.”

Q The inspirational owner of Accrington Stanley Andy Holt has said he has had enough and wants to sell. Do you think all owners have a shelf life?

“Yes and they should. Like any business, everyone has a limited time to bring in new ideas but it should be finite. You should also move aside if someone can do a better job. The more worrying thing about Andy's comments have been about how ground down he has sounded about the risk vs reward of ownership. I'd be lying if I didn't say it isn't something I don't occasionally think about.”

Cheers Jason, and good luck for the rest of the season – well, apart from today.

So can a football club carry the place it represents on its shoulders? Can it remember its past but embrace future possibilities?

I think it can, but also with the right vision, in can break out from what happens on the pitch and lift and support all those other organisations trying to make a difference to peoples lives. I love what Grimsby Town are trying to achieve, the joy their supporters got from last seasons cup run. But if the whole town can also be given a new sense of optimism, better housing, more money in peoples pockets, more opportunities, then surely everyone is a winner whatever happens on the pitch?