Andy Lumbard

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 17/08/2000

This site is written by fans for fans and each week we interview a prominent "Cod Head" as part our commitment to fans of Grimsby Town FC. We regularly need new cod heads, so please contribute if you are a lifelong supporter of the Mariners. This week's Cod Head is Andy Lumbard.

Fishy: When did you first start supporting the Mariners, and what was your first game? Andy: My first visit to Blundell park was with my dad and grandad around 1970. Although the mind is dimming now I think it was against Southend, and having checked on the Fishy it was 29/9/70, a 2-0 win. I then went regularly with my grandad and stood in The Barratt Stand. A couple of seasons later i migrated to The Pontoon with my school mates, and was a regular home supporter until the end of the '76/77 season.

It is after this period that my path started to wander, and I throw myself before the reader and ask for forgiveness.
You see, I have always been a lover of live sport. I left Grimsby to work in Middlesborough, and spent a season at Ayresome Park watching my football. Although I did go to see Town at Darlo.
Three years at college and living in Beverley turned me into a Rugby League player and follower of Hull K.R. home and away.
A move to the Midlands found me living close to Coventry, so they were my live sport for two seasons, which included the Cup Final (but we only went to the semi).
But, finally with my son, Ross, so keen on football, there was only ever going to be one team he would support, and we find ourselves once again watching my first love, and sharing experiences through this site with the other ex-pats around the world.
If only the internet were around in '77 I wouldn't have strayed

Fishy:
Who is the best player you ever saw wearing a Grimsby Town shirt?

Andy:
Matt Tees & Stuart Brace (I was AWOL for the Bonetti years)

Fishy:
If there is one game you were allowed to go back in time and watch what would it be and why?

Andy:
Like most of the previous Cod Heads I too would go back to the '71/72 season, but my chosen match would be the League Cup game against 1st division Norwich City. An epic 1-1 draw. To my dying day I will be convinced that THAT header by Tees from the penalty spot at The Osmond End went in. The crowd, which I guess must have been around 18000, went wild. But then the realisation dawned that it had shaved the top of the crossbar and run down the back of the net.

Fishy:
What are your favourite and least favourite away grounds?

Andy:
Least favourite - Darlington
Favourite - Wolves, strangely enough.

Fishy:
What, in your opinion, are GTFC's best and worst seasons since you have been supporting them?

Andy:
The best would have to be the "Wembley" twice season. Not being around for the Lyons years it looks like I may have missed the worst years, but I remember looking back at the evening game at Oxford with Clive scoring twice only to lose 3-2 to a last minute goal which ultimately could have been the difference between us staying up and going down.

Fishy:
What is the most eventful day you have ever had in the course of following the Mariners?

Andy:
Living and working in Northamptonshire certainly made the play-off weekend eventful. The minikit in the back of my car still gets the evil-eye from the postman who is a Cobblers season ticket holder. Also bumping into Northampton friends and acquaintances on Wembley Way, although the standard reply to "I didn't realise you supported Grimsby" was "I didn't know you supported Northampton".

Fishy:
Who is the greatest ever GTFC manager?

Andy:
Lawrie Mac

Fishy:
How many games a season do you get to now, and what do you do while Town are playing games that you can't get to?

Andy:
We try to get to about 10 away games in the Midlands and South, but may not do that this season, as there is not quite as many Southern teams in the division this year. When I'm not at the match I will either be at Warwick races, on the golf course at Stowe School or listening to the game on Real Audio whilst in the Chatroom.

Fishy:
Name your all-time starting eleven since you have been watching Town?

Andy:
Davison, McDermott, Worthington, Handyside, Cummings, Waters, Chatterly, Boylen, Brace, Tees, Mendonca.
Subs. Drinkell, Wainman, Hubbard,Butterfield.

Fishy:
Do your children support the Mariners?

Andy:
Ross (7) is tending to drift towards Chelsea, probably because of the peer pressure at school. However, as he has no chance of ever seeing them live, I have plenty of time to swing him back to Town as it is the team that he goes to watch. Ellen (12) claims to be a Northampton fan as it is the town of her birth, but she enjoys coming to the Town games, and always wants a scarf to wear.

Andy Lumbard

If you would like to be a Cod Head please send an email at once to Rob Sedgwick.

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