Welcome FGR

Quoted from diehardmariner

Fleetwood were in the North West Premier when Andy Pilley took over about thirteen years ago.  He's bankrolled them to about eight promotions since.  

FGR were at least an established Conference side by the time Vince took over, Pilley just used his vast resources far better than Vince has.  

If a team has won enough games to be promoted it deserves their place in the ladder, equally so if a team loses enough games it deserves to go down - irrespective of size, population and history.  If we're going down this path we might as well just look at a list of the best populated cities and towns in the country each weekend and not bother with the charade of a season at all.  Surely the appeal of football is the fact that it's 11 v 11 come game day and whilst resources (including fanbase) have an impact, it's what happens in the 90 minutes that count really?

Yes we can say that. We relish the David v Goliath games don't we?

The question is more about origins I think. Clubs that are traditional have their roots in a community and it is basically that community that gives rise to the club and winds it up through the leagues. So yes, we can say FGR had a tiny club community base and deserved the plaudits for reaching what we might call the acme of its development - promotion to the 5th tier. We could say much the same about Fleetwood who only gained a sugar daddy when he couldn't get Blackpool.

From there on, the story changes and has more in common with MK Dons. Both Fleetwood and FGR are effectively franchises. There is a thin line between the Walkers of Blackburn, the Haywards of Wolves, the Fentys of Grimsby and these two backers but I think it is there and quite distinctly. These blokes don't love the club or the community, they are in love with the idea of adulation for somehow producing a miracle from nothing.

Wrexham now have the dubious honour of being in the Conference the longest. Poor buggers.

I find it hard to dislike FGR that much. All clubs overspend including our own. I also don't like the idea that attendances should dictate your place in the pyramid.

Quoted from Cayman_mariner

Saw that Hagrid and it annoyed me too. Can't stand that guy - hopefully he'll be about as accurate as he was with his promise to be champions this year.

He also vowed to his bride " 'til death us do part" ....look how that came back to bite him!!  

Quoted from crusty ole pie

Hope they get Leeds in one of the cups now that would really test the capabilities of both the ground and the stewards

If that happened, Stale Mince would be getting his ground handed back to him in a skip.

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

If that happened, Stale Mince would be getting his ground handed back to him in a skip.

Remembering what happened when we played them in 82 and what happened to the Findus, he should invite Leeds down for the last match at the New Lawn. Save a fortune on dismantling costs.

Well done to them, they deserve it, I always enjoy going there, don't really understand the bitterness

Hopefully they'll be straight back down

Quoted from codcheeky

Well done to them, they deserve it, I always enjoy going there, don't really understand the bitterness

One of the pleasures of promotion was we'd get a good few away supporters in the away end, for a better atmosphere and more money in the till at BP.
At least Hartlepool and Orient brought a few.

Quoted from wigworld

One of the pleasures of promotion was we'd get a good few away supporters in the away end, for a better atmosphere and more money in the till at BP.
At least Hartlepool and Orient brought a few.

If we can get the gimps at home before their bubble bursts they might just actually make up for that !!!!

Excellent post by Heppy, totally agree with your sentiments.  Dale Vince is a man of high integrity, morals and values.  Is that a reason to attack FGR as a football club.....  He is passionate about animals, wildlife,and the environment, but hang on, in Grimsby fans eyes that makes him some kind of freak does it...... for actually caring about the planet.  Like the original poster, I fully welcome FGR into league football, the attitude of a lot of Grimsby fans on here is pathetic.  I would swap our Chairman for Dale Vince in a heartbeat.

UTM