York Team News

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 04/01/2002

PHIL JEVONS (ankle), Stacey Coldicott (back) and Tony Gallimore (leg) all are carrying knocks ahead of Saturday's FA Cup third round tie at home to York City, but all three are expected to be fit in time to play the Minstermen on the most exciting Saturday in the football calendar.

Right-sided defender Alan Neilson is still recovering from the slight hamstring strain that caused him to miss New Year's day's 0-0 draw at in-form Barnsley, but he is also expected to be declared fit for duty in a match in which Town have the rare distinction of being strong favourites to progress to the 4th round.

Stuart Campbell, who returned on the bench for Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Oakwell is expected to continue his comeback from injury with another substitute place.

Jonathan Rowan and Paul Raven are still not quite ready to return to first team action, so new Grimsby player manager Paul Groves will have almost the same pool of players for the FA Cup 3rd Round clash as he has had for his first two games in charge, and which were available for Lennie Lawrence's last two matches.

It is expected that Groves will stick with the 5-3-2 formation that Groves has employed to date, largely through availability of personnel - the Town player-manager has expressed a preference to return to a 4-4-2 line-up when all his squad are available to him.

Grimsby (from): Danny Coyne, Simon Ford, Paul Groves, Tony Gallimore, Danny Butterfield, Stacy Coldicott, Wayne Burnett, Menno Willems, Ben Chapman, Phil Jevons, Chris Thompson, Alan Neilson, David Smith, Michael Jeffrey, Stuart Campbell, Steve Croudson, Michael Boulding.

Tomorrow's match referee Mr Roger Fernandiz has planned a 9am pitch inspection ahead of the FA Cup third round clash with York City, Mariners Net reports.

The cold weather, which was responsible for the many cancellations of the Christmas and New Year fixtures, has threatened to throw tomorrow's game in doubt.

However, temperatures are expected to rise and the Blundell Park pitch should be declared fit to play on sometime tomorrow.

Grimsby Town are appealing for fans to book early to prevent a rush at the ticket office on the day.

Season ticket holders can claim their tickets up to 5pm today after which they will go on open sale.

Fans can also pay at the following selected turnstiles: