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Fishy:
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Dave:
I don't know where or when the affectionate name of COD 'ED came about, I class myself as one because I am a fervent supporter of GTFC. My late Father was born on the West Marsh but I was born at Tattershall where my parents kept the village Pub - The Black Horse Inn.
Fishy:
When did you first start supporting the Mariners, and what was your first game?
Dave:
My first match at the tender age of 7 was Town v Aston Villa the first game of GTFC's last season in the top flight. I think we won 3-0.
Fishy:
Who is the best player you ever saw wearing a Grimsby Town shirt?
Dave:
There has been many great players to grace GTFC but in my humble opinion Jeff Whitefoot stands out. We signed him from Man United just before the Munich Disaster and we sold him to Notts Forest - he went on to win an FA Cup medal with them against Luton Town.
Fishy:
If there is one game you were allowed to go back in time and watch what would it be and why?
Dave:
If there was a game I would like to go back to it was in August 1958. Oh to be 18 again eh! it was on my 18th Birthday and it was the first game of a new season at Anfield against Liverpool in Div 2. We had Don Donavon making his debut (from Everton) and Ron Cockerill (both of these players sons also played for GTFC in later years). Town were 3-2 down when Goalkeeper Clarrie Williams was stretchered off and our Irish International winger Johnny Scott went in goal and with 10 men Town finished up drawing 3-3. Liverpool went on that season to win Div 2 and have played in the top flight ever since.
Fishy:
What are your favourite and least favourite away grounds?
Dave:
My favourite ground is St James's Park Newcastle. There is always a brilliant atmosphere there as the Geordies are passionate about their football It was most pleasurable in Keegan's wonderland to be the first team to beat them 1-0 up there. I was also working up there at the time and one of my bosses rang me to get his son a Newcastle shirt for Xmas and when I got to the ground there was a massive queue I thought was for Match Tickets and it turned out to be for the club shop!
I hate going to grounds where you have to stand or sit in the open when it is raining. Accrington and Chesterfield spring to mind.
Fishy:
What, in your opinion, are GTFC's best and worst seasons since you have been supporting them?
Dave:
The best season for me was in the Eighties when we finished 5th or 6th in Div 2 with the Moores and the Drinkells local lads, The 97-98 season with the two visits to Wembley is a close 2nd.
The worst has got to be the last two seasons and the present one also.
Fishy:
What is the most eventful day you have ever had in the course of following the Mariners?
Dave:
The most eventful day has to be the first Wembley game. I took all my family there and my young grandson, I had always said I would never go to Wembley unless Town got there. I shaved my head and the missus painted it Black and White I have shaved my head ever since.
Fishy:
What is the strangest thing you have ever done at a game?
Dave:
The strangest thing that ever happened to me was one Good Friday in the 70's. I was going to the match with my neighbour Jack Lewis who was injured at the time and not playing. I was waiting to have a cartilage operation done and as we were entering the Main Stand I realised I had forgotten to get a programme so I spun round and my knee gave way I ended up on the BP treatment table with Mr McCoy the town physio strapping it up for me before I watched the game.
Fishy:
What is the worst game you've ever been to?
Dave:
The worst games I have been to was the 7-0 pasting at Oldham. We were 6-0 down and we left at half time, got to the car and were blocked in and had to sit in the car until after the match grrrr. Another game I hated was the 5-0 defeat at Lincoln. I had left the car at my daughter's, about a 3 mile walk from Sincil Bank. I had to walk amongst Lincoln Supporters and take a lot of Flack!!
Fishy:
Who is the greatest ever GTFC manager?
Dave:
Town's best Manager has to be Alan Buckley for all he achieved in his first 2 stays.
Fishy:
What's the most amusing chant you've heard at a game?
Dave:
Two amusing moments come to mind firstly when we played Liverpool at Anfield in the Cup and the Kop were singing: There's only one Kenny Dogfish, Phil Eel, Jimmy Plaice etc great sense of humour the scousers. The second one was comical bearing in mind it was the 70's when there was no racial issues, The Barnsley Fans were chanting at Tony Ford and making noises to him when the Pontoon simultaneously chimed that We'd rather be a coloured man than a Yorkie.
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?
Dave:
I attend all home games as a season ticket holder and if I think I am getting value for money I also attend probably 10 or 12 away games - this season I have been to 3 !!
Fishy:
Name your all-time starting eleven since you have been watching Town?
Dave:
Nigel Batch,John McDermott, Dean Crombie Dicky Connor, Allenby Chilton,Jeff Whitefoot, Johnny Scott, Matt Tees, Ron Rafferty, Jimmy Fell, Kevin Drinkell.
Dave Herriott
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