January 20, 1936
Our thanks to our friends at Grimsby Town
Once more I desire to put Grimsby on the football map- For thirty years their present chairman has acted in a guiding, Bohemian spirit. Mr. George Pearce – and what a man! – has the good wishes of every sports writer who ever has the good fortune to make the long journey to Grimsby. He was chairman of the club in their every divisional aspect; they have had Midland League First, Second, Third Northern, and Third Southern Sections. It is a record unequalled by any other director in the country.
Grimsby fans.
Mr. Crampin, vice-chairman, took us to his “hold,” and the Liverpool party helped to judge the trials of the new trawler, Lincolnshire, the last word in fishing vessels. Of course, this trial trip was just up the street of the Anfield vice-chairman, Mr. James Hubert Troop, and he took with him the crew of Las Palmas, able Seamen William McConnell, Stanley Ronald Williams and George Alfred Richards, not forgetting the miller of Mossley Hill, Mr. W. Bibby, and a foreign-looking visitor with a strange and weird headpiece. The friend of “Mather” McQueen showed us the lassies of Grimsby doing their plain and purl stuff with ropes and twines and the striking plant-struck a note of awe in use as Mr. Aitken detailed the process of trawling fish, casting nets, and taking oil from “finnons” and “fick ‘uns.”
Yes, Grimsby, like Liverpool, is a most fascinating place. One remembers the time when their club had to borrow the money to provide the rail journey for an English Cup-tie; when Walter Scott, whom we knew only too well at Everton, was their goalkeeper, and, “in the mood,” was unbeatable; we remember their Joseph of many colours, Robson; the true story of his four goals at Everton in a relegation foursome. He had a bad head, he said, and could not play. Mr. Pearce kidded him to play and, as usual, promised anyone who got a hat-trick a new hat. Robson got his three at Goodison, and, looking up at the directors’ box, indicated to his chairman: “That’s a hat-trick, and don’t forget my new hat.” After the game, Robson said ruefully. “Gee, I wish I hadn’t had a bad head to-day; I could have collected a bag-full!”
After the game at Grimsby we took the hand of Jack Fish, a Baker, and a host of others whose names I cannot recall, because their official programme, alone in this respect, does not name any officer of the club, which is a sign of their all-together features. Manager Womack, a first-class trimmer at full-back, is nowadays first-class manager, and if I tell you the club has had two gates this season of £300 you will realise how clever this club is to find players, pay their way, and make us acclaim them “the finest sporting club in the League.”
(Source: Liverpool Echo: January 20, 1936)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 