Open bus parade for Grimsby Town’s promotion heroes

An open top bus parade will take place on Tuesday to celebrate Grimsby Town’s promotion to the Football League.

The Mariners secured a famous promotion back to League Two on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Solihull Moors at the London Stadium. It was the third play-off game in a row Grimsby had won in extra time after coming from behind.

An open top bus will carry the Grimsby Town players and staff through the area to allow fans to greet the promotion heroes and celebrate with them.

It will set off from Blundell Park at around 5pm on a route which will take in parts of Cleethorpes and Grimsby, before arriving at Town Hall Square close to 6.30pm.

Thousands of fans are expected to be in attendance to pay tribute to the team, and there will be speeches from officials and players from the club before heading inside the Town Hall for a civic reception.

This will be hosted by Mayor of North East Lincolnshire Stephen Beasant, and leader of North East Lincolnshire Council Philip Jackson at 7pm.

The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire Council with a Grimsby Town scarf, celebrating the success of the team. | Photo: North East Lincolnshire Council

Councillor Stephen Beasant, Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, said: “What the club has achieved this season is fantastic it is. The team’s performance in the play-offs has been inspirational, coming from behind each time with extra-time goals sealing their wins.

“The atmosphere from those games is spilling over into the borough and the whole town is buzzing with what they’ve achieved and what’s to come next season.

“I’d like to congratulate the club on their success and the town is immensely proud of the way they’ve worked hard together to put themselves back in the football league.

“We want to celebrate their accomplishments and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to arrange a civic reception for the club so quickly.

“I’m sure supporters will turn out in large numbers on Tuesday to congratulate the players, officials and everyone at the club on their success.”

Several roads on the route will have to be temporarily closed while the event takes place, with motorists in the area being told to expect delays.

Roads close to the Town Hall, such as Victoria Street, East Street, Town Hall Street and Town Hall Square, will close at 5pm with some buses being diverted for a short time in the evening.

The route is as follows:

• 5pm set off from Blundell Park along Grimsby Road to Isaacs Hill
• Right into A46 Clee Rd and Weelsby Road
• Turn right at Nuns Corner into Bargate
• Right at Deansgate bridge
• Church Lane, Bethlehem Street and Osbourne Street
• Arrive Town Hall Square at about 6:30pm
• Civic reception in Grimsby Town Hall from 7pm to 8pm

There will be no access to or from Grimsby Town Hall car park from 5pm, with Abbey Walk multi-storey the nearest car park to the Town Hall.

It will remain open until 9pm and parking will be free after 5pm. This can be accessed via Garden Street to avoid potential congestion on Osborne Street and Bethlehem Street.

Grimsby Town Football Club’s Chief Executive Debbie Cook said: “It’s fantastic that the open bus tour and civic reception have been organised so speedily and my thanks go to everyone involved in this.

“We are absolutely thrilled with our promotion. We can’t underestimate what the Club’s promotion back into the Football league means to the people of this Town and Mariners fans everywhere.

“It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate this success with them in this way. Our supporters, this community, have been incredible, and we want to celebrate that and thank the whole Town.”