There was a huge sense of anticipation and excitement around Blundell Park for David Artell’s first home game in charge of Grimsby Town – and it was picked up on by the man himself.
The Mariners faithful have longed for a feeling of genuine optimism this season after a difficult few months. At home, results have not been terrible, but the performances have not often lifted fans out of their seats or given them a reason to feel positively back the team.
Grimsby teams of the distant past have seen how Blundell Park as a ground and the support that fills it can be a genuine asset to the side. Conditions are often difficult but adaptable for the home team that are used to playing in them, and the crowd are packed in tight to the pitch, so can be heard when they want to be.
READ MORE: Artell’s pride as ‘dominant’ Grimsby Town blunt Crewe Alexandra’s sharp edge
At the foundation of most successful teams is a solid home record, made possible by creating an environment that is awkward for away teams that enter it and, at some point, it seems as though that feeling has been lost at Blundell Park.
However, for Saturday’s victory over Crewe Alexandra, the crowd were ready to back their new gaffer and his players and the visiting team struggled to adapt to the difficult conditions, which in the end was the difference for Town.
Artell said: “There was a period in the second half [of the Crewe game] when I could hear the crowd and I thought: ‘This could be a cauldron’. I understand that it’s not that at the minute and there were a few empty seats about and I understand why.
“We’re close to Christmas, it’s cold, wet and windy. The team haven’t inspired anyone with their performances to come and take a punt on a Saturday afternoon in the hope of watching a good game.
“There was still a point where I thought this could be, not quite Galatasaray, but not far off that! There was a real atmosphere and I thought that this could be an intimidating place to come to for away teams, which made me have a little wry smile to myself.”
Name-dropping the Turkish giants, although done in jest, is quite the comparison to make, and what it does show is that Artell sees the potential to rebuild the fortress of Blundell Park back to its strongest.
Doing just that is part of this “journey” that the new man in the dugout continues to reference, on which he hopes the fans will quickly jump on board.
He added: “[The fans] were terrific and sang all afternoon and I hope they’ve seen that change in mindset a change in the attitude and performance levels. There are people in this crowd who would’ve seen thousands of games, and they will know what is acceptable from a Grimsby team.
“We’re at the start of this journey that I keep mentioning, but I think they can see that the seeds have already been sewn in terms of improving how this team plays and now we have to keep going.”
If how Saturday’s game unfolded and the reaction of the crowd is anything to go by, Artell has already made progress on making home feel like home again for Grimsby after just one game at Blundell Park.
Original story at https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/