Mariners look for pre-season cup success

Grimsby have today announced plans to enter into the Errea tournament held in Devon.

A statement from the organisers of the tournament:

Following detailed discussions, we are delighted to confirm that an invitation to compete in the 2009 Challenge Cup has been accepted by Grimsby Town of the Football League Division 2.

The Club managed by Mike Newell will now join with other declared participants in the Errea Cup Draw, scheduled to take place at the end of May; publication of the Fixture List together with Fixture venues and provisional kick-off times will be published in full, as previously indicated, on the Challenge Cup website on Monday 1st June 2009.
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Tournament Secretary Heather Schofield commented:

We are particularly pleased to welcome Grimsby Town to the competition as last year, they actually visited the region, toured the training grounds and potential host venues with a view to playing in the inaugural year of the event. Owing to concerns over the travel and schedule of other games they had already planned, they concluded that it would be better for them to forfeit the slot. This year and based on their experience of how the event was run last year, they have gladly accepted entry.

We delayed our announcement to ensure that the replacement side selected would fit the overall structure and seeding of the competition sides entered for the competition; it has always remained a key objective of this competition that there are absolutely no big fish alongside minnows and, as demonstrated last year, that games played are competitive and good value to paying members of the public.

The Tournament Executive extends a warm welcome to Grimsby Town and their supporters and we thank them for their decision to travel to the region as representatives of Lincolnshire and Division 2.

Tickets for the tournament are expected to be released shortly including Advance Purchase Supersaver Tickets for Grimsby Town supporters.

Other teams involved in the tournament are : Barnstaple Town, Bideford AFC, Eastleigh, Exeter City, Ilfracombe, Kidderminster Harriers, Luton Town, RRFC Montegne, Rushden and Diamonds, Wycombe Wanderers and Yeovil Town.