It's looking Grim

Grimsby Town v Darlington

Coca-Cola League Two

Saturday 1st November 2008, 3pm

Grimsby finished in another disappointing mid-table position after early struggles last season.

Alan Buckley in is third spell in charge has a big job on his hands. He pulled them clear of relegation trouble las season and faces another battle, as they hover above the drop zone.

Man to watch Paul Bolland Hard working midfielder with plenty of games at this level.

Full match preview on the D@rlo Uncovered website.

Blundell Park is of course, as every anorak knows, in Cleethorpes - not in Grimsby itself. This is good on a number of counts - not just the fresh sea air, the choice of fish and chip shops, but a few decent pubs.

Away fans are housed in the Osmond Stand behind the goal - ticket prices in 2007-2008 were £18, £12 OAPs and 15-18-year-olds, £8 juniors 14 and under.

Grimsby Town FC: Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, Lincs, DN35 7PY Tel: (01472) 605 050 Official website History: Formed in 1878, turned professional in 1890 and founder members of League Division 2 in 1892. Record Attendance: 31,651 v Wolves FA Cup, 20 Feb 1937 Capacity: 9,106. Last season: 16th Honours: Div 2 champions 1900/02, 1933/34; Div 3 champions 1979/80; Div3N champions 1925/26, 1955/56; Div 4 champions 1971/72; Auto Windscreens Trophy & Div 2 play-off, 1998 Record victory: 10-0 v Boston Town, FA Cup, 24 October 1891 Defeat: 1-9 v Arsenal, Div 1, 28 Jan 1931 Nickname: The Mariners. Colours: Black and white stripes. Manager: Alan Buckley Chairman: John Fenty Players in: Matt Heywood (Brentford), Chris Llewellyn and Richard Hope (both Wrexham), Robbie Stockdale (Tranmere) Players out: Ciaran Toner. Famous fans/players/connections: Paul Futcher (player). There's a fantastic list of local celebs but none known to venture down to Blundell Park. Click for Streetmap of ground

A straightforward place to find, off the M180. Take the A4180 signs to Cleethorpes and the stadium is well sign-posted. Street parking is the only real option. AA Radiocars 01472 696969 Minicabs: 01472 360000 1st A&N Taxis 01472 600600 Fon-a-Car 01472 200300 Darlington FC Supporters Club Coach TBC Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club for more details.	Trains: A simple, 15 minute walk to Blundell Park. Left out of the station and along the seafront until you come to the ground! TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED

Willy's Pub and Brewery, 17 High Cliff Road (A1098), Cleethorpes Real ale enthusiast's pub on the seafront main road (less than 10 minutes walk south from station), including their own ale - unsurprisingly called Willy's - brewed next door. They also have a good lunchtime menu. Click for streetmap DAFTS recommended.

The Leaking Boot, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes Ugly-looking but an away-fan friendly pub a quarter of a mile from the ground, which also does good food as well as Vaux ales. DAFTS recommended Click for streetmap The Smugglers Inn, 12-14 High Cliff Road, Cleethorpes Another decent choice of ales on the seafront, almost next door to Willy's brew-pub. Banks and Smiles during our visit, Sky TV and hearty lunches. Quite a large cellar bar this, with various rooms. Open from 12 noon. At the ground at the visitors end is Scotties Bar, open from 1.30pm, includes TV and pies and peas.

No 1 Refreshment Room, 1 Station Approach, Cleethorpes. Excellent real ale pub at Cleethorpes station, with up to five ales on. There's also a children's room and pool table. Just off the end of the platforms at the station entrance a few yards away is the smaller "sister" pub, No 2 Refreshment Room, with a similar range of ales.DAFTS recommended. The Signal Box Inn, Pleasure Island station, Coast Light Railway, Cleethorpes If you've time and a magnifying glass, across town is another railway pub and one which claims to be the world's smallest inn. It's 8ft x 8ft and can serve four customers seated and two standing at once, although if the weather is fine there is a beer garden. It also serves five Hampshire real ales.

Do I really need to mention the fish and chips? Good choice on the seafront. There is also an excellent Indian restaurant (open lunchtimes) next to The Nottingham pub (corner of the seafront and Alexander Road). In the ground, there were good value pies at only £1.50 each and coffee in those plastic cups that burn your hands...

My experience of Cleethorpes - the butt of many a Les Dawson one-liner - is as an "OK" traditional seaside town, with the usual pub nightlife you might associate with such a place; decent fish and chips and in honour of the local industry. The Cleethorpes-ites have a strange habit of being in perpetual pub crawl, so don't seem to hang around at any bar much. There are quite a few pubs which are pretty poor and rough, but the ones we've listed are fine - among them are some good ale pubs. There are plenty of rides and amusements on the promenade, straight out of the railway station. Other attractions include the Cleethorpes Light Railway and in Grimsby, the Fishing Heritage Centre, Alexandra Dock, (next to Sainsbury). Tourist Information Centre, 42-43 Alexandra Road (01472) 3231111 or e-mail. The Tourism website frankly isn't very good, although there are telephone numbers for places to stay - no shortage this time of year, though not all open all year around. One that is open, on the front, and which we stayed at is Holmhirst Safari Hotel and Restaurant, 3 Alexandra Rd, Cleethorpes, 01472 692656. Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map Hotels/B&Bs Grimsby Telegraph Cleethorpes Online NE Lincs Council Surfing there... Spoilt for choice for websites. There's the truly wonderful Cod Almighty webzine, worth a look at any time, not just around the match for something cheerfully different and well written. Electronic Fishcake.com is the Rivals site, which is detailed and has a good guide for away fans, including that all-important chippie info. There is also the official site of course. Next away match: Brentford (Sat November 22nd) Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions. Back to index page No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling. © DAFTS 2008 If you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then