'The town is central to everyone’s identity and we’re all proud to be from here'

From sausages to strikers, the name Pettit is synonymous with Grimsby - and now it is backing the bid to be Town of Culture. Around 150 years ago, the Pettit family set up their small butchers in Grimsby.

Fast forward to today and now one of their descendants is the co-owner of the town’s football club. Back in 2021, Andrew Pettit became a part-owner, with the club firmly in the National League.

After continued investment and a desire to see the Mariners improve, Andrew and the board have helped them push for promotion into League One. As a huge pillar of the Grimsby community, he feels it is only right the club now back the bid and help make Grimsby the first ever Town of Culture.

Andrew said: “My family have always been from Grimsby. My great-grandad, grandad and father were all butchers; my family have been associated with the town for 150 years.

"When the opportunity came up to buy the club, I felt it was so important to the town and our identity, but also that it was a real opportunity to make a difference to a key civic institution. It’s not just a club or a stadium, but a place where everyone comes together on a Saturday for the same reason. Getting involved in the club was equally about giving back to the people of Grimsby.

“They’ve helped my family throughout the years and the people here are special. Their humour, humility and hard-working culture shows just how amazing they are.

“The town itself is central to everyone’s identity and we’re all proud to be from here. It was built on the fishing industry but has now been regenerated and is evolving in other areas, like the energy sector - some of which, such as the wind turbines, can be seen from inside the stadium itself.”

Looking ahead to the possibility of Grimsby achieving the award, he feels it would tie in perfectly with an important milestone for the club too. He said: “Town of Culture being in 2028 and that being our 150th anniversary year feels like fate.

“It goes without saying, we would be very proud to be associated with it should Grimsby win. Ultimately, it’s a town that is often underappreciated, but proud of itself - it’s called Great Grimsby for a reason.”

To find out more about Grimsby’s bid for the Town of Culture, visit GY28 - Grimsby's bid for UK Town of Culture 2028