The differing views of Wolves' special Grimsby Town trip - and a memorable Steve Bull hat-trick

THE GOALSCORER: STEVE BULL

We always seemed to go to Grimsby on a Tuesday night, when it was freezing cold, and lose 1-0.

But on that day, the first one of the season back in 1996/97, it was red hot.

We were like, ‘this ain’t Grimsby’, but it turned into an unbelievable afternoon.

For me, I scored a fair few goals on the opening day of seasons.  Mainly because I just couldn’t wait to get going!

After all those weeks of solid training, running until we dropped, I was just desperate to get out there and try and get on the scoresheet.

Going away from home on the opening day, you probably just wanted to make sure you took a point, but on that day we were clinical, and came away with all three.

Our fans filled that end behind the goal, which was fantastic to see, and I got the first two goals in front of them – I wish I’d got the third at that end as well.

All three came from assists from Froggy (Steve Froggatt) who was an absolutely brilliant player.

Him and Dales (Tony Daley) - it’s such a shame they had injury problems at Wolves because when they were fit, they were so good at supplying us.  

They would put the ball in the box, probably more so than wingers today, so we knew if we made the right runs, more often than not we’d have a chance.

That was a great day at Grimsby, the 17th of my 18 hat tricks, although I think I’ve only kept a couple of the matchballs.

I gave a lot of them away, to friends or charities.  For me, it was just about scoring the goals!

THE ASSISTER: STEVE FROGGATT

Grimsby away was a great start to the season and I was fortunate to have a couple of those during my time at Wolves.

A couple of years previously, my debut came on the opening day against Reading, and I managed to score early on before we got completely outplayed – and won 1-0!

Going into that 1996/97 season, I’d had a chat with Mark McGhee and said there were times playing as a winger when I had been a bit isolated, and that I wanted to become more involved in games.

He was changing the formation to using wing backs, which really helped, and on that day at Grimsby it still felt I was playing as a winger even though I was strictly a wing back.

I was up against their player manager Brian Laws, and managed to go past him and set Bully up for the first goal, before finding him with a through ball just before half time which he despatched by lobbing the keeper.

It was great to play in the same team as Bully.   Not only was he a brilliant finisher, but a far better all-round player than he was ever given credit for.

His third goal that day summed that up as well.  I managed to get past Brian again and drive down the wing before finding Bully in the box. His first touch was perfect, and his second was to fire the ball into the bottom corner

Bully was a predator in the box, but he also knew which runs to make and where to position himself, and that made him so easy to pick out. He’s also a great guy who has been a good mate of mine ever since.

So yes, that day at Grimsby, a hat trick from Bully, and hat trick of assists for me, was a great way to start the season.

That season and the one following was when I played most my football for Wolves and managed to stay mostly injury-free, and I still can’t believe we didn’t get promoted.

THE OPPOSITION GOALKEEPER: JASON PEARCEY

You would think a goalkeeper would remember a hat trick being scored against him, and maybe I have just tried to put it out of my mind, but I had to have a look back on YouTube to refresh my memory.

I think it may have been my home Grimsby debut, or definitely one of my first games, and I also think I may have got Man of the Match despite conceding three goals.

That was such a strong Wolves team, wasn’t it?  So many top players.  And when it came to Steve Bull, there wasn’t really any preparing for him.

This was back in the day without all the analysis there is now. Scouts would watch the opposition and pass on advice but, especially with Bully, he could score all sorts of goals.

I did play against Wolves a couple more times, one at home and one away, and we drew both of those, so it was a time when we could pick up the odd result.

Playing in the Championship as we were, maybe we weren’t the strongest team but we made sure we gave everyone a game and, especially at home, made it a tough place to go.

Our budget would have been nothing compared to so many other clubs in the division, but we still tried to knock it about and play good football, and it was always a good surface at Grimsby.

I still keep an eye out for their results, and their goalkeeping coach Steve Croudson is a good mate of mine.  He actually made his debut against Wolves as an 18-year-old, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless draw.

I only played for three clubs in my professional career and so the 50 or so appearances I made for Grimsby are very special.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER: SAM BAGNALL

I was just 18 years old at the time of the Bully hat trick at Grimsby, and was working for the Sunday Mercury newspaper.

By this time, I had already covered a lot of games as from a much earlier age I used to come to games with my Dad (former Express & Star photographer Dave Bagnall) and ‘run’ his films to the offices after the first 20 minutes of a game so the pictures could get used in the ‘Pink’ (Sporting Star newspaper).

I would then be coming back to the stadium shortly before half time and it felt like so often, I would get within earshot and hear the announcement: ‘Goal for Wolves…number 9, Steve Bull!’

And it was Bully who grabbed the headlines that day at Grimsby, with his hat trick. I still remember – photographers remember these things – Wolves being in their teal away shirt, and thinking it was going to be a day when either Bully or Clive Mendonca would get the goals.

My Dad and brother Ed were both at Grimsby that day.  When I got a lot more than I bargained for.

I was up by the Wolves fans and Bully got his two goals in the first half when I felt something brush down on the back of my head and shoulder. I reached out to feel it, and realised I’d been, well, ** on by a seagull!   There were a flock of them perched up in the floodlights.

I think a few of the fans had seen it and were laughing and at half time I had to make a dash for the toilets to try and wash it all off!  I suppose they say it’s good luck, and it was good luck for Bully and Wolves on that red hot afternoon.

That was also the day when David Beckham got his goal from the halfway line for Manchester United against Wimbledon.

Bully, David Beckham, and a seagull all showing they could hit the target.

THE SUPPORTER: KEITH EVANS

Grimsby on the opening day in 1996 came at a time when I used to do a lot of away games with my mates, alongside my home season ticket, which I have kept to this day.

We travelled for this one with Hatherton Wolves, always a great experience, and had a pub stop in Brigg, which was a very lively one.

I remember a few of the lads climbing up a lamppost to try and attract the attention of some young ladies working in a first floor office, and others buying some eggs to throw at each other outside the pub. Obviously not to be condoned!

It was just a brilliant sunny afternoon with everyone having a great time, and that continued with the game and Bully getting his goals.

We were sat quite near the front of the away end, and at half time, perhaps feeling the effects of the amber nectar, started talking about how we should hop onto the pitch and celebrate if Bully got his hat trick.

Sure enough, Bully obliged, at the other end of the pitch, but also sure enough, my mates had no intention of doing it, and having hopped over the hoardings, with the intention purely to celebrate, I was soon feeling the long arm of the law.

The police officer was laughing as he escorted me out across the front of the Wolves fans. He knew it was purely high spirits and I wasn’t out to cause trouble, but it was protocol, and I had to go.

It was when I got outside that I got a bit worried. I don’t have a great sense of direction, and wasn’t sure how to find our coaches, and Grimsby fans leaving early given the 3-1 scoreline had recognised me as Wolves and were dishing out a few choice words!

Fortunately, the exit gates opened five minutes before full time, and so I just dived back inside and went and found my mates again, despite their betrayal!

It was a brilliant day out for many reasons, and I am pleased to say it is the only time I have been thrown out of a game in almost 50 years following Wolves.

THE OPPOSITION SUPPORTER: CHRIS MILLS, HOST OF THE ‘VIEW FROM THE FINDUS PODCAST.’

One of Grimsby’s biggest claims to fame is holding the record attendance at Old Trafford for our FA Cup semi-final against Wolves back in 1939. Sadly, there won’t be 76,000 fans at Blundell Park on Sunday but the home support will still be keen to make it as intimidating for Wolves as they did for Manchester United back in August. And we all know how that one ended…Let’s be honest though, this is a free hit for Grimsby and all the pressure will be on the visitors such is the gulf in league position and budgets. But any Wolves fans thinking they’ll turn up and win 6-1 again like they did against fellow League Two opposition Shrewsbury in the previous round are mistaken - we’re no mugs this season.

Having gone from surviving relegation in the 2023/24 season to missing out on the play-offs on the final day a year later, expectations have been accelerated under David Artell, so much so that anything less than a top seven finish this season may be seen as a failure to a lot of fans. A continued improvement on and off the pitch under sensible new owners will be accepted by others.And the last time we met Rob Edwards? The 4th Round of the FA Cup in 2023 – beating his Luton side on route to the Quarter Finals. A bad omen for Wolves?!The fact I’m now 38 and have only seen Grimsby play Wolves on four occasions in two decades supporting The Mariners speaks volumes as to the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs over that period. Infact, as recently as 2021 there were four leagues separating us!

But one game against Wolves that is often still spoke about amongst the Town faithful is our 1-0 win at Molineux in 2001. On loan defender Andy Todd scored our goal that day and it was a win that went a long way to securing our survival in the old First Division that season. Sadly though, I was also at Molineux for our 4-1 defeat the following season, Denis Irwin’s free kick sticking in the memory for all the wrong reasons that time! And witnessing up close some classic early noughties players such as Nathan Blake and George Ndah!For any Wolves fans making the trip north to Cleethorpes next weekend, hopefully it represents the chance of an authentic awayday experience again – something no doubt lost during your era in the Premier League. Journalist Daniel Storey picked Blundell Park as his favourite of the 92 last year. He particularly enjoyed the view of the ground from the railway bridge on Harrington Street if fans get the chance to cross it and of course, the world-famous fish and chips. I highly recommend Steels for the best ‘eat in’ experience if you have time or Ernie Becketts and Oceans Fish Bar for a takeaway. Nearer the ground there is also Pips which is highly regarded.

Here’s hoping you enjoy the scran more than the result!