ZEBRAS EARN STRIPES

Brigg Town Football Club was established in 1864, making it one of the oldest in the country still operating. The other day I uncovered an interesting article written in the 1940s and looking back to Grimsby Town FC's formation and development in the 1870s and 1880s. Clearly, back then, Brigg were THE team to beat in Lincolnshire, and inflicted defeats on Grimsby in the Mariners' early period.
Back then, Brigg Town played at the Manor House Convent ground - that's the so-called Paddock area close to the railway station, where travellers' caravans have quite often been seen parked up in recent years. Later, Town moved to a ground behind the Brocklesby Ox, off Bridge Street, before switching to The Hawthorns, their current base about 60 years ago.
Brigg Town Cricket Club also used the Manor House Convent ground, and there's still a link today with Brigg Town FC, as the Zebras' clubhouse is the venue for the cricketers' teas, involving a very short walk from the Recreation Ground.
Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, many Brigg youngsters never missed Brigg Town FC's pre-season friendlies against Grimsby Town, who were then in Division Three. These drew decent crowds, as the Mariners not only enjoyed good support in Brigg but also tended to bring along a decent side, with a sprinkling of first teamers to add interest. One year they included a blond midfielder, Dougie Collins, for one of these friendlies (late '60s) and he gave a super performance in what we'd now call midfield. Not long afterwards he signed for Burnley, then in the old Division One (today's Premiership)and became a regular.
Brigg Town's changing rooms were then of the wooden variety, and we queued outside hoping to get the autographs of some of the Grimsby first teamers. Charlie Wright, who was a "personality" goalkeeper, perhaps in the mould of David James, was one who springs readily to mind.
As boys we didn't normally pay to watch Brigg Town in action in the Lincolnshire League; we would watch for free from the public 'No Cycling' footpath which divided the Hawthorns from the Rec. It wasn't great looking through the wire fencing but we didn't usually linger long, unless "Hutchie" was enjoying a purple patch. David Hutchinson being the club's prolific striker, later to get a brief spell on Scunthorpe United's books, and a handful of first team games, but by then he was in his late 20s. If he'd been given a chance at League level a decade earlier, he might well have made a name for himself. He didn't exactly see eye to eye with some referees, and from time to time would find himself trudging back to the green-painted wooden dressing rooms for the proverbial early bath.
Having checked an old Brigg Town programme to establish that they were, indeed, established in 1864, that means the 150th anniversary is only four years away. This fact will not have been lost on Ki Brown and his committee. A special match might be in order. Get it in the Man Utd year planner for 2014, Sir Alex. Or, more realistically, perhaps it would be fitting if the Zebras took on Grimsby Town, their opponents in 1878. The Mariners will hope to have regained their Football League status by then.
I've been researching the Brigg Town-Grimsby Town connection for a special illustrated feature which will appear in the June issue of Nostalgia magazine, published by the Scunthorpe Telegraph at the end of next month, priced 75p. You can order copies from local newsagents/shops and outlets.