GRIMSBY TOWN V SCUNTHORPE UNITED: WILL IRON FANS BE CALLING IN BRIGG AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING DERBY?

Can we expect many fans of Scunthorpe United to stop off in Brigg on their way from the steel town to watch the derby game at Grimsby Town, in Sky Bet League Two?
This match, which is ticket-only, will kick off at 1pm on Saturday, December 21 - two hours earlier than normal.  But that still gives Iron supporters in cars or coaches plenty of time to make a refreshment stop.
Over many years Brigg Blog has posted about fans of various Football League clubs who have stopped here for food and drink on their way to away games at Grimsby, Hull City, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United.
There has been a few incidents of trouble caused by visiting fans down the years (not Iron followers) but the vast majority have behaved themselves in Brigg while putting cash into local tills.
A quick look at the 2019/20 fixture lists for our four nearest Football League clubs demonstrates visiting fans who could choose Brigg on away days.
For example, Hull City will be hosting Stoke City on Saturday, December 7, Birmingham City on December 21 and Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day (December 26) - all having 3pm kick-offs.
League newcomers Salford City, from Manchester, will be visiting Grimsby on Wednesday, January 1 (3pm).
Next spring will see the return local derby - Scunthorpe United v Grimsby Town - on Saturday, March 7 - again with a 1pm kick-off. Will supporters of the Mariners be looking to break their journey in Brigg between 11am and noon? United's ground, formerly Glanford Park, is now known as The Sands Venue Stadium.
The pictures above and immediately below show good-spirited Aston Villa supporters outside the Woolpack and in the Market Place after visiting one of our chippies. They were heading for a game at Hull City a few years ago.

Andrew 'Sass' Markham has sent us this recent image - below - showing happy fans of The Baggies (West Bromwich Albion) who stopped off at the Black Bull in Brigg town centre before watching their team in action at Hull, having travelled up from the Midlands.