League Two Grimsby Town FC have knocked Man Utd out of the Carabao Cup in one of the most sensational sporting victories of the year. But what else does the fishing port have to offer?
James Moore
17:56, 28 Aug 2025
Grimsby Town fans celebrate their first goal in their Carabao Cup match with Man Utd
Grimsby Town fans celebrate their first goal in their Carabao Cup match with Man Utd(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
They are the footballing minnows from a famous fishing port - now turned giantkillers!
This week, League Two’s Grimsby Town FC sensationally knocked Man Utd out of the Carabao Cup, after a thrilling penalty shootout following the sides’ 2-2 draw.
But how much do you know about the place? We’ve hooked out fifteen fascinating top facts…
1. Grimsby, also known as Great Grimsby, dates back to at least the 9 th century when Vikings landed and formed a settlement there. Legend has it that Grim was the name of a Danish fisherman.
2. The Lincolnshire town, on the North Sea, featured in the Domesday Book of 1086, when it had 200 people, a priest a mill and a ferry. Today it’s home to 86,000 people, who are known as Grimbarians.
Two monks writing the Domesday Book
Two monks writing the Domesday Book(Image: Getty Images)
3. In the 19 th century new docks were built and it eventually became the largest and busiest fishing port in the world, with 400 trawlers. In 1900 one in ten fish consumed by Brits was landed there.
4. Partly due to the Cod Wars with Iceland, over fishing rights, the industry went into decline and today only a handful of trawlers remain. However, Grimsby still boasts the UK’s biggest fish market.
5. And fish isn’t Grimsby’s only claim to fame. It’s now a major centre for renewable energy and has a successful food industry too. In 1998 it was reported that more pizzas were made in Grimsby – one million daily – than anywhere else in Europe, including Italy!
6. Among Grimsby’s landmarks is its 309ft Dock Tower, opened by Queen Victoria in 1854. Based on a famous tower in Siena, Italy, it contains a million bricks and once housed a 30,000-gallon reservoir.
7. The church of Grimsby Minster features the carving of an imp, which according to legend, was once sent by the Devil to terrorise the town.
8. Grimsby Town FC, founded in 1878, are nicknamed the Mariners. The club’s home ground is Blundell Park, which is actually in nearby Cleethorpes.
A mural outside Blundell Park stadium in Cleethorpes
A mural outside Blundell Park stadium in Cleethorpes(Image: Getty Images)
9. They played in two FA Cup semi-finals in the 1930s, once competed in top-flight football and former managers include the famous Bill Shankly.
10. Fans are known to wave inflatable fish at games known as Harry Haddocks. Rival supporters sometimes call Grimsby fans ‘codheads’.
11. Celebrity fans have included ex-snooker star Mike Hallett, comedian Lloyd Griffith and actors John Hurt and Thomas Turgoose.
12. Turgoose starred in the 2006 movie This England, which was partly filmed in Grimsby. It was also the backdrop for scenes in 1985’s Clockwise, starring John Cleese.
13. In 2016 Sacha Baron Cohen released a spy comedy movie called Grimsby, featuring a soccer-crazed character called Nobby Butcher. It was filmed in Essex.
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14. Famous Grimsby-born folk include TV star Guy Martin and ex-Corrie regular Lisa George. No doubt they celebrate Great Grimsby Day, which is officially on January 22 nd .
15. Elton John released a song called Grimsby in 1974, which songwriter Bernie Taupin penned about growing up in the area. It contains the lyrics: “Oh oh Grimsby, a thousand delights couldn´t match the sweet sights of my Grimsby.”