When the Carabao Cup’s northern section second-round draw reached its climax, the suspense could not have been higher.
Only two clubs remained in the bowl: fourth-tier Grimsby Town and Manchester United.
A clash between the two has not been staged since way back in 1948, and the anticipation immediately soared once the fixture was confirmed.
The only remaining mystery was the venue.
“With my financial hat on, away (at Old Trafford) would’ve been a bit more beneficial to us,” admitted Grimsby’s chief executive Polly Bancroft in an interview with The Athletic.
“But to have Manchester United here for the first time in 77 years, giving that whole generation of supporters a chance to see Manchester United at Blundell Park is very, very special.”
Blundell Park, nestled alongside the Humber Estuary since the late 19th century, will provide the backdrop.
Its modest capacity of just over 9,000 has left demand massively outweighing supply, with Bancroft revealing that tickets could have been sold “twice over. And some.”
Such is the allure of United’s visit, fans queued in their hundreds to secure traditional paper tickets – souvenirs that mark a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
For Polly Bancroft herself, the occasion carries an extra layer of meaning.
Only in February 2024 did she depart her role as Manchester United’s head of women’s football to embrace the challenge of running Grimsby, preferring what she calls life at the “coal face” of the lower leagues.
Now, she will watch her new club host her former employers on one of their most historic nights. “Can you imagine if we win?” she teased.
Grimsby may be underdogs, but belief runs strong.
David Artell’s side are unbeaten in the league this season, sitting fourth after a gritty 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley at the weekend.
Promotion back to League One – a division they haven’t graced since 2004 – is the broader aim, but Bancroft knows this evening could change everything.
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“It would be global news if we were to win,” said the 40-year-old.
“It’ll be a tough place for them to come.
“They’ll not be used to the size of this ground, the changing rooms and the number of seats available for their staff.
“It’ll be quite uncomfortable for them. It won’t be what they’re used to in the Premier League.
“We’ll sweat our assets and give as good as we can.”
