As the new football season begins (and at the risk of jeopardising my marriage) I am reminded of the early days of parenthood. From an evolutionary standpoint, it is vital to forget the challenging first few months when sleepless nights are coupled with a partner constantly looking at you with an expression somewhere between contempt and disgust.
During childbirth, there are a few illusory days of bliss when the body releases endorphins and oxytocin. Endorphins, often referred to as “feelgood” hormones, are released in response to various stimuli, including physical pain, stress and heightened emotions. Oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone” or “love hormone”, contributes to the overall experience of childbirth and the bonding between mother and baby. These hormonal responses play a crucial role in supporting the birthing process, making the experience and pain involved more manageable. They are part of the reason why many women don’t stop having children after one child.
These hormones are not exclusively limited to women or childbirth. They play a significant role in various aspects of our lives, including during the football season. Just to be doubly clear, I am not suggesting for one moment that anything comes close to what I imagine women go through in childbirth but to a lesser degree the experience of supporting clubs can elevate emotions and create moments of connection. Whether it’s witnessing a beautifully executed pass or the poetry of a well-timed tackle, these moments can trigger the release of endorphins and oxytocin, contributing to the explanation of why some of us have embraced strangers in stadiums when our normal emotional expressions would be limited to a firm handshake or pat on the shoulder.
At the end of last season, everyone who works at Grimsby was exhausted. We had achieved a historic quarter-final run in the FA Cup and our highest league position in 17 years. As fans, those were brilliant days, but for everyone working at the club, the demanding Saturday and Tuesday game rhythm, additional match preparation, increased ticket office sales and added media responsibilities took a toll. The off-season then brought a surge in activity on the recruitment side and the management of operations and infrastructure, because this is often the only time some of that work can be addressed. There is a relentless pace in professional sport, especially for club management, and finding genuine periods of recovery can be rare.
And yet, thanks to our teams – led by our chief executive, Debbie Cook, and our manager, Paul Hurst – we found ourselves rejuvenated and ready for the new season. We definitely felt much better prepared than last year when our pre-season was truncated to four weeks because the National League finished in June and the EFL started in July to accommodate the mid-season break for the World Cup.
We started to think about how we could use this time more effectively at least six months ago, particularly Joe Hutchinson, our head of recruitment, who began working on the 11 signings we have made way ahead of the summer window. It was pleasing to get most of our first-choice targets signed early to enable a full pre‑season schedule, including a week for the squad in Spain. Confidence comes in part from clear planning and preparation. Although this in no way guarantees success, it definitely helps.
For our second season back in the EFL, there is a sense of deja vu reminiscent of 2021 when we faced Wrexham, Stockport and Notts County in the National League. In my opinion, all three have rightfully earned their place in the EFL. Notts County’s signing of David McGoldrick, who played in League One last season for Derby, scoring 25 goals and becoming their player of the season, appears to be a standout acquisition for the division. Stockport have made impressive additions such as Nick Powell, formerly of Manchester United, and Louie Barry from Aston Villa, to add quality to an already formidable squad.
Falling just short in the playoffs will, I am sure, add further motivation to the unquestionable experience of Mark Hughes and his well-supported Bradford side. Gillingham’s new owner, Brad Galinson, improved their squad in January to pull clear of the relegation form the team experienced before his arrival and I wouldn’t be surprised to see their continued upward trajectory. It also looks as if Salford and their high-profile owners have found a manager in Neil Wood who could take them one step closer than the playoff defeat of last season.
Of the teams that came down from League One, MK Dons will have a budget that I imagine requires a run to reclaim their lost status from their owners and support. In Graham Alexander they have a manager who knows his way around this league. The 5-3 dismantling of Wrexham on Saturday may be evidence of that.
Grimsby are, for many, outsiders for promotion. It’s a great motivation to go up against the big-money teams and crowds at clubs such as Stockport, Bradford, Notts County and Wrexham. In my mind, the opening-day defeats these four teams endured will be aberrations rather than the norm. Wrexham’s Hollywood connections add more positive attention to the league. Their stated goal is to be an established Premier League club and Mickey Thomas said recently they were “like a super club now. They get mentioned in the same breath as Liverpool, United and Chelsea.” It creates an additional layer of drama that away days at King’s Lynn and Wealdstone two seasons ago could not live up to.
Of all the teams mentioned, the infrastructure, professionalism and budget of Stockport give them the strongest chance to challenge for the title. That said, Carlisle’s promotion to League One and Luton’s promotion to the Premier League, both with one of the lowest budgets in their relative divisions, were a wonderful reminder of what the game can throw up in terms of surprises. Both teams act as inspiration for outsiders and underdogs such as us.
So, here’s hoping for further surges of hormones to help us forget the stress, fatigue and relentlessness at the end of last season and focus on a positive future. We feel energised and filled with a renewed sense of aspiration and optimism. Ultimately, this yearly renewal is why we love the game, the chance to flood our lives with raw emotions and create new memories as the worst of the past fades to grey and the future starts to come into sharp focus, full of potential, hope and togetherness. Perhaps it might even include hugging strangers.
Jason Stockwood is the chair of Grimsby Town
