GRIMSBY TOWN KNOCKOUT OPENS ON MONDAY

PREVIEW BY ANN BOULTON

Monday sees the first match in the 2013 Grimsby Town Knock Out when Louth take on Nettleham at Augusta Street.

And spectators will have the opportunity to see Louth’s overseas player Azeem Ghumaan from Pakistan, currently the top batsman in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League.

Ghumaan has already notched up more than 250 runs from his first six matches in the league, including one century and, with the support of knock out veterans such as Graham West and Jason Collinson, could put skipper Andy Carrington’s side on course for a high score.

Nettleham are captained by another familiar face, Russ Binnington, whose team is suffering mixed fortunes in the Lincolnshire County League Premier Division but last week saw an innings of 92 from Tom Dalton as the Lincoln side defeated high flyers Alford.  Dalton is also one of the division’s top wicket takers.

Old hands David Hutchinson and David Manby are likely members of Binnington’s squad which also includes a number of Nettleham’s up and coming youngsters.

The match begins at 6.15pm and entry is £2 (free for Grimsby Town members).  It will be umpired by Ian Wilkinson and Kevin Cook.

The knock out is once again sponsored overall by Great Coates Motors and Grimsby Van Centre. 

Photo shows Steve Boulton (left) who co-ordinates umpires for the competition, and Grimsby Town chairman Kevin Charlton (right) who conducted the draw with club secretary Martin Fowler.