It’s an honour to play for Town
DETERMINATION IS NEEDED AT GRIMSBY, SAYS THARME
DOUG Tharme is likely to be crucial to David Artell’s Grimsby Town plans moving forward, after settling in quickly after his January arrival to become a key squad member. The 24-year-old spoke in-season about a topic that remains relevant to the Mariners – that being to rediscover the mentality that has produced successful moments for the club in recent years.
For large parts of this season, Town did not look like a team always up for the fight when it came to the crunch moments, but Artell did rally the group to a level that enabled their survival in League Two in the final weeks.
Bringing in players like Tharme was key to bringing about that change, and when asked, Tharme spoke well about his perspective on the team and representing a club like Grimsby, which has quickly connected him with the fans. He said: “Being able to play with these lads is an honour, and playing for Grimsby is a joy, and as long as we keep that perspective as a group, then it will make these games a lot easier, at least from a psychological standpoint.
“It’s not something I’ve ever questioned about this team even when I wasn’t a Grimsby player, I heard things about the team and how they were a determined group.
“You don’t achieve what the club has done the last couple of seasons without determined players.” The pride that Tharme has spoken about in wearing the Grimsby colours is something all fans want from those who represent their club, and there is no doubt that part of the recruitment process this summer will be finding more like that. Having the right mentality is one thing, but the bulk of the pre-season work for the team will no doubt be around the football itself and hopefully incorporating more quality into the group with the signings the club are hoping to make.
Big characters that are already present in the group, like Tharme, will be important in integrating the new faces as they roll in, and the work that was done late this season to develop the team will hopefully carry through despite the big changes Artell wants to make. Tharme added: “There’s an emphasis and will be moving forward now on how we can get better on the ball and how can we put our game onto other teams, but fundamentally speaking if you don’t concede you give yourself a better chance of winning.
“You have to believe in the players you are playing alongside that they are going to do their part in helping us to win games, and the more comfortable you are as a team, the better you’ll look with more time to work on things.
“One thing we can’t lose through it all is the endeavour and the fortitude seen in a lot of our recent performances.”