FANS up and down the country put hours of work into their clubs but one Grimsby Town supporter has gone above and beyond despite the hurdles in her way.
Kristine Green is celebrating off the pitch as well as on it after the Mariners were promoted to the Football League and she was recognised as the William Hill Fan of the Year for her work as chair of the Supporters' Trust.
Green has driven forward initiatives to install defi brillators in all stands at Blundell Park, create a new fan zone, and more recently raise money to send fans to the National League play-off final – and hopes her work inspires others to get involved in their local clubs.
“If people can look at me and say ‘do you know, if she can do it as a parent on her own with two kids, there's no reason I can't do it',” said Green.
“I live on the East Marsh of Grimsby, that's an area classed as deprived, more people than not are out of work and in benefit situations. I'm a single parent myself, I get tax credits, there's no shame in that.
“I've been massively supported by all the guys at Grimsby, I've never had any restriction, any hindrance to what I want to do and how I want to do it.
They're massively supportive of what I do and that's a huge benefi t to everybody.” Green made a real difference to the Mariners off the pitch, leading initiatives to ensure that football is for everybody. When she started getting texts about the high price of play-off fi nal tickets, Green leapt into action.
“I thought we'd raise four or fi ve thousand pounds and we'd got there in three or four hours,” she added.
“Wrexham fans, Sheffi eld Wednesday fans all stepped up to the mark because this wasn't a Grimsby Town, Solihull issue, this was a football issue.
“Thirty-six hours later we were at £24,000. An incredible effort from fans, volunteers – my children didn't see me for the half-term week, I worked 17-hour days but they understand.”
This wasn't the fi rst time Green had led the way, with the Mariners board member also crucial to fi ve new defi brillators at Blundell Park, further testament to the effort that goes on behind the scenes. “You're never more than 90 seconds away from a defribrillator,” added Green.
“We've seen time and again how important that is in football and in society in general – they're lifesavers, literally.
“An incredible amount of work, a lot goes on – there's all sorts going on seven days a week.
“It's a privilege, but a hard-working privilege all the same.”
