Grimsby’s bid to become the UK Town of Culture 2028 is, at its heart, a question about what residents owe one another and what they want their town to be. That question was put directly to football supporters at a recent Grimsby Town match, and the answers collected from the stands offer a candid picture of a community weighing its past against its future.
Supporters were asked three simple questions: what makes Grimsby, Grimsby; what makes them proud of the town; and what they want for its future. Their responses, gathered as the campaign gathers momentum, are now being used to showcase the spirit behind the bid. Residents across the town are being encouraged to add their own stories, memories and aspirations.
Additional reference context is available at https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/grimsby-pride-shines-through-as-football-fans-back-town-of-culture-2028-bid/.
For many who answered, the town’s identity rests not on buildings or landmarks but on its people. One supporter was blunt about the challenges while insisting they tell only part of the story. “Grimsby isn’t perfect, far from it. But perhaps that’s part of why I love it. It’s a town with scars, history and character. It has lost industries, faced economic decline and had opportunities taken away from it, but it hasn’t lost its identity. Beneath the problems there is still enormous pride. For me, the real Grimsby story isn’t one particular building or famous person. It’s the people.”
Another kept it simpler. “It’s the friendliness of the people that makes Grimsby to me.”
Pride, when respondents were asked about it, kept returning to the sea and to resilience. One fan described a place shaped by generations of hard work: “What makes Grimsby special is the grit of its people. It is the salty sea air coming in from the Humber, the sound of the docks, the smell and churn of the fish-processing industry, and the feeling that this town has spent generations getting on with things even when life hasn’t always been easy.”
Others pointed to the daily effort of changing how the town is seen. “Resilience and the people working to raise the name and reputation of Grimsby,” said one supporter. Another reached further back, reflecting on history and renewal: “We have heritage and history that stretches back to the Vikings. We could have sat back and watched our town centre continue to decline, but we didn’t. We are trying. That is us, linked to the sea, renewal, tidal and strong.”
When the conversation turned to the future, the vision supporters described was one of a thriving, creative and inclusive town where everyone feels they belong. Their hopes ranged from attracting people from diverse backgrounds and industries to calls for more art, creativity and bold new developments that celebrate Grimsby’s maritime identity. One ambition stood out for its simplicity: “I would love for EVERYONE to be proud of it.”
Those sentiments, the council notes, mirror the values at the centre of the Town of Culture 2028 bid: celebrating the town’s heritage, championing its people and inspiring a confident future.
Meanwhile, residents who want to take part have several routes. A free community launch event, “Grimsby: A Place We Call Home”, takes place this Friday October 9 at Grimsby Minster from 10am to 5pm. Those unable to attend can contribute through an online survey at https://tell-us.questionpro.eu/a/TakeSurvey?tt=LVI0o7f8cLXDoJ3Y0UO2/g%3D%3D, or visit GY28.co.uk to learn more and sign up as a GY28 ambassador. The campaign can also be followed on Instagram at @grimsby2028, on Facebook at Grimsby2028, and on LinkedIn.
Whether residents share a story, send a message of support, attend an event or simply spread the word, organisers say every bit of support helps. Buildings, industries and landmarks may tell part of the story, but it is the people of Grimsby who tell the whole story.