The Grimsby Telegraph was praised for its Grimsby Town coverage last - by a rival football team's manager.

Fans are failing to flood into Grimsby’s stadium, despite the team being involved in a promotion push.

So to get the fans into the fighting spirit the paper ran some messages of support from players involved in the last promotion - from 1998.

David Laister took on the challenge to get hold of as many of the heroes as he could.

He said: "Editor Michelle Lalor came up with the idea at 4.30pm the previous evening, in earshot of one of the team who covered the campaign eight years ago, now the business editor… me!

"The home areas of the ground were pretty much full, a great atmosphere and a 1-0 win."

Cheltenham boss John Ward, a former Town player/coach, had read the paper before the big game at Blundell Park and felt it had played a major part in getting the crowd behind the team.

He told the Telegraph: "I thought your crowd were fantastic in getting behind the team.

"You in the local media helped that because you pushed that on your front page and that's credit to you guys in backing your own team."

He added that he wished he could transfer that kind of atmosphere to Cheltenham next Saturday - when the Robins face Notts County.

"I wouldn't mind a game with the noise and atmosphere like this tonight," he said.

"Grimsby did exceptionally well. They were very strong and positive."