30.01.2006.

Football league chairman Lord Mawhinney has backed plans for a new stadium for Grimsby Town Football Club.

A facility which is good for the football club is good for the town Watching the Mariners match against Peterborough on Saturday, Lord Mawhinney said a new stadium would be good for the community as well as the football club.

Plans have been put forward to build a 20,000 stadium in Great Coates, as previously reported in the Grimsby Telegraph.

Blundell Park, built in 1898, is currently the oldest stadium in the league.

Guest of honour Lord Mawhinney said a new stadium would be good for education, health and local business.

He told the Grimsby Telegraph: "In the football league we set great importance on the links between clubs and communities.

"This game today is the single biggest community event in Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

"A facility which is good for the football club is good for the town. It is putting the football club at the heart of the community.

"I firmly wish them well with the plan and hope it gets over its hurdles and is built quickly."

Lord Mawhinney, who was MP for winning side Peterborough from 1979 to 2005 although insisted he was not cheering for either team, said the new stadium was a big decision to take.

"It involves a lot of money but it's good for the club and for Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

"It's a lot of hard work but it will be win, win, win."