GRIMSBY Town joint boss Rob Scott insists there were plenty of positives to take from the weekend defeat to Scunthorpe, with Bradford City next up at Blundell Park tomorrow night (7.30pm).

The Mariners were knocked out of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup after falling to a 3-0 defeat at Glanford Park on Saturday, after goals from David Mirfin, Sam Winnall and another in bizarre circumstances from Deon Burton.

But Scott argued that the final score didn't give a true reflection of his players' performance and he urged them to build on that promising showing when they take on the Bantams.

"I don't think Saturday was a 3-0 game, that's for sure," he told the Telegraph.

"It was disappointing because it made it look like it was a very one-sided game but it certainly wasn't – for us, it was a false scoreline.

"We know that there are a few bits to work on but there were some good performances for us to take from that game – we showed that we have got players who can play and pass.

He added: "The games now come thick and fast and in tomorrow's game we're looking to build on Saturday's performance and be a little bit sharper in both boxes – both in an attacking and defensive sense.

"It's obviously another tough task for us against a team in Bradford who had a brilliant season last time out. It will be a good work-out and hopefully we'll see a progression from the Scunthorpe game.

"How we played and passed the ball was a massive positive for us and hopefully with the more games they play together, they will gain more understanding between each other and that's a huge positive. Hopefully we'll see more of that tomorrow night.

Two players who could feature against the Bantams are trialists Chris Doig and Paul Bignot – both of whom impressed Scott against the Iron.

The joint-boss added: "Saturday was their first game against really tough opposition, and I think they both did well.

"They are two decisions that we're going to have to make, and fairly quickly, because if they are to come in we'd like to get it done as soon as possible."

AS new figures show Humberside Police has to cut millions more from its budget – and has the fewest officers in its history – we can reveal that this couple had to wait 60 hours for police to respond to a frantic 999 call they made while yobs were attacking the car on their driveway.

A YOUTH centre in the heart of Grimsby's East Marsh could soon be hosting a drop-in service each evening.

Organisers of The Shalom Youth Centre have applied for grant funding to offer more facilities to young people.

The Rutland Street centre has outlined plans for a £40,000 refit.

Young people gave their views on how they would like their centre to look for future generations of young people.

It could soon have a number of computers for the young members to look for training and job opportunities.

Last year Shalom celebrated its 40th anniversary.

It is 25 years since it was last refurbished. Cleethorpes architect, Mark Hodson has helped members by hosting design workshops at the centre to find out what style they wanted.

Canon John Ellis, vicar of neighbouring St John and St Stephen, said the young people overcame a dilema with their chosen colour scheme of orange.

The colour matched that of Rachel Harred's nail varnish!

She went along to B&Q with John and Michaela Keetley to get an exact match.

Canon Ellis said: "It was an unusual way of choosing the colour but they are happy they have the colour they want."

He added: "We have not had a refurbishment for 25 years. It is still in good working order but looking a little tired.

"We would like to provide a drop-in evening for the young people who hang about in Grant Thorold Park."

Canon Ellis also announced the former Space Project, which closed last week, would be taken over by Scunthorpe-based group Fluent.

The facility will continue to provide support for school pupils who risk being excluded from schools in North East Lincolnshire.

When it was the Space Project, members were called space cadets. Among them was film actor Thomas Turgoose, who rose to fame in This Is England. Canon Ellis said: "The project helped him enormously. When it closed we had people in tears because it has been like a family to them.

"We are looking at a new partnership with Fluent, who are going to be using the building for very similar things to what Space did. It will provide life coaching.

"They take people for one or two days of the week to help build them up. We are hoping when the young people come back in September they are going to be excited with the look of the new facility.

"We are also hoping to install computers with Wi-fi so they can do job searches.

"Most of the members don't have computers at home, so they are coming to us in increasing numbers to look for work with the ones we have. When we have more they will have greater chances to look for opportunities."

Canon Ellis appealed to any volunteers to join in the refurbishment.

He said: "Anyone who is willing to help can just turn up and we will give them a roller and paint and let them get on with it."

The centre has a feature wall in memory of former member Danny Cooper, 18.

He was the victim of a brutal attack by Richard Winn who knocked him to the ground with two powerful punches and continued hitting him.

Daniel died from head injuries.

Winn, 20, of Grimsby, was locked up for five years after admitting manslaughter on July 15, 2011.

The youth centre has about 175 young people attending each week and more than 350 have accessed the facilities regularly.

THE controversial Great Coates village hall has been officially opened by the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire.

The hall, which has split members of the local community since its inception, saw more than 40 people turn out for its grand opening.

Chairwoman of the Great Coates WI and resident Lesley Jacklin says the hall is exactly what the village needed.

She said: "It's fabulous.

"Ever since the reading rooms closed, the community has had nowhere to go. Nowhere to hold events or groups which has seen many stop altogether.

"Luckily, the WI has managed to continue from the Willows, but it is great to be back in the village.

"Having this building will bring the community back together. Here at this ceremony we already have young and old coming together for the community."

Chairman of the Parish Council Nicola Maasdam said despite the rocky start to the building it has been welcomed by the community.

She said: "We are really pleased with how the building has turned out.

"It is great to finally have a purpose-built hall here in the village for the community to use.

"It is already booked out weeks and months in advance with clubs, groups and events.

"This speaks for itself as to how the village feels about the hall.

"The long, difficult journey to completion is now over. This building is not just for the current generation, but for the youngsters as they grow up, too."

Mayor of North East Lincolnshire Peggy Elliott said: "This is a great addition to the village.

"It will bring people together and gels the community.

"The hall is quite impressive, I really wasn't expecting it to be so big inside. I hope it will become a self-sustaining building with groups, parties and wedding receptions being hosted here.

"There was controversy from the start and I must admit I was in favour with the resident vote that it wasn't the best time to build during a recession.

"We are where we are and I hope it becomes a great asset to the village."

There was huge protest over the £300,000 loan that the parish council took to fund the project, which prompted the formation of the Great Coates Residents' Association (Grass), which lobbied against the plan.

A community governance review was triggered by Grass' request for the village council to be abolished as a result of it going ahead – against the wishes of 80 per cent of residents who voted in a referendum on the issue.

IT'S a boy!

The world welcomed the latest addition to the Royal Family yesterday... after months of speculation which began in Grimsby.

When the Duchess of Cambridge visited the town in March, she allegedly let slip she was having a daughter.

The news spread across the globe and the international media spotlight turned on our town, but the Grimsby Telegraph was quick to get to the bottom of what Kate really said.

We tracked down video proof that spectators had misheard Kate's comments after being presented with a cuddly toy.

What was heard as Kate saying: "I shall give this to my d..." was in fact: "Oh, is this for us? Thank you very much. That is very sweet of you."

The slip-up that never was meant Grimsby has been at the forefront of speculation during her pregnancy about the baby's sex ever since.

And it has been revealed that she and husband Prince William chose not to find out which sex they were having.

Today, the 31-year-olds are proud parents of a baby boy, who entered the world at 4.24pm yesterday, weighing a very healthy 8lb 6oz.

And fans in Grimsby couldn't be more delighted.

Royal enthusiast Roy Jensen celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday – and couldn't wait for the baby to be born.

Mr Jensen is surrounded by royal memorabilia at his home on the Nunsthorpe Estate in Grimsby.

And while he wished the baby would be a girl, he was equally as happy at the outcome in the end.

"I wanted the baby to be born on my birthday and experts said it would be," he said.

"Kate takes after Princess Diana and I adored Diana.

"I have pictures of her and she was very bonnie just like Kate.

"I didn't see Kate when she came to Grimsby with her bump because I am disabled and didn't manage to get out.

"However, I did manage to see Princess Anne when she visited town. My grandson handed her a bunch of flowers."

After arriving at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington at 6am yesterday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are now welcoming their first child.

Kate gave birth in the hospital's private Lindo wing, where William and his younger brother Prince Harry were born.

The couple travelled to the hospital in west London without a police escort, and the announcement that Kate had gone into labour came from Kensington Palace 90 minutes later.

The medical team was led by the Queen's gynaecologist, Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children. Alan Farthing, gynaecologist to the royal household, was assisting.

The palace statement said: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm. The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight."

Soon after the palace announcement was made, a notice giving details about the baby – the third-in-line to the throne – left St Mary's Hospital by car for Buckingham Palace.

William will have two weeks' paternity leave from his job as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.

THERE has to be a greater deterrent for vandals.

That was the call from visitors to The Duke Of York Gardens, Grimsby, after thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused by youths who ripped up benches and threw them in the River Freshney.

Fencing around the five-a-side football pitch was also kicked over.

The new parkour park, which was built recently for youths to keep them out of trouble, was also vandalised, with a bollard ripped from its post.

The culprits also set fire to a shelter, urinated in it and smashed bottles.

The damage was estimated to have cost up to £3,000.

Visitors to the park said they were appalled at the level of criminal damage.

Former scout leader Ted Loftus, 78, said: "There are two benches which have gone. They have just been ripped up and thrown in the river. It is a disgrace.

"Whoever did it should be given community work."

Another visitor to the park, Leeson Pearce, 81, said: "They seem to be the law in the park now. There is no discipline.

"When they get them they should make sure they get stiffer penalties.

"When we were young if a policeman turned up in the park we all ran away.

"If anyone got caught they got a clip round the lughole.

"They should be made to clear the banks of the river. It is looking a mess."

A young mum visiting the park with her son, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is a shame because these kids are spoiling it for the other kids.

"They have been urinating and breaking glass bottles.

"They need to stop people coming in and destroying it.

"There have been more police in the park lately and they visit regularly, so they are trying to prevent it, but the youths causing the trouble are coming late at night."

Another park visitor added: "It is disgusting.

"At least they have been able to stop the lads coming on the park with their motorbikes."

Councillor Ray Oxby, portfolio holder for environment and housing at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "Our officers have been down to the park to make sure the facilities are safe to use, and we will be replacing the metalwork.

"This is a mindless act of vandalism carried out in one of our popular parks and only acts to spoil the amenity for visitors and residents alike."

Anyone with information is asked to Humberside Police, quoting crime reference AA/1987717/2013.

"IT'S like being on holiday."

That was the pleasure spoken of by one of the travellers who have set up camp in Laceby.

The young mother said the group had travelled from Scarborough and expect to return to East Yorkshire for Pickering Fair later this week.

She joined a group of eight other travellers who moved into a field next to the allotment.

The field is believed to be owned by the Lincoln Diocese.

The traveller said: "The public perception is that all travellers are the same but no one is here to make a nuisance of themselves or cause trouble for anyone.

"I have only been here a couple of days and will be heading back to Pickering for the fair.

"That's what we do. We follow the fairs around the country.

"It is like being on holiday. As soon as the kids finish school for the holidays, we go around with the fairs.

"I have not been into Laceby; there is nothing that attracts me there.

"We have everything here – a generator, a toilet and a shower. We don't need running water.

"People think we are dirty, but we have all we have here and if anything needs washing, I go to a launderette."

A Laceby villager who did not wish to be named expressed concern when more travellers arrived in the field next to the allotment over the weekend.

He claimed allotment holders are staying on site late at night and visiting from 5am.

He explained: "It worries them; people don't say anything and public apathy kicks in, but when it all goes wrong there is uproar.

"We have been staying later at night and going down earlier. We have binoculars to keep an eye on the boundary."

Another villager said: "They are not bothering anybody and there has been no trouble."

And one added: "They are polite and they don't make a noise. You can hear the children, but that is normal for children.

"The council has given them wheelie bins."

The camp at Laceby is the only group of travellers believed to be in North East Lincolnshire at this time.

RETIRED couple Mike and Pauline Barnatt are in shock after a man was seriously injured after walking out into the path of their car.

The couple – who appeared on the Telegraph's front page yesterday because their new Kia was vandalised by youths and it took the police 60 hours to respond – were today full of praise for Humberside Police.

Pauline, 62, of Broadway, Grimsby, was driving the couple's red Kia Picanto on the way home from their son's barbecue when a man walked out between parked cars – straight into the path of her vehicle.

The man, understood to be 23 years old, was seriously injured in the collision at 7.40pm on Sunday on Cambridge Road, Grimsby.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics while traffic officers comforted the couple.

An off-duty doctor was also at the scene and treated the man who was later taken to hospital.

Mike, 70, said: "The police were brilliant.

"They took us home and the traffic officer was wonderful. He even called back at after 11pm to see that we were OK.

"Pauline is still like a limp dishcloth, and we both get flashbacks.

"Every time I close my eyes, I see the man's face heading towards the windscreen."

He estimated the speed of the car to be 25mph at the time.

Pauline said: "There was no time to react.

"Everyone was so supportive. We wish to thank everyone and say how grateful we are. You never think it will happen to you."

She said the victim's mother also contacted them to send them her best wishes.

Pauline said she only got the first names of two passers-by – Rachel and Sean – who stopped to comfort her and Mike.

"There was also a really kind man living on Cambridge Road who took me in for a very welcome cup of tea," she said.

"I could have done with something stronger and I got that when I got home.

"The police response on this occasion was much better than the last time."

Pauline told that she hadn't drunk at the barbecue, and gave a negative breath test.

A police spokeswoman said the victim was recovering in hospital following the collision.

Pauline added: "The car has been a bogey ever since we got it. It is now all smashed in with shattered headlamps, windscreen and damage to the roof."

The trauma with the new car began two weeks ago, as reported, when the couple were watching a repeat of Andy Murray's victory at Wimbledon.

They heard a fracas outside their home at about 11.20pm on Sunday, July 7. A gang of youths tipped over wheelie bins in the street and ripped out a For Sale sign from a neighbour's garden.

Their car, which had arrived just hours before, had its windscreen smashed in.

Mike, a former taxi driver, went to his front door to confront the group made up of three girls and two boys, as his wife called 999.

Police officers contacted the couple the following Wednesday, 60 hours after the initial call.

The force later apologised to the couple, who now have CCTV fitted outside their home.

"ANY group of players that get Grimsby Town back into the Football League will be loved forever – and it is a great place to be loved."

That's according to former Mariners striker Alan Connell, who is preparing for his Blundell Park return with Bradford City tonight (7.30pm).

The clash will be the Mariners' fifth game of a pre-season schedule that Connell hopes will be a prelude to a promotion-winning season for his old club.

The former fans' favourite told the Telegraph: "I'm just desperate to see Town get back into the Football League because I think, once they're there, they'll really kick on from there.

"At one point last season, I thought they were going to go really close for the title before falling away, which was disappointing.

"I'm good friends with Ross Hannah, because of the Bradford connection, so I still get to find out what's going on there.

"He tells me what a good club it still is and how well it is run, so I'm hoping they can go one better this season and get the promotion that everyone at the club deserves."

Connell joined Town back in July 2010 and quickly became a hero with the home faithful, leaving to join Swindon 12 months later – having scored 25 league goals that season.

Now with Bradford, Connell enjoyed a stellar campaign last time out, winning promotion to League One and tasting the thrill of a Wembley appearance when Phil Parkinson's men lost out to Premier League side Swansea City in the League Cup final.

He continued: "Last season was unreal at Bradford. I remember, before I signed there, the manager said: 'if we can just get this club going, it will take off because of the size of the club and because we've had a couple of bad years' and that's been the case.

"And it's the same with Grimsby – I could sense it during my time there.

"Because of how long the club was on a bit of a downward spiral, any manager or group of players that get the club back into the Football League will be loved forever – and Grimsby Town is a great place to be loved.

"If they can get promoted back to the Football League this season – the current players will be heroes in that town."

He added: "It will be nice to be back at the club tonight.

"I'm looking forward to coming back because it's a place that holds a special place in my heart – hopefully I'll get a good reception."

GRIMSBY Town's Scott Kerr is hoping 'Bradford City reserves' can spring a surprise against the Bantams tonight (7.30pm).

The midfielder is one of four players in the Mariners squad who count the West Yorkshire outfit as one of their former clubs.

Ross Hannah, Scott Neilson, Joe Colbeck and Kerr could all feature when Phil Parkinson brings his squad to Blundell Park as part of preparations for their first season back in League One.

And Kerr – who signed his first ever pro deal at Valley Parade – is looking forward to the clash – which will also be his home debut, following a summer move from York City.

"We're looking forward to it," he said. "It will be the first time that we'll have played at home in pre- season and, hopefully, we'll get a decent crowd in and put on a good performance.

"It's like Bradford City reserves at Grimsby at the minute! So there's a few of us looking forward to facing our old club tonight.

"It's always good to test yourself against the better teams like Bradford and Hull because you get more out of it."

Kerr played the full 90 minutes of the 3-0 defeat to Scunthorpe in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup at the weekend.

It was his first full game for nearly four months after injury curtailed the end of his time at York.

Rob Scott and Paul Hurst used to game to experiment with a 4-3-3 formation – a system Kerr and former Minstermen team-mate Paddy McLaughlin are well familiar with.

It's a line-up that Kerr has enjoyed success with at this level – winning the promotion and FA Trophy double with Gary Mills side back in 2012.

"Me and Paddy played in that system for a year and a half and it works – simple as that," he continued.

"If you do it right, it's enjoyable to play in as players and enjoyable for the fans to watch.

"There's maybe a couple here who aren't used to playing in that system but they're good footballers and are taking to it well.

"The more we play it and the more confidence we all gain with it, the better we'll become.

"It's about the lads buying into it and I thought they did that well against Scunthorpe.

"We had plenty of the ball and it went well. If we continue with it again tonight, I'm sure we'll get chances."

Tickets for the game are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for concessions. For more information, see www.gtfc.co.uk.

A LADS' holiday in the party capital of Cyprus nearly killed this Grimsby 20-year-old.

An extended flight home from Ayia Napa is believed to have been what caused the brain tumour that could have taken Ashley Blythe's life.

He had grown up knowing he had a cyst in the middle of his brain which was too dangerous to remove, so was controlled through drugs.

CLEETHORPES Pier is set to reopen this weekend in what is the first step of the long-term plan to restore the iconic venue to its former glory.

At a press conference yesterday, the group of prominent local businessmen who have taken on the lease of the landmark building outlined their vision for the future.