GRIMSBY Town will start the new season without three of their key players.
Scott Neilson will miss the opening three games through suspension, having been shown a straight red in last season's play-off semi-final defeat at Gateshead.
But it's not just the winger who will be sidelined for the big kick-off on August 9.
Shaun Pearson still has two games to serve of last season's three-match ban while new signing Toto Nsiala, right, will also miss the Conference curtain-raiser through suspension.
Neilson said: "Obviously it's massively frustrating that I'm suspended for the first few games but once they're all out of the way, I'll be raring to go.
"Last season left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth – especially mine after getting sent off – we can't wait to get back and put that right."
Don't forget, the Mariners' fixtures for the 2014/15 Conference season are released today.
Keep checking on this site for the announcement of Town's schedule for the new campaign.
SACHA Baron Cohen has been spotted on the set of his new film Grimsby.
Currently shooting in London, the comic actor has gone for a rock star hairdo, complete with a floppy fringe and long sideburns – making him look a lot like former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.
Cohen's football hooligan character was dressed in an old England shirt, some three-quarter length jeans and white ankle socks with sandals.
The 42-year-old was busy filming comedy sequences that included flashing his blue Y-front pants and also being strapped to a harness – will he be taking flight in the film, perhaps?
His look was completed with a tattoo on his left arm and a bandage on his right hand.
As reported, Mark Strong is in the cast together with Bridesmaids actress Rebel Wilson and Cohen's actress wife Isla Fisher.
Grimsby is expected to hit cinema screens next summer.
SCOTT Neilson insists he has reported back for this pre-season in much better shape than he did last time around.
Last July, the 27-year-old admits that he struggled with the gruelling fitness programme, having only just recovered from a hernia that ruled him out of the tail-end of the previous campaign.
Despite beginning the season, Neilson admits it was a tough start as he was given extra sessions in a bid to get him up to speed.
But having stuck to a strict fitness regime throughout this close- season, Neilson told the Telegraph that he is feeling better than ever ahead of the coming campaign.
"I've come back in much better shape this pre-season and I am much fitter than I was last year," he said.
"When we came back last season, I hadn't kicked a ball since February and I was struggling to be honest.
"But I've done a bit over this summer and I've come back nowhere near as bad as I was last year.
"The first week last year was absolute hell – I was dying and I couldn't even walk, but it's a lot better this time around and I feel 100 per cent fitter than I did.
"It's been tough, but I've found it all right – the best thing about being back is getting to see all the lads again.
"I've really missed playing football for two months over the summer so now it's about getting back to business and getting into the swing of things again."
The first test of the Town squad's fitness levels will be on Wednesday evening, when they face Cleethorpes Town (7pm) in their first of nine scheduled pre-season friendlies.
And just like last season's 2-0 victory, Nielson is expecting another tough opening game at the Bradley Community Stadium.
"We've got plenty of friendlies coming up and that's the way to do it," he continued.
"Getting your match fitness up is the most important thing and we've got nine games – at least – for us all to get up to speed.
"Obviously we've got Clee Town up first next week and it should be a good game.
"Any side that's local to Grimsby is always going to want to prove a point and put that little bit extra in against us.
"That's better for us than going somewhere and the other team not making the effort – it makes for a better work-out."
He recalled: "It was a tight game last year, although they did tire towards the end of the game.
"But for the first 60 minutes, they were running up and down and putting tackles in left, right and centre so it was a tough one, but a good test and I'd expect the same next week."
PEOPLE power and the Grimsby Telegraph are helping to win the war against drugs in North East Lincolnshire.
Humberside Police praised the newspaper for its role in the latest drugs bust, which led to a seizure of cannabis and an arrest.
The cannabis factory, with up to 50 plants, was being grown just yards from a primary school entrance when officers swooped yesterday. A Grimsby Telegraph reader contacted the newsroom some days prior to the drugs bust in Pinewood Crescent, next to Woodlands Primary School.
The information was immediately passed to a senior officer.
After dropping their children at school, a number of parents stood shocked as police officers swooped on the end terraced property shortly after 9am.
It came after police raided two homes in Pershore Avenue, Grimsby in May and Bridge Gardens, Grimsby last month.
In the wake of the latest police raid, residents near Pinewood Crescent, Grimsby, said they feared for children.
One parent said: "What would happen if a child found a cannabis leaf and ate it?"
Another said: "It is lucky the local vigilantes did not hear about it first otherwise they would have dealt with it in their way."
Humberside Police Sergeant Steve Peck said: "This came about thanks to information from The Telegraph and we have a positive result.
"Cannabis plays a role in antisocial behaviour and if we get information from the community we will do our bit. The way the Telegraph is highlighting it in the newspaper is excellent and encourages people to come forward more with information.
"That way we can act and get the warrants from court. We thank the Telegraph."
All the rooms in the two-storey home were used for cultivating cannabis plants, which included a lighting and heating system.
The property was later boarded up and electrical engineers made the supply safe.
The headteacher of nearby Woodlands Primary School declined to comment on the situation.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named said: "It is disgusting growing it so close to a school. There are kids up and down that street all day. I have lived around here all my life and the number of apparent drug dealers moving in is disgusting."
Another neighbour said: "I could smell it this morning when they were taking it away. It is disgusting. It should not be going on anywhere near a school.
"It is good the way the police have acted. What might happen if a kid picked up a leaf and ate it?"
Another resident who did not wish to be named said: "I saw all the police cars this morning. Everyone is shocked. Fortunately my daughter did not see what was going on, that is my main concern."
Sergeant Peck urged people to pass on any information about suspicious activity by calling 101 or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Have you ever been affected by criminal activity in your area (anonymous poll)
THERE'S still time to secure your spot to dance with the stars!
As reported, you can be a part of An Evening With Karen And Kevin From Grimsby on Saturday, July 12, by entering our competition by 10am today.
To be in with a chance of taking to the floor with professionals Kevin Clifton, Karen Hauer or Joanne Clifton, answer the following question: Susanna Reid, Kevin Clifton's dance partner in Strictly Come Dancing, presents on which morning TV show?
A: This Morning
B: BBC One Breakfast
C: Good Morning Britain
Text GT followed by DANCE, your answer (either A, B or C) your name, house number and postcode to 65100. This text service will cost 50p plus your standard network SMS rate.
Example: GT DANCE C Jenny Mason 32 DN32 7PP. Closing date for entries is 10am, today.
Entrants must be aged 18 or over, if winners are unavailable the organisers have the right to draw another winner.
The name you enter must be the person who is willing to dance in the competition and must be aware that they are entering. Each competition winner will also receive a ticket for the evening for a friend or partner and will be called to arrange a practice dance session during next week but dates and times are unknown.
Winners must be prepared to dance on stage and the Grimsby Telegraph accepts no responsibility for the event being cancelled.
Terms and Conditions: Standard Local World Promotions rules apply see www.grimsbytelegraph.uk/houserules. For tickets, call 0844 871 3016.
AN 84-YEAR-OLD man from Grimsby says scrapping the train link between Cleethorpes and Manchester would be "a right pain in the backside".
Philip Dixon, of Barry Avenue, regularly uses the service to meet up with his friends from St Helens.
He also took advantage of the direct link into Manchester Airport several times a year with his late wife for their holidays.
He said: "I don't use the service to the airport as much as I used to, but I still go to Manchester to meet up with friends from St Helens.
"So it would be a right pain in the backside if they got rid of it. I'd have to change and it would be a right nuisance.
"My friends, quite rightly, don't let me use the car anymore so the train is my only option really.
"I tend to use it about six times a year now but, as I said, I used it all the time when my wife was around.
"It's a brilliant service, especially to the airport – it goes straight into the terminal.
"I'd still go and see my friends but this would be a major inconvenience. I don't walk so well nowadays either, so I don't want to be messing around walking up and down stairs."
MPs Martin Vickers and Austin Mitchell, North East Lincolnshire Council, various local traders and more than 3,300 of you who have signed our petition are backing our campaign to keep the service.
As reported, the Department for Transport (DfT) began a consultation last week on the Northern and TransPennine franchises, as ministers consider how best to use £1 billion of investment across the network.
The government is examining the option of terminating the TransPennine Express service from Manchester at Doncaster with a replacement Sheffield to Cleethorpes service, which could stop at Doncaster, being operated by Northern Rail, possibly as an extension of the existing hourly Northern Sheffield to Scunthorpe service.
The proposals are part of what Rail Minister Stephen Hammond, who is soon set to visit the borough, describes as a "huge opportunity" to create a railway system fit for the 21st century.
The Grimsby Telegraph launched a campaign last week to get the public behind the local politicians in derailing this plan.
But we only have until August 18, when the consultation ends, to make our voices heard.
We pledge to send any petitions, coupons and letters on your behalf to the government and those carrying out the consultation.
ON THE WEB: Sign the petition online at www.grimsbytelegraph.co. uk/keepontrack
A NEW sports facility that will be used by school pupils during the day and by the community in the evenings is being developed within the grounds of the Oasis Academy in Immingham.
The new all-weather sports facility will be available to locals, meaning they do not have travel to Grimsby or Cleethorpes to play five-a-side football.
The school, which has just shy of 800 pupils – including the sixth form – will now boast a cutting-edge five-a-side football pitch from which community leagues will be run.
Kevin Rowlands, principal of the school, said the development will be of great benefit to the town and help bridge the gap between school pupils and the wider community.
He said: "From a student's point of view it's great because they'll be getting a brand new facility to use all year round, as it will be an all-weather surface – it will be used during the wetter months, too.
"We'll be able to play a number of sports on the new pitch, not just football but also hockey.
"The role of schools should be to serve the community and our ethos here at Oasis is to be the hub of the local area, so it makes absolute sense to open our doors in the evening to residents of Immingham and encourage participation rates into adulthood.
"Projects like this allow us to keep up with the government health agenda and what's great is it's right on people's doorsteps and they don't have to drive ten miles for a game of football."
Councillor Mick Burnett said: "It's a fantastic new facility for Immingham, a Sport England standard multi-purpose games area that links into school sport and health programmes – it will be a real asset to the town.
"This is a replacement for the one that was lost from the supermarket development in town and ties in with the £1.3 million new leisure centre that is being built, all bringing up the standard of facilities in the local area and I'm really pleased we are in a position to be able to do that."
THE granddaughter of a Marshchapel soldier – who worked as a postman after having his arm blown off during the First World War – believes it is "important" the stories of those who fought are not forgotten.
Elaine Greenwood, 58, of Sea Dyke Way, still has photographs of her grandfather William Massingberg Osbourne taken during his time in the forces.
They, together with photographs of his life after the war, which he shared with his wife Gladys Emily Burgess and their four children Ruby, Cyril, Desmond and Joan – who later gave birth to Elaine – are among her most treasured possessions.
However, she was only nine or 10 years old when William died and he never shared with her what it meant to serve in the First World War, as he was often private about his involvement. She still has an original tag that has his surname and a service number on it, but feels that perhaps many of his memories were too horrific for him to recall.
She said: "He did have a garden shed that had odd bits and pieces from the war, including a book called The Western Front: Then And Now and he did say that he served in a number of places featured in the book."
The dinner lady added: "The Burgess side of my family were really big on farming around the area and between my grandparents they must have been quite well-off, because the 1901 census shows that they had servants.
"My grandmother's family also ran the village post office and that's where my mum used to work. She kept the photos of my granddad in the family, including ones that show he became a postman after the war, despite having his left arm blown off.
"I think, looking back, the fact that he lost his arm and just got on with it by putting it in a sling is incredible – especially when you consider that nowadays he would have probably been given a prosthetic limb.
"I do recall a rather funny story when he was slightly merry and rode his bicycle into a ditch, but he was well known in the area after the war.
"I think it's important that we remember those who fought in the war. We have no idea what they went through but many gave their lives for the country. My grandfather may have lost friends during the war and I know that later into his life he would get flashbacks of the conflict when it would all come flooding back to him. But what he and many others did during the war was something we should all be grateful for."
ON THE WEB: For more memories, visit www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/firstworldwar
