"THE fact that I'm a lifelong Grimsby Town fan won't make any difference tomorrow – I play for Macclesfield and I want them to take the points."
That's the view of local lad Peter Winn who is preparing to face his home-town club when the Mariners host the Silkmen.
The 23-year-old will be back among familiar surroundings – not just for the fact that he was a regular at Blundell Park as a boy, but also because he finished last season on loan with Town from Stevenage.
Winn, a former Middlethorpe Primary School pupil, made ten appearances during his return to Cleethorpes – a spell which he admits he was disappointed not to see extended.
But after signing for Macclesfield in July, he has now set his sights on getting one over the Mariners and taking all three points back to Cheshire this weekend.
Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: "I really enjoyed my time at Grimsby last season.
"It was brilliant to be playing for my home-town club and the team that I've supported since I was a boy.
"It was a great feeling and I'd do it again, many times over if I could.
"I would have liked to have stayed and played more, so it's disappointing but that's football.
"But I'm a Macclesfield player now and, of course, I want us to win tomorrow because I always want us to do well – whoever we're playing against."
Winn has been on the fringes of the Macclesfield side of late – he hasn't featured for the Silkmen since the end of September – but he says tomorrow's clash would be the ideal game in which to make his return.
"I'd have liked to have played more this season," he admitted.
"I've played roughly half of the games that we've had so far this season, but that's life in football.
"It would be ideal for me if I could get back involved with the side for the game with Town, whether that's starting or from the bench.
"I want to be involved because they're my home-town club and it would be great to play at Blundell Park again.
"If I manage to score, I won't celebrate out of respect, I'll just jog back to my position and leave it at that.
"But the fact that I support Town won't make any difference on tomorrow – I play for Macclesfield and I want them to take the points."
As well as meeting up with childhood friends, a return to Blundell Park will also give Winn the chance to catch up with his mates within the Mariners squad.
He says it is tough to single out any particular threats to his side's chances tomorrow, although he admits it is a relief not to be facing up to the prospect of taking on long-term absentee Liam Hearn.
"It's probably changed a bit since I was there but it's a good set-up at Grimsby and it will be good to be back," he added.
"A lot of people that I went to school with and played football with still go to watch Town on a regular basis so I'll also be meeting up with them again.
"Town have got some great players there and I know quite a few of them and speak to them on a regular basis, so it will also be good to meet up with them again.
"Anthony Elding is a good mate of mine and I know what he's about and what he can do so I know we'll have to watch him.
"Liam is obviously out which, for us is a relief, because you don't want a player who scored the goals he did last season playing against you!
"But it's hard to single out players because every player at Grimsby Town is a good player – they wouldn't be there if not.
"It should be a great game and I'm really looking forward to it," he added.
As an ardent Mariners fan, Town's result is always the one, after Macclesfield's, that Winn is most interested in – and he is well aware of the strong start they have made to the campaign.
And, like every other fan, Winn hopes they finally achieve promotion this season – just as long as it is not at the expense of his current employers.
He added: "Town are doing really well at the minute which is what I always expected.
"They had a good team towards the end of last season and they've added to it so they were always going to be up there.
"I hope they get promoted – just as long as it's along with Macclesfield!
"Us winning the league and Grimsby going up through the play-offs would be ideal for me," he said.
"Town were in the Championship ten years ago so there is no way that they should be in the Conference.
"At Macclesfield, we have a really good bunch of players that have come down to this league and are a cut above to be honest.
"It would be great to see both teams back in the league – they're both in a bit of a false position at the minute.
"We started the season off really well and then, like every team, we had a bit of a blip.
"But we've started picking up results again and beating Marine in the cup last weekend was a good start – hopefully we can build on that tomorrow."
