Grimsby Town will play a friendly against Port Vale open for fans to watch as part of their pre-season trip to Alicante in Spain next month. The Mariners will also play a behind-closed-doors match against Al-Ain Under 21s, as Paul Hurst takes his squad away for some warm-weather training as part of their pre-season preparations.
Grimsby went to Spain last summer, with the difference this year being that fans will be allowed to come and watch the team abroad as they take on Port Vale of League One. Town will begin their friendly schedule with games against Cleethorpes Town, Grimsby Borough and Hull City before their trip to Spain, with the Port Vale fixture scheduled for July 21, kick-off at 11am local time at the Real Club de Golf Campoamor Resort in Alicante.
The Mariners will spend a week in Spain in between their friendlies with Hull (July 15) and Lincoln City (July 25) with their pre-season schedule ending with two away trips to Boston United and Lincoln City.
Trips away like this one will help break up the intensity of the pre-season training in what is an important time for Hurst and his coaching staff to ensure new signings are bedding into the squad while building match fitness.
The players and staff will be grateful to have over a month’s worth of preparation time for the new campaign this time around with pre-season set to begin on June 26 with League Two getting underway on the weekend of Saturday, August 6.
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