Tributes follow death of Grimsby Town legend

Tributes to Grimsby Town legend Matt Tees are flooding social media after his death aged 81 has been announced.

The club said: “Grimsby Town Football Club are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of #GTFC legend, Matt Tees.

“The thoughts of everybody associated with the club are with Matt’s family and friends at this sad time.

“Rest In Peace, Matt.”

Matt was discovered while playing for local leagues in Scotland. After a spell with Airdrie, he played for Grimsby Town (two spells), Charlton Athletic and Luton Town before ending his career with Boston United in the Northern Premier League.

During his second spell at Grimsby, Tees was part of the 1971–72 team that won the Division Four title.

He had around 200 Mariners’ caps to his name.

A 2017 BBC  documentary on dementia among retired footballers included a visit by Alan Shearer to Matt’s family home in Cleethorpes, where it was confirmed he had an advanced stage of the condition; it was suggested that the cause may have been the high number of times he headed the ball during his playing career.

One GTFC followed wrote: “So sorry to hear the sad news of the passing of a true legend of Grimsby Town F.C. He was one of the greatest of the greats that have represented GTFC, and he will be missed, and fondly remembered by those that saw him play.”

While another said: “What a fantastic player and a gentleman.”

And in a moving tribute on the GTFC website John Kirk wrote that few players have achieved the respect and legendary status of Matt Tees, Master Mariner.

“And he achieved that status in not one stint at Blundell Park, but in two, playing, and scoring against the very biggest names in English football!”

John wrote that in the close season of 1963, Manager Tom Johnston sold Town hero, and scoring legend Ron Rafferty to Hull City for £10,000, and bought Matt Tees from Airdrieonians for half of that.

“Almost half a century after his last game for Town, Tees is still lovingly remembered by hundreds, if not thousands of own fans who took him to their hearts not once, but twice, and again in his retirement.

“Five foot 10, and 10 stone 4 he might have been in his playing days, but for all who saw him, he was, and always will be remembered as a giant of a man.

“Matt: Thanks for all the memories and the joy you brought to football fans all over the country, but especially to we Mariners.”