Grimsby Town Football Club were delighted to announce the opening of the new Bill Carr Suite on Tuesday night.

Ahead of the pre-season friendly against Lincoln City, the friends and family of our former Chairman, gathered to celebrate the official opening in the Main Stand. Present at the ceremony was Bill’s wife, Jose, his sons Chris and David, former manager Alan Buckley, Chief Executive Debbie Cook and many other guests.

After almost a decade on the Club’s board, Bill became Chairman in December 1994 and was one of the main people responsible for Alan Buckley’s return to the Mariners in 1997 which culminated in two famous Wembley trips and promotion back to Division One. Bill stood down as Chairman in 1999 after helping establish the Club in the second tier and sadly passed away in February 2004.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s event, his son David Carr said:

“It’s an absolute honour to have a suite named after my Dad. He was a very modest, quiet man, so I don’t know quite what he’d have made of it, but it is such a wonderful honour for our whole family. I also think it speaks volumes about the present leadership at Grimsby Town Football Club. It feels as though we have gone back to the days when the Club had a more family-friendly feeling and that was something Dad was very passionate about.”

Grimsby Town Chief Executive Debbie Cook also commented:

“I am really delighted that we have been able to rename the Platinum Lounge after Bill Carr, one of the most popular Chairmen in the Club’s history. Whenever anyone mentions Bill to me, they are full of admiration for the man who led Grimsby Town Football Club during some of the great times in our recent history. It was a pleasure to spend time with his wife, Jose, sons Chris and David, and learn more about Bill as a person.”

We would like to place on record our thanks to EWS Ltd, Carr & Carr (Builders) Ltd and Mally Cox Decorators for the work they did to refurbish the room during the close season.

The Bill Carr Suite is currently full for the forthcoming season, but people can register their interest for future seasons by contacting the Club.