Charles Vernam has committed his future to Grimsby Town, signing a new contract to extend his stay at Blundell Park, and for the winger, it’s about far more than football.

Having put pen to paper on a new deal, Vernam spoke of his pride, gratitude and deep-rooted connection to both the club and the community.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” he said. “Anyone that knows me understands how much this club means to me and what it means to my family to be here.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to be here for another year minimum, and hopefully a lot longer.”

A Target Achieved

Securing a new contract was something Vernam had set his sights on from the very start of the campaign.

“We do individual development plans with the manager at the start of the season and one of my goals was to earn a new contract,” he explained. “Fortunately, I’ve been able to do that.

“I’ve had a really good season personally, which has helped the team, and that’s the main thing. I’m just delighted to get it sorted and grateful to everyone for making it such an easy situation.”

While discussions can sometimes become a distraction, Vernam insists his focus has never wavered.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been a distraction, but you do like security. There’s not a lot of security in football, so it’s nice to know where your future lies – especially somewhere that means as much to me as this club does.”

A Club Close To Home

For Vernam, Grimsby Town is more than just his place of work. It’s home.

“My family are local, which is massive for me. I went to school in Caistor, 20 minutes down the road. We’ve lived in the area for five or six years now and my daughter’s growing up here.

“I’m hoping that one day, when she’s older, people will see her last name and remember moments like the Man United game. That’s special.

“The club gives me the opportunity to improve on the pitch but also be the best possible dad and partner off it. It fits everything.”

A Night To Remember

That unforgettable night against Manchester United remains one of the defining moments of Vernam’s career, and life.

“It’s one of the best moments I’ve ever had in my career, one of the best moments of my life, to be honest,” he reflected.

“I don’t think it’s properly sunk in yet for us as a group. It’ll be one of those we look back on in years to come and realise what we achieved.

“People have stopped me in the street and said it was one of the best nights of their lives. When you hear what it meant to families in the town, it makes you realise how special it was.”

The scenes at the final whistle, with fans spilling onto the pitch in celebration, perfectly captured the bond between club and community.

“It’s an amazing honour to represent this football club and this community. It’s not lost on us as a group how important we are to people.”

Delivering On The Pitch

This season has seen Vernam return to his very best form, contributing goals and assists consistently and establishing himself as one of the standout creative players in the division.

“It took a lot of work in the off-season to come back in the best shape possible,” he admitted.

“I knew the pressure that comes in the last year of a deal. It was one of those where it had to go well, and with a lot of hard work, it has done.

“The manager’s shown a lot of faith in me by playing me consistently and I feel like I’ve repaid that so far. But there’s still work to do.”

After battling injury setbacks in previous seasons, Vernam has shown resilience to enjoy a campaign where he has been consistently available.

“The last couple of years have been really difficult. Injuries are demoralising and I understand the frustrations when people don’t see that side of it.

“But I’ve shown character to come back, be available for every minute and every training session. Long may that continue.”

Eyes On The Finish Line

Despite securing his future, Vernam’s focus remains firmly on helping the Mariners finish the season strongly.

“It’s an amazing moment for me personally, but in the grand scheme of things the most important thing is helping the team finish as high as possible.

“There’s still a lot to play for. If I can keep contributing with goals and assists, I’ll be doing my job.

“We’ve shown real togetherness this season. We’re in it until the end and we’ll keep pushing to be where we need to be come the final day.”

A Message To The Fans

Charles first arrived at the club as a 21-year-old on loan, and the connection with supporters has only strengthened since.

“Ever since I came here, everyone’s backed me and supported me,” he said.

“I hope you know how proud I am to represent this football club and how much it means to me and my family.

“Just thank you for everything.”

With his future secured and his form flourishing, Charles Vernam’s story at Blundell Park is far from finished.

And if this season is anything to go by, there are plenty more special moments still to come.

You can watch the full interview with Charles here:

UTM