There have been memorable Charles Vernam moments throughout his Grimsby Town career. The stunning solo goal against Colchester United that won the EFL League Two Goal of the Season award. The unforgettable return to Blundell Park in 2023. The flashes of brilliance that have excited Mariners supporters every time he has pulled on the black and white stripes. But as the curtain falls on the 2025/26 campaign, there is a strong argument that supporters have just witnessed the finest season of Charles Vernam’s career.
For the first time, the winger reached double figures for both goals and assists in a league season, finishing with 10 goals and 10 assists in Sky Bet League Two while establishing himself as one of the division’s most influential attacking players. More importantly, his contributions helped drive Grimsby Town’s push towards the top end of the table and create some of the most memorable moments of the campaign.
Born in Lincoln and educated at Caistor Grammar School, Vernam’s football journey has never been straightforward. After progressing through the academies at Scunthorpe United and Derby County, he gained valuable experience through loan spells with ÍBV in Iceland, Coventry City and Grimsby Town before making his first permanent move to Blundell Park in 2018.
Since then, his career has taken him to Chorley, Burton Albion and Bradford City before returning to the Mariners for a third spell in the summer of 2023. For many players, returning to a club multiple times speaks to unfinished business. For Charles, it speaks to something deeper.
“Anyone that knows me understands how much this club means to me and what it means to my family to be here,” he recently said after signing a new contract. “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.”
That connection has always been evident. This season, it translated into the best football of his career.
The numbers tell an impressive story. Ten league goals. Ten league assists. Seventy chances created. Eleven big chances created. More than 2,700 minutes played. Yet statistics alone cannot fully capture Vernam’s influence.
His impact was felt in the moments that defined Grimsby Town’s season. Opening the scoring against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup before producing an assist in one of the most famous nights in the club’s history. Creating both goals in a superb victory at Stadium MK before curling home a spectacular strike of his own. Providing two assists in the FA Cup win over Wealdstone. Scoring a sensational long-range effort against Weston-super-Mare to help send the Mariners into the Fourth Round. Producing the decisive winner at Notts County with five minutes remaining.
Time and time again, when Grimsby needed quality, Vernam delivered.
What made this season different was consistency. Previous campaigns have been disrupted by injuries that prevented him from building momentum. This year was different. Charles started 33 league matches, appeared in 40 and became one of David Artell’s most trusted performers.
He contributed goals against Harrogate Town, Manchester United, Milton Keynes Dons, Cheltenham Town, Salford City, Gillingham, Bromley, Notts County and Salford City again. He created goals for teammates almost every week. Kieran Green, Andy Cook, Jaze Kabia, Jamie Walker and Cameron McJannet all benefited from Vernam’s creativity throughout the season.
His delivery from set-pieces became a major weapon. His ability to drift inside from the left and create chances became a familiar sight, and his growing confidence transformed him into one of the most dangerous attacking players in League Two. The underlying numbers backed it up too.
His expected goals tally of 9.21 closely matched his return of 10 goals, while his expected assists figure of 8.09 highlighted the quality of opportunities he was creating for teammates. In short, he wasn’t relying on luck. He was producing elite attacking output week after week.
But every great season has a signature moment. For Vernam, that moment came under the lights at Blundell Park against Manchester United. As one of world football’s biggest clubs arrived on Cleethorpes Road, the winger produced a performance that will live long in Mariners folklore.
His composed finish past André Onana sent the home crowd into raptures and helped establish Town’s early two-goal advantage. The assist that followed only strengthened his influence on the contest. When Grimsby eventually completed a remarkable 12-11 penalty shootout victory, Vernam was deservedly named Man of the Match.
Reflecting on the evening later in the season, he admitted: “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.
“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.”
Those comments perhaps explain why Charles has become such a popular figure among supporters. He understands exactly what moments like that mean.
Success rarely arrives by accident. Charles has been open about the work required to reach this level after several injury-disrupted campaigns.
“It took a lot of work in the off-season to come back in the best shape possible,” he explained. “The last couple of years have been really difficult. Injuries are demoralising. But I’ve shown character to come back, be available for every minute and every training session.”
That resilience was rewarded when he recently committed his future to the football club by signing a new contract. Securing that deal had been one of his objectives from the beginning 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. Fortunately, I’ve been able to do that.”
Given the season he has produced, few would argue it wasn’t deserved.
At 29 years old, Charles is playing some of the best football of his career. His pace remains a constant threat. His creativity has reached new levels. His end product has become more consistent than ever. Most importantly, he remains deeply connected to the football club he represents.
“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.”
For Grimsby Town supporters, that pride has always been clear. This season, it was matched by performances. Ten goals. Ten assists. Countless memorable moments.
Charles Vernam arrived at Blundell Park as a talented young winger with potential. The 2025/26 season may well be remembered as the year he fulfilled it.
UTM
