Grimsby Town boss Ian Holloway apologises for what he did to Harrogate manager and staff after the final whistle of their midweek meeting.
The much loved football figure made a sad revelation after Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to the new members of the English Football League, apologising to visiting staff and players.
The Mariners boss clashed with opposite number Simon Weaver and members of the Sulphurites’ back-room team as the final whistle was blown at Blundell Park.
#gtfc fans have raised £1848 and rising for a mental health or suicide prevention charity of Ian Holloway’s choice after the Mariners boss revealed on Tuesday that one of his friends had taken his own life.
(The fundraising target was £500)
Latest ⬇️https://t.co/F6sw9FkZcX
— Matt Dean (@mattdeanbbc) October 22, 2020
Holloway, could be seen furious, however when talking to the media, he stated the circumstances which led him to describe October 20, 2020 as “one of the worst days of my life”.
Speaking after the defeat, he said: “Well done to them. I think they’re winners, I think they understand what they’re doing, and I’ve had one of the worst days of my life.
“One of my best mates killed himself, and it really just puts all of this nonsense in its place, to be honest.
“I feel for his family, I feel for his wife and his children. It’s just absolutely soul-destroying.
“I’m really not happy with my behaviour on the bench. I’ve gone and apologised to them, I was far too emotional, but I don’t know what’s expected of me sometimes.
“Life’s just so weird at the moment.”
Despite the distress that he was contending with on the night, Holloway still made time to praise Town for their performance.
He added: “Really we don’t know that back-five well enough to move it quickly enough against their good pressing, their tenacity, and really they could have been two or three up before we gave them a goal.
“We weren’t quite good enough in the first half. When you look at it, they are very, very professional.
“What we’ve got to do is make sure we’re ready to take on whoever we’re playing, and stop them first.
“I tried to beat them first, and we’re not good enough for that yet, so well done to them.”
It is understood that Holloway knocked on the door of the Harrogate dressing room and apologised post-match, while he also sought out Weaver. What a guy.
Speaking to BBC Radio York even before he was aware of his counterpart’s circumstances, Town’s manager still chose to play the incident down.
“I just think emotions run high,” Weaver said.
“It’s frustration, we get frustrated when things don’t go our way as well.”
Fans reacted online after seeing the Grimsby boss apologises for what he did to Harrogate staff after the final whistle…
As much as I wasn’t happy with it at the time he has apologised to your management, given the circumstances he has in his life (see above) you may want to consider deleting.
Other than that, 2-1 flattered us. Well done.
— Matthew Lond (@mlond85) October 20, 2020
Feel for Ian Holloway this evening. Can’t have been easy to be in such a high pressure situation given the news he’d received about losing one of his best friends #GTFC https://t.co/FddJALHYkp
— James Findlater (@JamieFin_) October 20, 2020
Awful. Hope the club look after him in the coming days and weeks.
— Mark Hodgson (@HodgyGTFC) October 20, 2020
Ian Holloway gives emotional interview after losing close friend to suicide, fans then open up about their own mental health problems/over £3,000 raised for charity.
Never underestimate the power football has: fans now discussing mental health openly online.
What a club #GTFC
— Erik Green (@Erik_Green8) October 22, 2020
After his interview after the harrogate game and now this it’s close to bringing a tear to my eye amazing absolutely amazing well done there is some good people in this town…
— Chris stiff (@chrisjs1982) October 22, 2020
This club ??? So proud to have @IanOllie7 as our manager. He’s brought us hope, belief, a better standard of football and entertainment since his short time here. He’s as committed a manager as I can remember us having. All our thoughts are with him. A privilege to have him
— Jason Harvey ???? (@jaseharvey2) October 22, 2020
Sorry to hear this sad news, Ollie is one of life’s good people,great too see the support people are showing.
— chris parker (@chrisparker3547) October 22, 2020
So proud to be a mariner this morning
— Mike McMahon (@MikeyMcMahon) October 22, 2020
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