Grimsby Town FC's newest fan? It's none other than Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (with great reluctance)

Didn't The Mariners do well! Lia Nici makes her point

PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to support The Mariners during the rest of their remarkable 2023 FA Cup run.

Prompted by Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici, the PM said it 'pained' him to congratulate her team because it came, in the last round,  at the expense of Southampton, the team he has supported since he was a pupil at Winchester College.

However, he pledged allegiance to the Mariners in Sunday week's match away to another Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion - not difficult for him since Soton and Brighton are South Coast rivals.

The light-hearted exchange came during today's Prime Minister's Questions.

Ms Nici pointed out that the last time Town had reached the Sixth Round was in 1939 - which was also the last period during which Grimsby had a Conservative MP.  

Laughter from Dominic Raab and a rueful smile from the Prime Minister