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I spent the day with Grimsby's cup heroes ahead of their clash with Brentford - this is what makes the Mariners special, their manager's uplifting rule for training and the inside story of how they shocked Man Utd

Every father wants to ensure their child's requests are granted but there are occasions when such requests leave a father in an extraordinary situation.

So it was for Kieran Green, Grimsby Town's proud captain, who found himself outside a solemn Manchester United dressing room, waiting to speak to Bruno Fernandes – who, moments earlier, had been rocking on his haunches in disbelief – on behalf of his 11-year-old son, Deacon.

'All he'd said to me before the game was, "Dad, can you get me Bruno's shirt?". So what could I do?' Green asks, as we talk at Grimsby's training enclave about the tumultuous August night that reminded you of sport's wonderful possibilities: a 2-2 draw with one of the world's biggest clubs before a 12-11 victory on penalties.