Charles Vernam

Charles Vernam scored the opening goal when Grimsby Town met Manchester United in the EFL Cup on 27 August 2025. The tie finished 2–2 and Grimsby won the penalty shoot-out 12–11. Vernam was named Man of the Match.

His strike against Colchester United won the EFL League Two Goal of the Season award for 2019–20. In February 2020 he was named PFA Fans' Player of the Month for League Two, after four goals and two assists. In August 2024 his goal against Cheltenham Town won the League Two Goal of the Month award.

He grew up in the Scunthorpe United youth system and moved to Derby County in 2013. He signed his first professional contract there in 2015 but made only one first-team appearance, in the FA Cup. Development came through loans. At ÍBV in Iceland in 2016 he scored twice in nine appearances. Coventry City followed in 2017, and in 2018 he went to Grimsby Town, where he scored once in nine games.

Grimsby signed him permanently in July 2018 on a two-year contract. He made 62 league appearances and scored 10 goals, and had a loan spell at Chorley in November 2019, scoring three times in four games.

Burton Albion signed him in 2020, and Bradford City in February 2021. At Bradford he made 49 league appearances and scored 10 goals. He joined Lincoln City on a free transfer in June 2022 and played 20 league games.

Vernam returned to Grimsby in June 2023 on a three-year deal. He scored once in 23 league appearances by late 2024.