Former Bath hero supporting old team pals
The 35 year old is the son of former Town striker Malcolm Partridge and was brought up on the East Coast before becoming a Football League player in his own right.
His most successful spell, however, came in non-league with Bath where he spent five years and averaged a goal every two games in that time.
And during that stint, he hit the headlines at the same stage of the FA Cup five years ago when he was the hero of Bath's 2-1 win at Barnet, scoring twice.
Now, despite returning to live in Grimsby, he is backing his former team-mates to bridge a two-division gap and add Town's name to the club's long list of scalps in the competition.
Partridge, who will be an interested, if hugely envious, spectator in the Blundell Park stands today, told the Bath Chronicle: "It's the draw I'd been dreaming about and as soon as I leave it happens.
"I'll be supporting Bath, of course. It's a great time for them to come here because Grimsby's confidence will be a bit low.
"They've no manager and things aren't looking good in the league.
"Bath have got a lot of ex-League footballers and the club is run like a League club – everything is done properly.
"I'm sure Grimsby will be more worried about Bath than Bath are about Grimsby.
"They will go into it with no fear at all and have a good go, I'm sure. If they can get in front then it'll be difficult for Grimsby.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't want Grimsby to do badly – I was brought up here – but I do wish I was still playing for Bath."
Partridge is widely regarded as one of the finest forwards to wear the black and white stripes of The Romans, scoring 78 times in 178 games for the club, but cancelled his contract in March 2008 in order to be with his terminally ill mother.
His dad played more than 150 times for the Mariners between 1975-1979, scoring 34 goals and then went on to manage the Millfields Health Club, having previously been a gym instructor.
Partridge Junior followed in his dad's footsteps into the game but had injury problems that almost ended it early.
In fact, he spent almost a year battling back to full fitness from a career-threatening neck problem at Bath and, although he later returned to action in the colours of Sheffield FC and Weston-super-Mare, personal matters have now seen him hang up his boots at the age of 35.
"Bath looked after me from the first day I was there until the last and it was only through the tragedy of my mum going that my stay was cut short," said Partridge.
"Everything was going well and they stuck by me through my neck problem, but it is funny how life works out.
"I've lost touch with football since I moved back to Grimsby. I've been through a messy divorce and am concentrating on my new job with a gas company, trying to get my life back on track.
"I had a few offers – decent ones too – to stay in the game but I need to get a bit of structure personally.
"I need my weekends to see my kids, who live in Bristol, and I just haven't got time for football."
cup glory: Scott Partridge with the FA Cup.
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