By Rob Sedgwick BBC Sport Online

A new - and somewhat unlikely - cult hero has emerged at English Division One side Grimsby Town - Cape Verde midfielder George Santos.

When Santos arrived at Grimsby's home of Blundell Park in October 2002, his reputation in football was of a wayward hard man.

Now he is known in the English fishing port as "King George".

Santos initially signed for a month with the club having left Sheffield United last season under a cloud following his involvement in March's "Battle of Bramall Lane."

The infamous match against West Bromwich Albion saw three players dismissed and the game abandoned after a mass brawl - for which Santos was cast as the chief culprit.

At the time, Grimsby's squad was so small - and money so tight - that the Blundell Park faithful were just pleased to see a new face.

But the fans really began to warm to him when it emerged that the 32-year-old was prepared to put his international career on hold in order to regain his shattered reputation in the game.

Then, in his first two starts, Santos was a revelation.

In his full debut in midfield, Santos helped the Mariners pummel Ipswich 3-0.

He then displayed his versatility with a commanding performance in defence against Watford, although Grimsby lost the game 2-0.

Although a subsequent dismissal and the end of his short-term contract saw a break in his first-team run, he returned in December to sign for the rest of the season.

And since Santos fully re-established himself, Grimsby have been on a run of five games without defeat - turning Santos into a figure of hero worship.

The high point of this run was Santos' goal against Sheffield Wednesday in a crucial relegation six-pointer.

Santos opened the scoring, and celebrated by running half the length of the pitch - in front of his many new, adoring fans.