Mariners Memories vs Stockport County

 

Hello and welcome to Mariners Memories, a new weekly look back at classic clashes throughout the history of Grimsby Town, we'll be here every Friday teatime with some memories against each week's opponents so be sure to check back every week to see some famous moments, great goals and legendary players in the famous black and white shirt. This week as Paul and the boys prepare to face league leaders Stockport County at Edgeley Park, here's some memories between The Mariners and The Hatters. 

Do You Remember The First Time?

Town first squared up to tomorrow's opponents way back at the start of the 20th century, meeting in November 1900 at Blundell Park. Charlie Richards scored twice to set Town on their way to a crushing 5-1 win over Stockport, their sixth victory of a season that would end with The Mariners finishing atop the Second Division. 

Classic Clash

For our featured 'Classic Clash' this week, we travel back to another promotion season for Town (albeit one in slightly more recent memory) as we remember The Mariners' trip to Edgeley Park in April 1990 with promotion back to the Third Division in the offing. Dave 'Diddy' Gilbert (pictured below) scored two first half goals ten minutes apart to put Alan Buckley's side in a commanding position. After the home side had battled back to turn 2-0 into 2-2, Town came roaring back and regained the lead through veteran striker Garry Birtles before youngster Chris Hargreaves notched the winner to earn The Mariners a memorable 4-2 victory. 

Mutual Friends

Rob Jones (pictured) joined Russell Slade's recently Mariners in the summer of 2004 following a year with Stockport. After initially struggling to cement a regular starting place during his first season at Blundell Park, the giant defender soon established himself as a lynchpin of the side that almost gained promotion to League One in 2006 by forming formidable defensive partnerships with Justin Whittle and Ben Futcher as well as turning in some colossal performances, notably his man-of-the-match turn against Tottenham in the famous League Cup win of September 2005. Upon leaving The Mariners for Scottish Premiership outfit Hibernian in the summer of 2006, Jones won the Scottish League Cup with the Easter Road side and later turned out for Scunthorpe United, Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers and Hartlepool United. 

Charismatic former Mariners goalkeeper Nigel Batch spent a short time on loan at Stockport in 1989, ex-Newcastle defender David Beharall turned out for Town on loan in 2001 before playing for Stockport later in his career in 2006. After leaving Stockport in the summer of 2006, midfielder Danny Boshell went on to stay with Grimsby Town until 2010, playing at Wembley for The Mariners in 2008. Striker Tony Caldwell made two appearances for Town in September 1988 and would only stay in Cleethorpes for just short of a month before leaving for Stockport in October of the same year. 

Former Scotland under-21 frontman Harry Cardwell joined Town in the summer of 2017 and would stay at Blundell Park until the summer of 2020 when he signed for Chorley before spending a short period on loan at Stockport during the 20-21 campaign. Journeyman striker Barry Conlon joined The Mariners in the latter stages of the 2008-09 season and scored some vital goals to aid Town in their successful battle against relegation from League Two and stayed with the club until 2010 when he was allowed to join Chesterfield, upon his release from the Derbyshire club, Conlon turned out briefly for Stockport during the first half of the 2010-11 season. Irishman Jon Daly arrived on loan at Town from Stockport in 2004 and notched a goal on his debut but saw his short time in Cleethorpes end in infamy when he was given his marching orders during a 2-0 derby defeat away at Scunthorpe United in November 2004. Wes Fletcher played for both Town and Stockport during 2010, signing for The Mariners in the January before arriving at Edgeley Park in the October, both times on loan from Burnley. 

Scottish striker Martin Gritton (pictured below) signed for Grimsby in December 2004 and became a useful member of Russell Slade's team until his departure to Lincoln City in January 2006, later in his career the Glasgow native made a handful of appearances for Stockport during the 2011-12 season. Midfielder Jon Nolan plied his trade with Stockport between 2011 and 2013 following his release from Everton before forming part of Paul Hurst's Grimsby Town team that gained promotion to League Two in 2016. Striker Adam Proudlock helped Stockport gain promotion to League One in 2008 and later turned out for The Mariners between 2008 and 2010, memorably scoring a hat-trick agains local rivals Lincoln City in March 2009. 

From The Archives

Our video action this week comes from a clash at Blundell Park in December 2000 that ended in a 1-1 stalemate. The game was notable for Wayne Burnett's first goal for Town since his winning golden goal at Wembley against Bournemouth two years earlier. 

(Credit for the upload goes to the YouTube channel Grimsby Town Classic Videos)

Fully Programmed

Finally, our look back at programmes from days gone by takes us back to Stockport's visit to Blundell Park in March 1989, a game that would end in a 2-0 win for Town thanks to goals from Marc North and Kevin Jobling. 

Alan Buckley is full of praise for Town's performances and results following the FA Cup defeat at Wimbledon while there is a focus on left-back Geoff Stephenson. The visitors on the day were able to call upon one-time Town player Tony Caldwell (see above), young striker Brett Angell and former Manchester City and Scotland midfielder Asa Hartford who was manager of The Hatters on the day. 

That's your lot for this week's Mariners Memories, I hope you have enjoyed our jaunt back into the past. If you fancy some more retro Grimsby Town reading then check out my new book 'From The Dock Tower To The Twin Towers: Grimsby Town In The 1990s' which is available here.

See you next week for some memories against past clashes with Doncaster Rovers. 

Up The Mariners!