The Season That Could Of Been

Expectations were ripe at the start of the season, manager Alan Buckley until he was sacked at the end of September, made some respectable signings. Talk of promotion was at the top of the agenda following last season`s strong efforts in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Chris Llwellyn once a prolific striker for Norwich, who was released by Wrexham in May 2008 signed on a two year contract in July 2008. Central defender Matthew Heywood came to the Mariners on a two year contract in later June 2008, from Brentford where he enjoyed a two year spell as Captain. Richard Hope was another central defender who signed for us in June 2008 on a two year deal, after being released by Wrexham after they were relegated. Robbie Stockdale, an experienced right back who enjoyed a lengthy part of his career at Premiership strugglers Middlesbrough. The right back also signed on a two year contract after also being released by his previous club Tranmere Rovers.

It seemed Alan Buckley had encountered a bit of fortune in the transfer market over the summer and even I considered putting a considerable bet on the Mariners achieving promotion, I didn`t thankfully.

The 2008/2009 campaign got underway at home against Rochdale where a goalless draw was witnessed. I wasn`t worried, and it seemed that I didn`t have to be either as the Mariners won their first round Carling Cup game at home against Stockdale`s former club Tranmere 2-0. However Buckley`s black and white army soon suffered tantalising blows to team morale, losing three games on the bounce, beginning at Brentford where we lost 4-0 at Griffin Park. The rot continued into the second round of the Carling Cup away to Blackburn Rovers where an early lead courtesy of Tom Newey couldn`t stop Buckley`s men losing 4-1.

The next game always a significant one, saw Grimsby travel to local rivals Lincoln, where usually such a hotly anticipated game ended in a bore score 1-1 draw. September went from bad to worse for Mariners fans after the team lost another three league games drawing one in the process, and with no win recorded in the league it led to the inevitable – the sacking of manager Alan Buckley on 16th September after Grimsby lost at home to Chester City 1-3.

For many Town fans it was duly deserved, times had changed since the celebrations of 1998`s historic season which saw Grimsby travel to the old Wembley not once, but twice, securing promotion to the Championship and also winning the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy.

Buckley left the Mariners in a terrible situation 20th in the table, not a win recorded only losses and a couple of draws to mull over. Stuart Watkiss took over as Caretaker Manager, however the usual ‘new manager, a win straight away` syndrome didn`t seem to work as September continued to be a poor month for Grimsby Town Football Club October began equally as bad for Watkiss as he could do nothing to prevent his side being defeated 4-1 away from home against Rotherham at the Don Valley Stadium.

6th October 2008 was a day Town fans breathed a sigh of relief. Former Hartlepool and Luton Town manager Mike Newell was appointed by Chairman John Fenty as the new Grimsby boss. Taking into account the stature and connections Newell has it is not surprising that Grimsby fans, none more so than myself expected big things from the new boss. Newell`s first game saw a tricky match against Wycombe Wanderers where ever frustrating midfielder Peter Bore took the lead for the Mariners helping a Nick Hegarty shot cross the line – it was evident Bore was out to impress. Grimsby`s newly found black and white army seemed to have turned the corner, until Wanderer`s defender Leon Jackson headed home a 90 minute free kick leaving Town fans slightly disheartened but still positive nonetheless after a strong performance.

Mike Newell in his third game in charge faced his former club Luton Town at home on an eventful Tuesday night at Blundell Park. Peter Bore was once again a vital part of the performance opening the scoring in the 1st minute, giving Grimsby a dream start. However on the 24th minute, a rush of blood to the head saw Mariner`s keeper Phil Barnes commit a foul inside the penalty area. Tom Craddock stepped up and converted the penalty giving his team the all important equaliser. The second half saw Town come out of the blocks all guns blazing, their effort paid dividend on the 58th minute where a Peter Till free kick was headed past Luton keeper Conrad Logan by young skipper Ryan Bennett. It was up to Town now to defend the lead and record their first win of the season avoiding a club record of 19 games without a win. But once again it was a last gasp goal that saw Town fans going home once again with not much to shout about as Craddock scored his second of the game.
October ended not as intended, Town still without a win and the only thing stopping them from being in the relegation zone was that Bournemouth and Luton both had points deducted at the beginning of the campaign.
November started worryingly for the Mariners as they slumped to two more defeats firstly at home to Darlington (2-1) then away to Morecambe (2-1) game we really should have done better in. Then on the 15th November Town travelled away to Bury and recorded their first win of the season with goals coming from Liam Trotter and Nathan Jarman (2-0).

Grimsby were unlucky not to repeat the feat at home in their next game against Bournemouth, where the Mariners were leading 3-2 until striker Lee Bradbury equalised for the Cherries on the 89th minute. November however ended like it started with a loss this time away from home against Macclesfield on a dismal Tuesday night.

December would see the Mariners once again fall at the first hurdle losing away to Port Vale 2-1. Confidence among fans was extremely low as we went into the next home game against Shrewsbury Town. The game was to become a welcome relief for one of the lowest attendances of the season (3,283) as Town finally achieved a win at home when recent acquisition Adam Proudlock scored the only goal of the game in a match that the Mariners definitely deserved to win (1-0).

However Boxing Day would prove to be a bad day for the Mariners as the only goal of the game came from Delroy Facey knocking the stuffing out of a Grimsby team showing the effects of maybe a little too much Christmas turkey.1-0 to Notts County the game ended.

A Grimsby fan of eleven years now, I have never once contemplated relegation for Town quite like I did at the end of December when the Mariners travelled away to Accrington Stanley. It is hard to think that Conference sides have worse grounds and facilities than Stanley`s ground ‘The Fraser Eagle Stadium` has. The name gives it more respect than it deserves, it capacitates 5,050 with 1,200 seating. Grimsby lost that game 3-1 with a little help from a Jamie Clarke who was on loan from Blackburn Rovers at the time.
2009 signalled the start of a fight back for the Mariners as for the first time this season the club recorded back to back victories away against Wycombe and then at home against Rotherham. Things were looking up. The two wins were followed by a draw. Seven points out of a possible nine and unbeaten in 2009; some fans were even talking about a push for the playoffs – something which happens typically every season even if we were 22 points away from then 7th place Gillingham.

I was even positive for once, so Faths and I made the short journey to Yorkshire where Grimsby would face cash strapped Bradford City. Recent signing Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro had his name repeatedly chanted by the fans as the players warmed up. My outlook was a good one, as the players ran out; the black and white army looked primed and ready for action. However with only 21 minutes gone Grimsby were down to ten men when central defender Rob Atkinson was sent off after bringing down ex Town front man Michael Boulding. From then on I had the feeling, the feeling that we had no chance, I hate that feeling at Town games, and I can actually sense a defeat. We lost 2-0, another kick in the teeth. The only highlight was the walk back to the car, where we met three young Bradford City supporters who insisted pronouncing Bradford, ‘Bratferd`, Yorkshire thing I guess. They asked us which team we supported which I thought was quite obvious as I was wearing my Town shirt. Anyway I told them, “Grimsby”. At this point one of the little urchins muttered under his breath “Shit” at which point I laughed. They started talking about how they were playing “Darloooo” on Monday night and how the youth were going to wait at the train station for the Darlington fans. This I found highly amusing as they looked the better side of ten, they left, and we got in the car and drove off back to Lincolnshire.

February is not even worth mentioning as bugger all happened we drew two games and then lost the remaining four, Darlington of which I went to. Still that was rubbish, “Nice ground, no fans” seemed to be the chant on repeat. But when you`re built a stadium by a corrupt debt collector what do you expect, of course he`s going to go over the top it`s what he`s used too.

March saw the Mighty Mariners begin to show some resilience and start to prove that we were never a team destined for relegation. Losing the first match of month against Brentford I believed to be fairly respectable, however my blog at the time suggested otherwise, Brentford were no means brilliant, their performance certainly didn`t reflect a team heading towards winning the League Two championship. But when you are up there 1-0 victories are often the results that secure promotion, rather than the enthralling high scoring games.

On the subject of high scoring games, I seem to remember one that came on the 7th March 2009 at Blundell Park against local rivals Lincoln City. I decided to take my friend Darren with me, the kind of guy who thinks exercise doesn`t matter and his view on football is that “Can`t they just decide who is the best team and then leave it there”. I`m glad Darren went to that match and saw the Mariners put five past the Imps with a superb hat trick coming from Adam Proudlock (5-1).

Once more positivity ripened my thoughts going into the next match away against Chester City. As I sat at my laptop with Sky Sports News on in the background I listened carefully as the latest scores came through. I was cutting it short as I had work at 4, so I quickly got dressed and was just about to turn the TV off when, “Grimsby have gone ahead at Chester, Hegarty getting the first goal for the league two strugglers”, at that point I had some kind of mad fit, then collected myself and shouted, “Get in Town!” Before leaving for work, however in a game we should have continued to dominate we ended up drawing 1-1.

Luton Town was our next opponents, it was away or else I would have been able to get to the match. As I sat once again at my laptop writing up my Public Administration essay, with my headphones plugged into my laptop tuned into MarinersWorld ready to broadcast the match, I felt as though we needed to get an early goal like we did at Chester we then need to go on and clinch the win as our next game would be against Gillingham.

Much to my amazement Grimsby took the lead just inside the first half through eventual Player of the Season Ryan Bennett who nodded home a Nick Hegarty cross. The lead however was short lived as Luton responded almost instantly in half time stoppage time. Newell`s former club went on to win the game after a poor change of tactics by the Mariner`s boss, replacing attacking midfielder Peter Bore with waste of space Matt Heywood, “negative, negative far too negative” I said.
This only encouraged Luton to mount a heavier attack and on the 90th minute, surprise, surprise Luton got the winner through substitute Asa Hall (2-1).

Saturday 21st March would see Town face Gillingham at home this time I took University friend Calum. Upon entering the ground I had a great feeling, the Grimsby Evening Telegraph had ran an offer in conjunction with the club days prior to the match giving supporters a chance to go to the game for £5. It worked, 6,406 was the recorded attendance from that game, the atmosphere was definitely telling of this.

The overall performance from Town was impeccable, with new additions to the club of experienced Bradford striker Barry Conlon and Leeds midfielder Peter Sweeney both starting their loan debuts for Town. From the start they made a difference, Conlon winning almost everything in the air; consistently feeding the ball through to the quick Akpa-Akpro. It was all very reminiscent of the partnership Gary Jones and Michael Reddy had only a few seasons ago. The result in the end spoke for the effort and determination of the players, 3-0, we dominated the match. Rather unlike the game against Lincoln where we had a mad fifteen minutes where we scored the deciding goals. It was promising to see that at that stage of the season Newell seemed to have the players playing and acting as though the club meant everything to every one of them. The way we played against Gillingham also proved something that I have been saying for a long time, anyone on their day can beat anyone else in the current league, there is not one outstanding team, the key factors are simply: confidence and form that`s what makes a team at this level quality.

The next Saturday would see the Mariners play host to Aldershot Town in a game that received the biggest attendance all season 7,095 fans packing out the seats at Blundell Park. I for once, was not one of them I had to work. I had my own expectations of Grimsby as earlier in the week I had put a £10 bet on a Mariners victory. Credit must go to Shots` fans that made the journey to Cleethorpes as part of their ‘Shots on Tour` campaign which in turn boosted the gate receipts. Throughout the game, throughout my shift I started to get agitated. Checking my phone every five minutes as the game looked to be heading towards a goalless draw. Suddenly the phone went crazy, flashing and vibrating ‘GOAL! Conlon penalty`. “Yes!” I shouted.
I don`t think anyone was as happy as me at that point in the afternoon, especially being in Lincoln. A much needed win was dampened by reports of possible Grimsby fans targeting the Aldershot supporters` buses with bricks. One bus had it`s window put through putting fellow football fans in danger, thankfully no one was seriously hurt. This unfortunately was another sorry remainder of what still remains in and amongst football.

April saw the black and white army get off to somewhat of a slow start drawing away against Shrewsbury 1-1 then losing 1-0 at home to Accrington Stanley in what only can be described as an anti-climax of a game after being so successful in weeks prior to the game.

Part Two To Follow.