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Archived News from October 2006

STAGSNET`S STATISTICAL PREVIEW
30th October 2006 20:29


After having had a bye in the first round of Johnstone's Paint Trophy (formerly LDV Vans, and even earlier, Freight Rover Trophy, which the Stags won by penalizing Bristol City in 1987), the Stags now entertain Grimsby at home.

And this is only the second time altogether, the Stags face the Mariners in any cup competition.

On November 4, 1961, the Stags were drawn at home to then Third Divison Grimsby at Field Mill. It was early on in Colin Treharne's Stags career in goal. On that November Saturday, 10127 watched the Stags go through to the second round thanks to a 3-2 victory courtesy of two Brian Hall strikes and one from Ken Wagstaff, latter later for many years representing a club on the other side of the Humber.

But the sides have already clashed in the League this term. On August 18, 2006, the sides drew 1-1 at Blundell Park in a game in which the Stags were very unlucky not to win. Hamshaw put the Stags in front early on in the second half, and just one minute later, Brown put away an effort only to see his goal controversially disallowed for offside. With just a little more than a quarter to go, Bore equalized for the Mariners, who in the league have suffered a reaction after last season's playoff finals defeat to Cheltenham.

And the Mariners paid the prize for that. Manager Russell Slade left for Yeovil, and some other players, too. But not veteran defender McDermott, who last season played his 700th game for the Mariners in a creditable League Cup KO of Spurs.

And before the introduction of the Premier League in 1992-93, Grimsby Town as the only league club held the distinction of playing in all SIX divisions of the Football league (Division 1 – first time as early as in 1901-02 – best position 5th in 1934-35, Division 2, Division 3 (S) – in 1920-21 – Division 3 (N), Division 3 and Division 4). The Mariners, which indeed were one of the original members of the old division 2 when founded in 1892, are also one of the clubs which have swapped divisions most times during their league career, nearly thirty times in all, and it is also no wonder why Grimsby have faced more league clubs than any other team – more than 120 in fact – and in 2004-05 faced Boston, Cheltenham, Yeovil, Macclesfield and Kidderminster in a league fixture for the first time – and last season Barnet as well. And all the previous league fixtures between the Mariners and the Stags have taken place after World War II – but the away fixture last August was the first outside the old Division 3 (N) and the old Division 3, spanning over a period of nearly 40 years from 1951-52 to 1990-91.

Last season, both sides were involved in famous League Cup giant-killings. While the Stags disposed of Southampton in the second round, Grimsby notched an even better achievement, this kayoeing a full-strength Tottenham side by the only goal of the game, the same result as at Field Mill against Southampton. John McDermott's 700th game for the Mariners deservedly hit the headlines on September 20, 2005, with the Stags' scalp as second best that night. The reward for Grimsby's giant-killing was a bumper home game against Newcastle, a side that only just, thanks to Alan Shearer (who else?) managed to dump a brave Stags side out of the FA Cup at home on January 7, 2006, just a week before the Stags travelled to Grimsby and unluckily lost to a 1-2 scoreline thanks to a late Parkinson goal. Just a few minutes earlier, Barker had converted a penalty for the Stags. And the Stags won their home game to a 2-1 scoreline as well on February 14, 2006, Stags goals Barker and Coke, only one week before the writer's latest trip across the North Sea to watch the Stags.

Some famous names have managed Grimsby over the years. To name but two: Bill Shankly and Lawrie McMenemy. And the one outfield player with the most league appearances, including some for the Stags, started his league career at Grimsby and played for them in the 0-3 defeat at Field Mill on September 4, 1976, when a Terry Eccles hat-trick including a penalty sealed the tie, is among the players appearing for both sides – Tony Ford. More recent ones are Mark Lever and Michael Boulding. And the current Peterborough manager, Keith Alexander, recently at Lincoln, is another one.

Played for both sides: Keith Alexander, Ian Baraclough, Michael Boulding, Stuart Brace, Clifford Coupland, Tony Ford, Edgar Hardy, Samuel Hodgson, Maxey Holmes, Ernest Jackson, Mark Lever, Jim Lumby, Junior Mendes, Eddie Munnings, Don O'Riordan, Iffy Onoura, Malcolm Partridge, Jason Pearcey, Jack Prior, Ken Reeve, Mick Saxby, John Walker, William Watkin, Albert Wilson, Neil Woods.

Played for Stags, later managed Grimsby: Bobby Roberts.

Home games: P 17, W 10, D 6, L 1, GF 33, GA 14
Away games: P 18, W 5, D 4, L 9, GF 19, GA 30

Season Home Date Away Date

1951-52 2-2 1952-01-05 1-1 1951-09-08 Div 3 (N)
1952-53 1-1 1952-09-13 1-5 1953-01-24 Div 3 (N)
1953-54 5-1 1954-02-06 2-0 1953-09-19 Div 3 (N)
1954-55 3-0 1955-03-12 2-3 1954-10-23 Div 3 (N)
1955-56 0-2 1956-04-07 0-2 1955-11-26 Div 3 (N)
1959-60 3-2 1960-03-05 1-2 1959-10-17 Div 3
1964-65 2-2 1964-09-26 1-1 1965-02-06 Div 3
1965-66 2-1 1966-04-30 1-0 1966-04-09 Div 3
1966-67 4-0 1967-03-28 2-1 1967-03-24 Div 3
1967-68 1-1 1968-04-20 0-0 1967-11-25 Div 3
1975-76 1-0 1976-02-21 1-4 1975-11-15 Div 3
1976-77 3-0 1976-09-04 1-0 1977-02-12 Div 3
1979-80 0-0 1980-04-26 1-2 1979-12-08 Div 3
1987-88 1-0 1988-01-02 3-2 1987-09-12 Div 3
1990-91 1-1 1991-03-02 0-2 1990-12-01 Div 3
2004-05 2-0 2005-04-02 0-2 2004-08-28 League Two
2005-06 2-1 2006-02-14 1-2 2006-01-14 League Two
2006-07 (at Blundell Park) 1-1 2006-08-18 League Two

Cup games:

1961-62 3-2 1961-11-04 (FA Cup 1st round at Field Mill)

Details from various sources, mainly the history book, Rothmans Football yearbook and players who's who on the history CD

Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag (pictured, above right)

 

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