List of Grimsby Town F.C. records and statistics

This article details all-time records. For a season-by-season statistical breakdown see List of Grimsby Town F.C. seasons.

Grimsby Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Cleethorpes, England. The club competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system.

The club was founded in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham Football Club. Grimsby are the only team from Lincolnshire to play in the first tier of English football and the only club to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup. The club's record appearance maker is John McDermott making 754 appearances and their leading goalscorer is Pat Glover with 180 goals. Their record attendance is 31,651 for an FA Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1937. Grimsby have played in all of the top five divisions of the English league system.

Honours and achievements

Honours

• Second Division / Championship (level 2)
  • Champions: 1898–99, 1933–34
  • Runners-up: 1928–29
  • Third place: 1895–96, 1896–97

• Third Division / Third Division North / League One (level 3)
  • Champions: 1925–26, 1955–56, 1979–80
  • Runners-up: 1951–52, 1961–62
  • Third place: 1921–22, 1990–91
  • Play-off winners: 1998

• Fourth Division / League Two (level 4)
  • Champions: 1971–72
  • Runners-up: 1978–79, 1989–90

• National League (level 5)
  • Play-off winners: 2016, 2022

• Football League Trophy
  • Winners: 1981–82, 1997–98
  • Runners-up: 2007–08

• FA Trophy
  • Runners-up: 2012–13, 2015–16

Minor titles

• Midland League
  • Winners (5): 1910–11, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1946–47

• Lincolnshire Senior Cup
  • Winners (39): 1885–86, 1888–89, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1905–06, 1908–09, 1912–13, 1920–21, 1922–23, 1924–25, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1952–53, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15

• Midland Youth Cup
  • Winners: 2005–06, 2009–10

• Puma Youth Alliance League Cup
  • Winners: 2008–09

Achievements

Best performances in competitions entered

Competition	Best result	Winners	Runners-up	Play-off winners	Play-off runners-up	Semi-finalists
First Division (L1)	5th	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A
Second Division/First Division/EFL Championship (L2)	Winners	2	1	0	0	N/A
Third Division/Second Division/EFL League One (L3)	Winners	1	1	1	0	N/A
Third Division North (L3)	Winners	2	1	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fourth Division/Third Division/EFL League Two (L4)	Winners	1	2	0	1	N/A
Conference National/National League (L5)	Play-off Winners	0	0	2	1	2
Football Alliance	Third place	0	0	0	0	N/A
Midland League (Historic L5)	Winners	5	0	0	0	N/A
FA Cup	Semi-finalists	0	0	N/A	N/A	2
Football League Cup/EFL Cup	Fifth round	0	0	N/A	N/A	0
Football League Group Cup/Football League Trophy/EFL Trophy	Winners	2	1	N/A	N/A	1
FA Trophy	Runners-up	0	2	N/A	N/A	1
Full Members' Cup	Second round	0	0	0	0	0
Anglo-Italian Cup	Group stage	0	0	N/A	N/A	0
Anglo-Scottish Cup	Preliminary Stage	0	0	N/A	N/A	0
Lincolnshire Senior Cup	Winners	39	25	N/A	N/A	N/A
Midland Youth Cup	Winners	2	0	N/A	N/A	N/A
Puma Youth Alliance League Cup	Winners	1	0	N/A	N/A	N/A

• Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 12
• Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 55
• Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 28
• Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 19
• Seasons spent at Level 5 of the football league system: 7

Club records

More clubs have lost their managers after meeting Grimsby Town than after playing any other club. ^[1]

Games

• Biggest League attendance: 26,605 vs. Stockport County on 11 April 1952
• Biggest FA Cup attendance: 31,651 v Wolverhampton Wanderers on 20 February 1937
• Biggest League Cup attendance: 23,115 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on 4 December 1979
• Biggest neutral venue attendance: 76,972 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on 25 March 1939 in the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, Manchester ^[2]
• Smallest League attendance: 1,833 vs. Brentford on 3 May 1969
• Smallest cup attendance: 248 vs. Sunderland U23's in Football League Trophy on 8 November 2017
• Highest League gate receipts: £81,200 vs. Newcastle United on 4 May 1993
• Highest FA Cup gate receipts: £119,799 vs. Aston Villa on 4 January 1994
• Highest League Cup gate receipts: £97,000 vs. Tottenham Hotspur on 29 October 1991
• Smallest League gate receipts: £32 vs. Glossop on 13 April 1907
• Biggest League home win: 8–0 vs. Tranmere Rovers on 4 September 1925 ^[3]
• Biggest League away win 7–0 vs. Bristol Rovers on 14 December 1957 ^[3]
• Biggest League home defeat 0–7 vs. Manchester United on 26 December 1899 ^[3]
• Biggest League away defeat 1–9 vs. Arsenal on 28 January 1931 ^[3]
• Biggest League home draw 5–5 vs. Preston North End on 15 October 1932, vs. Charlton Athletic on 7 January 1933 ^[3] and vs. Notts County on 13 January 2024
• Biggest League away draw 4–4 vs. Lincoln City on 3 September 1958, v Chesterfield on 27 March 2004 and v Eastleigh on 15 May 2022. ^[3]
• Biggest cup home win: 8–0 vs. Darlington on 21 November 1885 ^[3]
• Biggest cup away win: 8–1 vs. Croydon Common on 18 January 1911 ^[3]
• Biggest cup defeat: 1–8 vs. Phoenix Bessemer on 25 November 1882 ^[4]
• Biggest cup draw 5–5 vs. Fulham on 9 January 1954 ^[3]
• Highest scoring game: 9–2 win vs. Darwen on 15 April 1899 and 6–5 win over Burnley on 29 October 2002 ^[3]
• Biggest League defeat: 1–9 vs. Arsenal on 28 January 1931 ^[5]

Player records

• Most League goals in a season: 42, Pat Glover (1933–34)
• Most League goals in total: 180, Pat Glover (1930–39)
• Most League appearances: 647, John McDermott (1987–2007)
• Most appearances (all competitions): 754, John McDermott (1987–2007)
• Most capped player while at club: 7, Pat Glover for Wales
• Most capped player: 68 by Zhang Enhua for China
• Highest transfer fee paid: £550,000 to Preston North End for Lee Ashcroft on 11 August 1998
• Highest transfer fee received: £1.5 million rising to £2 million from Everton for John Oster on 1 August 1997
• Longest serving current player: Harry Clifton since August 2015.
• Youngest player: Louis Boyd, 15 years and 324 days, vs. Harrogate Town on 8 September 2020. ^[6]
• Oldest player: Peter Beagrie, 40 years and 322 days, vs. Hartlepool United on 26 September 2006. ^[7]
• Youngest goalscorer: Louis Boyd, 15 years and 324 days, vs. Harrogate Town on 8 September 2020. ^[6]

Annual awards

PFA Team of the Year

The following have been included in the PFA Team of the Year whilst playing for Grimsby Town :

• 1978–79 Kevin Moore, Joe Waters ^[8]
• 1979–80 Kevin Moore, Joe Waters ^[9]
• 1984–85 Paul Wilkinson ^[10]
• 1997–98 Kevin Donovan, Paul Groves ^[11]
• 2005–06 Michael Reddy ^[12]

National League Team of the Year

The following players have been included in the Conference Premier or National League Team of the Year whilst playing for Grimsby Town:

• 2011–12 Liam Hearn
• 2012–13 James McKeown, Aswad Thomas, Craig Disley
• 2013–14 Shaun Pearson, Craig Disley
• 2014–15 Shaun Pearson, Craig Disley, Nathan Arnold
• 2015–16 James McKeown, Josh Gowling, Pádraig Amond
• 2021–22 Luke Waterfall, John McAtee

Player of the Year

As voted for by supporters of the club. ^[13]

• 1971–72 Harry Wainman
• 1972–73 Dave Booth
• 1973–74 Dave Boylen
• 1974–75 Frank Barton
• 1975–76 Harry Wainman
• 1976–77 Joe Waters
• 1977–78 Geoff Barker
• 1978–79 Joe Waters
• 1979–80 Dean Crombie
• 1980–81 Nigel Batch
• 1981–82 Nigel Batch
• 1982–83 Kevin Drinkell
• 1983–84 Tony Ford
• 1984–85 Tony Ford
• 1985–86 Gordon Hobson
• 1986–87 Neil Robinson
• 1987–88 Don O'Riordan
• 1988–89 Shaun Cunnington
• 1989–90 Garry Birtles
• 1990–91 Dave Gilbert
• 1991–92 Paul Futcher
• 1992–93 Paul Futcher
• 1993–94 Paul Crichton
• 1994–95 Gary Croft
• 1995–96 Paul Groves
• 1996–97 Graham Rodger
• 1997–98 Kevin Donovan
• 1998–99 Paul Groves
• 1999–2000 Mark Lever
• 2000–01 Danny Coyne
• 2001–02 Danny Coyne
• 2002–03 Georges Santos
• 2003–04 Phil Jevons
• 2004–05 John McDermott
• 2005–06 Rob Jones
• 2006–07 Justin Whittle
• 2007–08 Phil Barnes
• 2008–09 Ryan Bennett
• 2009–10 Peter Bore
• 2010–11 Alan Connell
• 2011–12 Liam Hearn
• 2012–13 James McKeown
• 2013–14 James McKeown
• 2014–15 Carl Magnay
• 2015–16 Pádraig Amond
• 2016–17 Danny Andrew
• 2017–18 James McKeown
• 2018–19 James McKeown
• 2019–20 No award given
• 2020–21 No award given
• 2021–22 John McAtee
• 2022–23 Harry Clifton

Young Player of the Year

As voted for by supporters of the club. ^[13]

• 1974–75 Ian Walton
• 1975–75 Tony Ford
• 1976–77 Kevin Drinkell
• 1977–78 Shaun Mawer
• 1978–79 Dave Moore
• 1979–80 Phil Crosby
• 1980–81 Andy O'Dell
• 1981–82 John Steeples
• 1982–83 Paul Wilkinson
• 1983–84 Gary Lund
• 1984–85 Andy Moore
• 1985–86 Tony Barratt
• 1986–87 John McDermott
• 1987–88 Tommy Watson
• 1988–89 Mark Lever
• 1989–90 John McDermott
• 1990–91 Mark Lever
• 1991–92 John McDermott
• 1992–93 Gary Croft
• 1993–94 Gary Croft
• 1994–95 Gary Croft
• 1995–96 Jamie Forrester
• 1996–97 John Oster
• 1997–98 Daryl Clare
• 1998–99 Danny Butterfield
• 1999–2000 Danny Butterfield
• 2000–01 Jonathan Rowan
• 2001–02 Simon Ford
• 2002–03 Darren Mansaram
• 2003–04 Graham Hockless
• 2004–05 Nick Hegarty
• 2005–06 Gary Cohen
• 2006–07 Danny North
• 2007–08 Ryan Bennett
• 2008–09 Ryan Bennett
• 2010–11 Bradley Wood
• 2011–12 Conor Townsend
• 2012–13 Andi Thanoj
• 2013–14 Andi Thanoj
• 2014–15 Craig Clay
• 2015–16 Jon Nolan
• 2016–17 Calum Dyson
• 2017–18 Harry Clifton
• 2018–19 Harry Clifton
• 2021–22 John McAtee
• 2022–23 Evan Khouri

Top goal scorers

Player	Goals	Season
Harry Clifton	7	2022–23
John McAtee	14	2021–22
Lenell John-Lewis	4	2020–21
James Hanson	9	2019–20
Wes Thomas	12	2018–19
Mitch Rose	8	2017–18
Omar Bogle	19	2016–17
Pádraig Amond	30	2015–16
Lenell John-Lewis	20	2014–15
Ross Hannah	15	2013–14
Andy Cook	16	2012–13
Liam Hearn	29	2011–12
Alan Connell	29	2010–11
Peter Sweeney	6	2009–10
Adam Proudlock	9	2008–09
Danny North	10	2007–08
Gary Jones, Ciarán Toner and Peter Bore	8	2006–07
Gary Jones	17	2005–06
Michael Reddy and Andy Parkinson	9	2004–05
Phil Jevons and Michael Boulding	12	2003–04
Stuart Campbell	7	2002–03
Michael Boulding	11	2001–02
Steve Livingstone	7	2000–01
Lee Ashcroft	12	1999–00
Paul Groves	14	1998–99
Kevin Donovan	16	1997–98
Clive Mendonca	19	1996–97
Paul Groves and Steve Livingstone	10	1995–96
Neil Woods	14	1994–95
Clive Mendonca	14	1993–94
Paul Groves	12	1992–93
Neil Woods	8	1991–92
Dave Gilbert and Neil Woods	12	1990–91
Tony Rees	13	1989–90
Keith Alexander	14	1988–89
Marc North	11	1987–88
Don O'Riordan and Ian Walsh	8	1986–87
Gordon Hobson	15	1985–86
Kevin Drinkell and Gary Lund	14	1984–85
Kevin Drinkell	14	1983–84
Kevin Drinkell	17	1982–83
Trevor Whymark	11	1981–82
Bobby Cumming	11	1980–81
Kevin Drinkell	16	1979–80
Tony Ford	16	1978–79
Terry Donovan	14	1977–78
Malcolm Partridge	11	1976–77
Jack Lewis	15	1975–76
Jack Lewis	21	1974–75
Jack Lewis	13	1973–74
Phil Hubbard	10	1973–74
Stuart Brace	18	1972–73
Matt Tees	27	1971–72
Matt Tees	10	1970–71
Stuart Brace	25	1969–70
Stuart Brace	10	1968–69
Dave Wilson	12	1967–68
Rodney Green	12	1966–67
Matt Tees	28	1965–66
George McLean	19	1964–65
Cliff Portwood	11	1963–64
George McLean	15	1962–63
Ron Rafferty	34	1961–62
Ron Rafferty	24	1960–61
Ralph Hunt	33	1959–60
Ron Rafferty	19	1958–59
Ron Rafferty	26	1957–58
Jackie Scott	11	1956–57
Bob Crosbie	35	1955–56
Arthur Hughes	11	1954–55

*Current season ^[14]

Notable players

Captains

Years Captain 1878–1881 Charles Horn 1881–1883 Rev. J.Flowers 1883–1886 G.Kimpson 1885–1887 G.Atkinson 1887–1890 Robert Macbeth 1890–1891 Jimmy Lundie 1891–1892 Rasmal Gray 1892–1894 Jimmy Lundie 1894–1898 Billy Lindsay 1898–1900 Paddy Gray 1900–1902 Joe Leiper 1902–1904 Dave Gardner 1904–1905 Alf Nelmes 1905–1907 Herbert Morley 1907–1908 Harry Fletcher 1908–1909 Andrew Davidson 1909–1911 'Chopper' Lee

Years Captain 1911–1914 Sid Wheelhouse 1923–1925 Jimmy Carmichael 1914–1919 No competitive football due to the First World War 1919–1920 David Kenny 1920–1921 Wilf Gillow 1921–1923 Charles Deacey 1925–1927 Jack Hardy 1927–1928 Charlie Wrack 1928–1932 Jock Priestley 1932–1937 Jackie Bestall 1937–1939 Alec Hall 1939–1946 No competitive football due to the Second World War 1946–1948 Harry Clifton 1948–1950 Billy Cairns 1950–1951 Dick Conner 1951–1952 Bill Brown 1955–1956 Allenby Chilton

Years Captain 1956–1958 Bill Brown 1959–1960 Dick Conner 1959–1964 Keith Jobling 1964–1968 Graham Taylor 1968–1970 Graham Rathbone 1970–1972 Dave Worthington 1973–1977 Dave Booth 1977–1984 Joe Waters 1984–1987 Kevin Moore 1987 Mick Halsall 1987–1988 Don O'Riordan 1988–1989 Tommy Williams 1989–1992 Shaun Cunnington 1992–1993 Graham Rodger 1993–1996 Paul Groves 1996–1997 Mark Lever

Years Captain 1997–2004 Paul Groves 2004–2008 Justin Whittle 2008 Matthew Heywood 2008–2009 Tom Newey 2009 Ryan Bennett 2009–2010 Nick Colgan 2010–2011 Lee Peacock 2011–2012 Darran Kempson 2012–2017 Craig Disley 2017–2018 Nathan Clarke 2018 John Welsh 2018–2019 Danny Collins 2019–2021 James McKeown 2021–2022 Giles Coke 2022– Luke Waterfall

Top flight players

The following players have played in a major top flight league and have moved to Grimsby Town later in their career.

• Bradley Allen
• Darren Barnard
• Peter Beagrie
• Dave Beasant
• David Beharall
• Garry Birtles
• Kingsley Black
• Ivano Bonetti
• Marlon Broomes
• Wayne Burnett
• Peter Butler
• Stuart Campbell
• Marcel Cas
• Steve Chettle
• Nick Colgan
• Danny Collins
• Terry Cooke
• Gary Crosby
• Aidan Davison
• Willie Falconer
• Jamie Forrester
• Enzo Gambaro
• Dean Gordon
• Elliot Grandin
• Des Hamilton
• Bryan Hughes
• Simeon Jackson
• Michael Jeffrey
• Nigel Jemson
• Phil Jevons
• Jean-Paul Kalala
• Jake Kean
• Jamie Lawrence
• Brian Laws
• Jason Lee
• Steve Livingstone
• Clint Marcelle
• Gary McSheffrey
• Alan Neilson
• Mark Nicholls
• David Nielsen
• Ludvig Öhman
• Martin Pringle
• Isaiah Rankin
• Michael Reddy
• Paul Robinson
• Steve Slade
• David Smith
• Richard Smith
• Robbie Stockdale
• Andy Todd
• Paul Warhurst
• Vance Warner
• Neil Webb
• John Welsh
• Tommy Widdrington
• Menno Willems
• Curtis Woodhouse
• Zhang Enhua

The following players have gone on to play top flight football in a major league after first playing with Grimsby Town.

• Ryan Bennett
• Omar Bogle
• Michael Boulding
• Danny Butterfield
• Danny Coyne
• Siriki Dembele
• Gary Croft
• Akin Famewo
• Simon Francis
• Dean Henderson
• Richard Hughes
• Charlie I'Anson
• Steve Kabba
• Shay Logan
• Clive Mendonca
• John Oster
• Martin Paterson
• Nicky Southall
• Easah Suliman
• John Thorrington
• Conor Townsend
• Paul Trollope
• Paul Wilkinson

International players

Players signed to, and have played for Grimsby Town that have had full international caps during their careers.

Antigua and Barbuda Rhys Browne Australia Nick Rizzo Barbados Louie Soares Canada Simeon Jackson Cape Verde Islands Georges Santos China Zhang Enhua Congo DR Jean-Paul Kalala Aristote Nsiala England Joseph Bache Dave Beasant Jackie Bestall Harry Betmead Garry Birtles Allenby Chilton Tom Galley Tommy Gardner Dean Henderson George Tweedy Neil Webb Trevor Whymark Grenada Anthony Straker Guadeloupe Mickaël Antoine-Curier		Ghana Will Antwi Guinea-Bissau Arnaud Mendy Hong Kong Charlie Wright Ireland (IFA) (1882–1950) Billy Andrews Harry Baird Jackie Coulter Peter Doherty Allan Elleman Jimmy McStay Jamaica Simon Ford Joel Grant Jamie Lawrence Montserrat Junior Mendes Brandon Comley New Zealand Jason Batty Max Crocombe Dave Mulligan Northern Ireland Kingsley Black Aidan Davison Stuart Elliott Alan Fettis Josh Magennis Chris Nicholl Martin Paterson Jackie Scott Ciarán Toner		Nigeria Chima Okorie Pakistan Otis Khan Easah Suliman Republic of Ireland Nick Colgan Don Donovan Terry Donovan Wayne Henderson Pat Johnston Jimmy McStay George Moulson Joe Waters Saint Kitts and Nevis Des Hazel Saint Lucia Keith Alexander Scotland David Black Mick Cullen Paul Dixon Hughie Gallacher Dave Gardner Richard Hughes James Lundie Robbie Stockdale Sierra Leone Kamil Conteh Malvin Kamara South Africa Mike Rowbotham Sweden Martin Pringle		Trinidad & Tobago Clint Marcelle Tunisia Idris El Mizouni Bilel Mohsni United States of America John Thorrington Wales Darren Barnard Thomas Chapman Dai Collier Danny Collins Danny Coyne David Felgate Pat Glover Chris Llewellyn Hugh Morris Dickie Morris Alan Neilson Lee Nogan John Oster Tony Rees Ian Walsh George Williams

PFA Fans' Favourites

The following was included as the favourite Grimsby Town player in the a survey published by the Professional Footballers' Association in December 2007.

• Matt Tees

BBC Sports Cult Heroes

The following were chosen by fans as the favourite club heroes in the BBC Sports Cult Heroes poll in 2006. ^[15]

1. Clive Mendonca
2. John McDermott
3. Ivano Bonetti

References

1. Ashdown, John (16 February 2011). "Which club has put the most final nails in managerial coffins". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
2. Marshall, Adam (25 March 2011). "Old Trafford's evolution". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
3. "Grimsby Town – Records". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016.
4. It is unclear what the score was, but was likely to have been 8–1. Football: A Weekly Record of the Game (29 November 1882, p. 140), the Sheffield Daily Telegraph (27 November 1882, p. 7) and the Leeds Mercury (27 November 1882, p. 7) all record the score as 8–1; the Hull News (2 December 1882, p. 6) does not give a score, but implies that it was 8–1, as it records the half-time score as being 5–1; while the Sheffield Independent (27 November 1882, p. 4 and 2 December 1882, p. 12) records the score as 7–1, with the half-time score being 4–1, and the Derbyshire Times (2 December 1882, p. 6) just gives the score as being 7–1. It was not, however, 9–1, as often recorded.
5. Brodkin, Jon (28 November 2001). "Gunners' reserves sink Grimsby". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
6. "Highlights and reaction to a record-breaking night in the EFL Trophy". Grimsbylive. 8 September 2020 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
7. "Grimsby 1–4 Hartlepool". Sky Sports. 26 September 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
8. Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 142.
9. Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 143.
10. Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 145.
11. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (1998). The 1998–99 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 352. ISBN   978-1-85291-588-9.
12. "Gerrard named player of the year". BBC Sport. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
13. "Player Of The Year". Grimsby Town F.C. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
14. Wherry, Dave (2008). The Grimsby Town Story 1878 - 2008. Harefield: Yore Publications. pp. 248–326. ISBN   978-0-9557889-3-2.
15. "Grimsby's cult heroes". BBC Sport. 21 August 2004. Retrieved 5 November 2006.