Norwich Statto Pack

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 30/03/2001

AFTER all the excitement of the recent England games, it is back down to earth for all Grimsby fans, with plenty of work still to be done to ensure 1st division football next season. On Saturday, Norwich City will entertain the Mariners at Carrow Road.

A draw would be good, a win even better, but a loss is unthinkable. Norwich, like Town, are not entirely safe, but look as if they will stay up with considerable ease, winning enough games to ensure safety for next season. It doesn't matter who the Canaries manager is, they just can't seem to get out of this division; either way.

Past Players

This week, we'll get straight into the thick of things, jogging your memory back several years to the 1980s, when KEVIN DRINKELL was influential in Norwich’s rise to division one and Grimsby’s success under George Kerr and latterly Dave Booth. Drinkell was given his debut in 1977 and went on to play 311 goals, scoring 102 goals, being Town's top scorer on 4 occasions. "Drinks" was quite prolific to say the least, and it was no surprise when Norwich snapped him up for a measly £110,000 through a tribunal. The next season, Town went down and Norwich went up to the first division, Drinkell was their top scorer with 22 goals. He stayed at Norwich until 1988, and went onto play for both Coventry and Rangers (with a £600,000 price tag) before managing Montrose and Stirling in the Scottish leagues. He is now unemployed and recently appeared in the Mariners ‘Legends Bar’.

Ex-Town manager RON ASHMAN holds the appearance record of over 500 games for the Canaries after an illustrious career at Carrow Road. Ashman, who formerly managed Scunthorpe United, did not have the greatest of reigns at Blundell Park, who failed to live up to the stature of Lawrie McMenemy, finishing 6th and 16th in the third division between 1973 and 1975.

After loosing to Tranmere in the league, Ashman was fired, and ironically his last signing was STEVE GOVIER, formerly of Norwich, for £12,000. A versatile defender, Govier made just 22 appearances for his hometown club, making his debut against Swindon in 1971. He then ended his spell at Norwich, signing for Brian Clough’s (left) Brighton, but soon ended his one year stint by moving to Grimsby in 1974. He helped steer Town away from relegation, but was forced to retire in 1977 after a serious injury.

Nomadic forward RALPH HUNT moved to Grimsby in 1959, after playing for Norwich, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Derby. He came to Town to partner Ron Rafferty and was top marksman in 1959/60, scoring 33 goals in 39 league games. He was sold, just a year later, to Swindon Town and went onto play for Port Vale, Newport and Chesterfield, where he was killed in a car crash.

Crafty striker PHIL HUBBARD, played for local neighbours Lincoln City, before moving to Norwich for £20,000 in 1971, where he played just 10 games, scoring 1 goal. He then moved back to Humberside to Blundell Park, where he played with the likes of Stuart Brace and Jack Lewis, scoring 37 goals in 146 games. Hubbard stayed in the area, playing for Boston United and managing Skegness Town in his later years.

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