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This Time In 1997
By: Richard Lord
Date: 28/09/2002
AS the Mariners struggle to retain their Division One status, the Fishy team look back to a season just 5 years ago, when a difficult start to a campaign culminated in two trips to Wembley, and a return to where the Mariners belong - the First Division.
While Grimsby Town will be searching for their first win of the 2002/3 season, five years ago during the famous 1997/8 season, the corresponding fixture was a 1-0 win at Bournemouth - only Town's second League win of the campaign.
Going into the match on the south coast, the Mariners had won just once all season, that being a 2-0 win at Fulham where Livingstone grabbed both goals. Other than that, Town had little to show for what ended up being an extremely successful season.
In his second spell at the club, manager Alan Buckley had guided his side to just seven points from eight games and where languishing just above the bottom four of the division.
The win at Dean Court handed a welcomed three points thanks to a goal from Paul Groves. The Cherries went on to finish ninth in the table, six places and six points behind Grimsby.
Despite it being September 27, the Mariners were yet to record a home victory in the League. Groves' goal against the team they went on to beat at Wembley was only their seventh of the season.
Town's first home win was just around the corner, and it came at home to Wigan when Donovan scored twice from the spot in a 2-1 win. There are only a trio of survivors from the game at Bournemouth who are still at Town now.
Groves, McDermott and Gallimore are the three in question. Davison, Handyside, Lever, Donovan, Widdrington, Black, Nogan and Lester have since departed.
What are your great memories of the 1997-1998 season?, Click here to submit them!
This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!
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