Grimsby Town F.C.
English football team.
Grimsby Town are a professional football club based in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, who currently compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club, affectionately known as "The Mariners," has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham Football Club. Just a year later, they changed their name to Grimsby Town, which has remained ever since.
The Mariners play their home games at Blundell Park, a stadium with a capacity of 9,052, where they have been based since 1898. The ground has witnessed numerous memorable moments in the club's history and remains an integral part of Grimsby's identity. Blundell Park is renowned for its proximity to the sea, with the Cleethorpes beach visible from parts of the stadium.
Grimsby Town's traditional colors are black and white stripes, which they adopted in 1910. These iconic colors have become synonymous with the club and are proudly worn by players and supporters alike. Prior to this, the club experimented with various color combinations, including blue and white hoops, and even salmon pink shirts.
The club's journey through the English football pyramid has been marked by periods of success and challenges. Grimsby Town first entered the Football League in 1892 when it was expanded to two divisions. They achieved their first major success in the 1901-02 season, winning promotion to the First Division as champions of the Second Division.
The inter-war years were particularly successful for Grimsby Town. They spent most of the 1930s in the First Division, achieving their highest-ever league position of 5th in the 1934-35 season. During this period, three Grimsby players - Jackie Bestall, George Tweedy, and Harry Betmead - received England caps, a feat that remains unmatched in the club's history.
Grimsby Town holds the distinction of being the most successful of the three professional clubs in historic Lincolnshire, being the only one to play top-flight English football. They have also reached the FA Cup semi-finals twice, both times during the 1930s, further cementing their place in English football history.
The club has had its share of notable managers, including Bill Shankly, who later went on to achieve great success with Liverpool, and Lawrie McMenemy, who secured promotion for Grimsby before moving to Southampton and winning the FA Cup. Grimsby Town's biggest rivals are generally considered to be local teams such as Scunthorpe United and Lincoln City.