2009–10 Grimsby Town F.C. season
Introduction '''Grimsby Town Football Club''' entered the 2009–10 as a member of Football League Two for the 6th season on the trot. The club are still aiming to leave Blundell Park within the next few seasons. Manager Mike Newell brought in eight players in the close season, four of which were on loan at the club the previous season, he also released eight players, the club also offered four contracts to youth team members. Manager Mike Newell also gave new contracts to midfielders Jamie Clarke and Danny Boshell. Also in the close season Assistant Manager, Stuart Watkiss did not have his contract renewed and he joined Hull City as Development Coach, and Brian Stein who was chief scout took on the responsibilities of Stuart Watkiss.
Fixtures and results ===Pre season matches=======South West Challenge Cup====+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 15 July  RRFC Montegnee  Mill Road, Barnstaple  1–0  212   Clarke 17 July  Yeovil Town  Vicarage Road, Torrington  3–2  239  Conlon, North, Arnold  18 July  Rushden & Diamonds  Marshford, Appledore  4–1  –  Forbes, Akpa Akpro, Arnold, North 19 July  Luton Town  The Sports Ground, Bideford  C – C  –  -------- ====Lincolnshire Cup====+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 20 July  Scunthorpe United  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–3  859  -------- ====Friendlies====+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 21 July  Leeds United  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–1  3,416  Akpa Akpro 25 July  Stockport County  Edgeley Park, Stockport  0–1  1,144  --------  28 July  Doncaster Rovers  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–2  1,886  --------  30 July  Gainsborough Trinity  The Northolme, Gainsborough  P – P  –  --------  1 Aug  Winterton Rangers West Street, Winterton  12–1  –  Akpa Akpro (4), Conlon (3), North (2), Jarman, Leary, Clarke+'''Pre Season Top Scorers''' RankPlayerGoals1 Akpa Akpro62 Conlon4= North43 Arnold2= Clarke24 Forbes1= Jarman1= Leary1As of 1 August 2009Mike Newell took Grimsby Town to the 2009 South West Challenge Cup in Devon, in which the rules allowed him to make ten changes in each match, which he did on each occasion. They started off strong in pre-season with a one-nil win against Belgian side R.R.F.C. Montegnée, with a late free kick from Jamie Clarke. They then played in a five-goal thriller against Yeovil Town in which Grimsby Town won 3–2, with Barry Conlon, Danny North, Nathan Arnold all scoring, going on to reach the semi-final and finishing top of their group. Then continuing their strong form they beat Rushden & Diamonds 4–1 with Adrian Forbes, Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, Nathan Arnold, Danny North all scoring, putting them into the final. After reaching the Final they had to withdraw on the grounds that they could not agree a kick-off time with their opponents Luton Town, in which there would be police at the ground, providing protection for the fans, as fans' safety concerns had been expressed earlier in the tournament. During the 2009 South West Challenge Cup Mike Newell named two trialists in his 23-man squad, who were Nathan Arnold from Mansfield Town in which he impressed by scoring two goals and he also named Swansea City striker  Chris Jones in his squad, although he didn't score, he impressed enough to be offered a contract. Also joining for their last match, defender Sol Davis from Luton Town joined up for a trial.On their return home they faced Scunthorpe United in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup Semi-Final, in which they were beaten by a strong Scunthorpe United side 3–0, after Mike Newell fielded a weakened team. Their next opponents were Leeds United, in which they drew 1–1 in front of a big crowd after Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro had put them in the lead in the first half.They faced Stockport County in their next pre-season match and were beaten one-nil, they were without skipper Ryan Bennett, Rob Atkinson and Danny North, in a well worked play eight minutes into the second half, Poole slotted the ball under Grimsby's Nick Colgan. Both Nick Hegarty and Nathan Jarman had good chances to score but were denied by Stockport County's defence. In the second half of the match Stockport County's Matty Mainwaring went off with two fractures to his leg after a tackle from Michael Leary, new striker Chris Jones, came on for Nick Hegarty.In their last pre-season friendly Grimsby played Northern Counties East Premier League side Winterton Rangers, the Mariners were the dominant force throughout the game with Barry Conlon grabbing a first half hat-trick in under twenty-five minutes after his first goal after eight minutes and completed his hat-trick twenty five minutes later, with a Nathan Jarman goal after his second. Winterton Rangers scored through Gary Jones after he spotted Leigh Overton off his line and chipping it into the back of the net. Nathan Jarman coming off in the first half with a suspected broken toe, which was later confirmed along with a broken metatarsal. In the second half the manager changing his squad totally with the exception of the keeper and Chris Jones, who came on for the injured Nathan Jarman, in the second half Akpa Akpro scoring four after he walked through the defence, Danny North scored a brace after chipping the keeper twice and nearly grabbing his hat-trick only for his effort to be tipped onto the bar but he later set up Michael Leary for a tap in. Clarke scored his second free kick. Grimsby had left sided Watford player Louis Lavers on trial who started in the first half in left back but moved to the left side of midfield in the second half, on the 75th minute Grimsby brought on 14-year-old Jack Barlow from the youth-team.===Football League Two===+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 8 Aug  Cheltenham Town Abbey Business Stadium, Cheltenham  1–2  3,654  Conlon 15 Aug  Crewe Alexandra  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–4  5,007  --------  18 Aug  Rotherham United  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–2  4,156  Sweeney 22 Aug  Bury Gigg Lane, Bury  1–0  2,799  Conlon 29 Aug  Aldershot Town  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–2  3,757  Conlon 5 Sep  Port Vale Vale Park, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent 0–4  5,056  -------- 12 Sep  Hereford United  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–0  3,173  North 19 Sep  Torquay United Plainmoor, Torquay  2–0  2.575  Nicholson (OG), Sweeney 26 Sep  Darlington  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–1  4,014  Atkinson 30 Sep  Chesterfield Saltergate, Chesterfield  2–3  3,329  Proudlock, Sweeney 3 Oct  Barnet Underhill, Barnet, London  0–3  2,497  -------- 10 Oct  Burton Albion  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–2  4,002  Jones 17 Oct  Rochdale  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–2  3,754  -------- 24 Oct  A.F.C. Bournemouth Dean Court, Bournemouth  1–3  5,270  Linwood 30 Oct  Accrington Stanley  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  2–2  4,325  Forbes, Conlon 14 Nov  Northampton Town Sixfields Stadium, Northampton  0–0  4,028  -------- 21 Nov  Lincoln City Sincil Bank, Lincoln  0–0  4,981  -------- 24 Nov  Bradford City  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–3  3,646  ------- 28 Nov  Macclesfield Town Moss Rose, Macclesfield  0–0  1,409  -------- 5 Dec  Dagenham & Redbridge  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–1  3,090  Coulson 12 Dec  Shrewsbury Town New Meadow, Shrewsbury  0–0  4,850  -------- 18 Dec  Morecambe  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–1  3,119  Sweeney 28 Dec  Port Vale  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–2  4,401  Conlon 2 Jan  Bury  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–1  3,463  Akpa Akpro 16 Jan  Cheltenham Town  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–0  3,334  -------- 23 Jan  Rotherham United Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield  1–2  3,751  Fletcher 30 Jan  Aldershot Town Recreation Ground, Aldershot  1–1  3,195  Grant (OG) 6 Feb  Notts County  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–1  4,452  -------- 13 Feb  Bradford City Valley Parade, Bradford  0–0  11,321  -------- 17 Feb  Notts County Meadow Lane, Nottingham  1–1  5,163  Devitt 20 Feb  Lincoln City  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  2–2  6,395  Peacock (2) 23 Feb  Macclesfield Town  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–1  4,813  Devitt 27 Feb  Dagenham & Redbridge Victoria Road, Dagenham, London  0–2  2,190  -------- 6 Mar  Shrewsbury Town  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  3–0  3,651  Sinclair (2), Akpa Akpro 9 Mar  Crewe Alexandra Gresty Road, Crewe  2–4  3,272  Akpa Akpro, Sinclair 13 Mar  Morecambe Christie Park, Morecambe  1–1  1,882  Coulson 20 Mar  AFC Bournemouth  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  3–2  4,428  Devitt, Coulson, Chambers 27 Mar  Rochdale Spotland, Rochdale  1–4  4,724  Chambers 2 Apr  Northampton Town  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  1–2  6,482  Coulson 5 Apr  Accrington Stanley Crown Ground, Accrington  3–2  1,839  Hudson, Coulson, Devitt 10 Apr  Hereford United Edgar Street, Hereford  1–0  2,143  Devitt 13 Apr  Chesterfield  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  2–2  5,648  T.Wright, Akpa Akpro 17 Apr  Torquay United  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–3  5,702  -------- 24 Apr  Darlington Darlington Arena, Darlington  2–0  1,911  Lancashire, Akpa Akpro 1 May  Barnet  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  2–0  7,033  Atkinson, Hudson 8 May  Burton Albion Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent  0–3  4,987  --------===FA Cup===+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 7 Nov  Bath City  Blundell Park, Cleethorpes  0–2  2,103  -------- ===League Cup===+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 11 Aug  Tranmere Rovers Prenton Park, Tranmere  0–4  3,527  --------===Football League Trophy===Grimsby received a bye into the second round of the competition, in the Northern Section. Due to the new way of determining which teams received byes into the second round of the competition, the teams who received a bye last season, will not receive a bye two seasons in succession, the byes are now determined by recommendation at club meetings.+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 6 Oct  Hartlepool United Victoria Park, Hartlepool  2–0  1,675  Sweeney, Proudlock 10 Nov   Leeds United Elland Road, Leeds  1–3  10,430  Sweeney
League table Notts County's season mostly made the headlines for all the wrong reasons, as they were involved in an abortive high-spending takeover by a consortium who bought in Sven-Göran Eriksson as Director of Football, and got through four managers during the course of the season. However, they managed to shake off their off-field problems and won the title. Bournemouth continued their revival under Eddie Howe and won promotion in the runners-up spot. The last automatic promotion spot was won by Rochdale, who were promoted for the first time since 1969Dagenham and Redbridge won the play-offs, reaching the 2nd tier of the Football League for the first time in their 18-year history.Darlington were unable to recover from losing many of their players during their spell in administration at the end of the previous season, and were relegated in bottom place, becoming only the third club (after Halifax Town and Chester City) to be relegated to the Football Conference on two separate occasions. Grimsby suffered the relegation that they only avoided the previous year due to Luton Town's points deduction; their form improved significantly in the final weeks of the season, but they were ultimately undone by a run of nearly five months without a win earlier in the season, and were relegated to the Football Conference after losing on the final day of the season.
Coaching staff RoleNationalityName'''First-Team Manager''' Mike Newell (sacked 18 October 2009)'''First-Team Manager''' Neil Woods (hired 23 November 2009)'''First-Team Assistant Manager'''Brian Stein (left 30 November 2009)'''First-Team Assistant Manager'''Chris Casper (hired 1 December 2009)'''Reserve-Team Manager'''Brian Stein (left 30 November 2009)'''Reserve-Team Manager'''Chris Casper (hired 1 December 2009)'''Youth Team Manager'''Neil Woods (promoted to first team manager 23 November 2009)'''Chief Scout'''Brian Stein (left 30 November 2009)'''Goalkeeping Coach'''Steve Croudson'''Physiotherapist'''Dave Moore'''Community Sport Coach'''Gary Childs'''Community Sport Coach'''Graham Rodger===Appearances and goals======Loaned out player stats======Scorers=======All====ScorerGoals Peter Sweeney6 Michael Coulson5 Jamie Devitt Barry Conlon Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro Dean Sinclair3 Adam Proudlock2 Lee Peacock Ashley Chambers Rob Atkinson Mark Hudson Danny North1 Chris Jones Paul Linwood Adrian Forbes Wes Fletcher Tommy Wright Olly Lancashire====League====ScorerGoals Michael Coulson5 Jamie Devitt Barry Conlon Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro Peter Sweeney4 Dean Sinclair3 Lee Peacock2 Ashley Chambers Rob Atkinson Mark Hudson Danny North1 Adam Proudlock Chris Jones Paul Linwood Adrian Forbes Wes Fletcher Tommy Wright Olly Lancashire====Domestic Cups====ScorerGoals Peter Sweeney2 Adam Proudlock1
Transfers ===In=======Pre-season====#PositionPlayerPrevious clubAgeFee01  GK   Nick Colgan   Sunderland  35  Free Transfer03  DF   Joe Widdowson   West Ham United  19  Free Transfer06  MF   Peter Sweeney   Leeds United  24  Free Transfer07  MF   Adrian Forbes   Millwall  30  Free Transfer10  FW   Barry Conlon   Bradford City  30  Signed as Free Agent18  FW   Chris Jones  Swansea City  19  Signed as Free Agent16  DF   Paul Linwood   Chester City  25  Free Transfer19  MF   Michael Leary   Barnet  26  Signed as Free Agent    GK   Ed Eley   Grimsby Town Youth Academy  18  Pro Contract    MF   Drew Rhoades  Grimsby Town Youth Academy  18  Pro Contract    MF   Jamie Steel  Grimsby Town Youth Academy  18  Pro Contract====Mid Season====#PositionPlayerFromAgeFee04  MF   Dean Sinclair   Charlton Athletic  25  Loan12  DF   Jude Stirling   MK Dons  27  Loan20  GK   Josh Lillis   Scunthorpe United  22  Loan20  MF   Jammal Shahin   Armthorpe Welfare  20  Signed21  GK   Tommy Forecast   Southampton  22  Loan21  MF   Arnaud Mendy   Derby County  19  Loan21 FW   Michael Coulson   Barnsley  21  Loan22  DF   Mark Gray   Grimsby Town Youth Academy  17  Pro Contract23  DF   Olly Lancashire   Southampton  20  Loan23  DF   Olly Lancashire   Southampton  20  Loan23  FW   Wes Fletcher   Burnley  18  Loan24  FW   Josh Magennis   Cardiff City  19  Loan24  DF   Damien McCrory   Plymouth Argyle  19  Loan24  MF   Jamie Devitt   Hull City  19  Loan30  FW   Nathan Dixon   Grimsby Town Youth Academy  17  Pro Contract30  MF   Harry Deane   Grimsby Town Youth Academy  17  Pro Contract31  MF   Nicky Featherstone   Hull City  21  Loan31  MF   Nicky Featherstone   Hull City  21  Loan32  MF   Mark Hudson   Gainsborough Trinity  29  Free Transfer33  FW   Ben Wright   Peterborough United  21  Loan33  FW   Ashley Chambers   Leicester City  19  Loan34  FW   Paris Cowan-Hall   Portsmouth  19  Loan34  FW   Paris Cowan-Hall   Portsmouth  19  Loan36  FW   Tommy Wright   Aberdeen  25  Free Transfer37  MF   Lee Peacock   Swindon Town  33  Free Transfer38  GK   Mark Oxley   Hull City  19  Loan===Out=======Pre-season====#PositionPlayerNew ClubAgeFee03  DF   Tom Newey  Bury  26  Released07  MF   Peter Till  Walsall   23  Released08  MF   Paul Bolland  Macclesfield Town  29  Free Transfer10  MF   Chris Llewellyn  Neath Athletic  28  Free Transfer14  MF   James Hunt  Gainsborough Trinity  32  Released20  FW   Andy Taylor  Brigg Town  20  Released27  MF   Mickael Buscher  –  22  Released34  GK   Jonathan Lund  Burnley  22  Released====Mid Season====#PositionPlayerFromAgeFee 04  DF   Ryan Bennett   Peterborough United  19  Loan 04  DF   Ryan Bennett   Peterborough United  19  £500,000 05  DF   Matthew Heywood  –  30  Released 10  FW   Barry Conlon   Chesterfield  31  Loan 10  FW   Barry Conlon   Chesterfield  31  Free Transfer 11  MF   Danny Boshell   Chesterfield  28  Free Transfer 12  DF   Jamie Clarke   York City  27  Free Transfer 15  DF   Matthew Bird   Frickley Athletic  19  Loan 17  MF   Grant Normington   Frickley Athletic  19  Loan 17  MF   Grant Normington  Frickley Athletic  19  Released 18  FW   Chris Jones   Neath Athletic  20  Loan 27  FW   Danny North   Alfreton Town  22  Released –  GK   Ed Eley   Ilkeston Town  18  Loan –  GK   Ed Eley   Mansfield Town  18  Loan –  GK   Ed Eley   Mansfield Town  18  Loan –  GK   Ed Eley   Eastwood Town  18  Free Transfer –  MF   Jamie Steel   Grimsby Borough  18  Released
Trialists Manager Mike Newell took two of the trialists Nathan Arnold, Chris Jones in his 23-man squad to the 2009 South West Challenge Cup and defender Sol Davis joined up with the squad mini way through the 2009 South West Challenge Cup and was given 45 minutes to impress. Before the 2009 South West Challenge Cup Mike Newell had a number of strikers on trial, but none of them were offered a contract. Although not scoring Chris Jones impressed enough to be offered a contract by the club and which was later accepted.===Pre-season===#Nat.Pos.NameFromAgeAppsGoalsResult #    MF  Nathan Arnold  Mansfield Town  22  4  2 Contract Offered but Declined  #    FW  Graham Barrett  St Johnstone  27  0  0 No Contract Offered #     DF  Sol Davis  Luton Town  29  1  0 No Contract Offered #   FW  Chris Jones  Swansea City  19  3  0 Contract Offered & Accepted #     DF  Louis Lavers  Watford  18  2  0 No Contract Offered #    FW  Andy Smith  Portadown  28  0  0 No Contract Offered #   GK   Kevin Strukelj  Sydney United  24  0  0 No Contract Offered===Mid-Season===#Nat.Pos.NameFromAgeAppsGoalsResult #    MF  Chris Arthur  Queens Park Rangers  19  1  1  No contract offered #    FW  Steve Lozano-Calderon   Charlton Athletic  –  1  1  No contract offered #     DF  Chris Ramsey  Manchester City  –  2  0  No contract offered #   DF  Darren Williams  Dundee  32  1  0  No contract offered #   MF  Ryan Crowther  Liverpool  21  1  0  No contract offered #   MF  Ben Osman  Exeter City  19  1  0  No contract offered #   MF  Mark Hudson  Gainsborough Trinity  29  1  0  Contract Offered & Accepted #   FW  Sean Evans  Stourbridge  N/A  1  0  No contract offered #   MF  James Cronesberry  Middlesbrough  19  1  0  No contract offered #   MF  Tam McManus  Derry City  28  2  0  No contract offered #   FW  Ross Campbell  Ostersunds FK  22  0  0  No contract offered #   MF  Mark Doninger  Blyth Spartans  19  1  0  No contract offered #   DF  Curtley Williams  Ipswich Town  19  1  0  No contract offered #   MF  Ryan Smith  Crystal Palace  23  1  0  No contract offered #   DF  Timothy Cathalina  FC Emmen  25  1  0  No contract offered
References