2017–18 Grimsby Town F.C. season

The 2017–18 season is Grimsby Town's 140th season of existence and their second consecutive season in League Two.[1] Along with competing in League Two, the club will also participate in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

Grimsby Town
2017–18 season
ChairmanJohn Fenty
ManagerRussell Slade
(sacked 11/02/18)
Paul Wilkinson
(left 02/03/18)
Michael Jolley (from 02/03/18)
StadiumBlundell Park
EFL CupFirst round
(vs. Derby County)

The season covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

Competitions

Friendlies

As of 2 June 2017, Grimsby Town have announced ten pre-season friendlies against Cleethorpes Town, Grimsby Borough, Stamford, Barnsley, Bideford, Tavistock, Boston United,[2] Blackburn Rovers,[3] Wigan Athletic[4] and Winterton Rangers.[5]

4 July 2017 Cleethorpes Town 2–4 Grimsby Town Grimsby
19:00 BSTTaylor 7'
Cooper 8'
ReportBerrett 9'
Cardwell 54'
Osborne 71'
Yussuf 76'
Stadium: Bradley Football Development Centre
Attendance: 1,500
6 July 2017 Grimsby Borough 3–11 Grimsby Town Grimsby
19:00 BSTDebnam 7', 54'
74'
ReportJones 2', 25' (pen.)
Vernon 15', 29', 44'
Rose 32'
Dembélé 47'
Summerfield 51'
Cardwell 73', 76'
Yussuf 81'
Stadium: Bradley Football Development Centre
11 July 2017 Lincolnshire Senior Cup Stamford 2–3 Grimsby Town Stamford
19:30 BSTDuffy 21'
Sandy 61'
ReportJones 29', 51' (pen.)
Dembele 90+3'
Stadium: Zeeco Stadium
Attendance: 268
13 July 2017 Lincolnshire Senior Cup Grimsby Town 4–0 Scunthorpe United Cleethorpes
14:00 BSTYussuf 10'
Boyce 38'
Cardwell 58'
Robinson 70'
ReportStadium: Blundell Park
20 July 2017 Tavistock 1–7 Grimsby Town Tavistock
19:30 BST 73' (pen.)ReportCardwell 5', 47'
Keeble 41'
Dembele 64'
Jones 65' (pen.), 82'
Vernon 87'
Stadium: Langsford Park
22 July 2017 Boston United 3–0 Grimsby Town Boston
15:00 BSTChapman 39'
Beatson 60'
Tshimanga 75'
ReportStadium: York Street
Attendance: 677
27 July 2017 Winterton Rangers 0–7 Grimsby Town Winterton
19:30 BSTReportRollins 13', 28'
Roberts 35', 74'
Summerfield 55'
Wright 77'
Pollock 82'
Stadium: West Street

League Two

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
16Stevenage461413196065−555
17Cheltenham Town461312216773−651
18Grimsby Town461312214266−2451
19Yeovil Town461212225975−1648
20Port Vale461114214967−1847
Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Result summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
3299142944 −15364671421 −75371523 −8

Last updated: 3 February 2018.
Source: [citation needed]

Results by matchday

Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAAHHAHHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHHAHA
ResultWLLLWLWWLDDWDWDDLLWWWDLDLLLLDLLDLLLLDLLDLWDWWW
Position4121823171915131313151312111212151514121111121314141517171717171718202020222222212222211918
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2018. Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

On 21 June 2017, the league fixtures were announced.[6]

5 August 2017 1 Chesterfield 1–3 Grimsby Town Chesterfield
15:00 BSTDonohue  5'
Dennis 82'  86'
Evatt  85'
ReportClarke 33'
Jones 39'
Davies 85' (pen.)
Mills  88'   88'
Stadium: Proact Stadium
Attendance: 7,925
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
12 August 2017 2 Grimsby Town 0–2 Coventry City Cleethorpes
15:00 BSTDixon  42'
Berrett  88'   89'
ReportJones  42'
McNulty 62'
Grimmer 75'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 6,767
Referee: Richard Clark
19 August 2017 3 Stevenage 3–1 Grimsby Town Stevenage
15:00 BSTSmith  28' 45'
Newton 37'
Kennedy 65'
Gorman  81'
McKee  90+3'
ReportRose  11'
Jones  58'
Collins 81'
Dixon  90'
Stadium: Lamex Stadium
Attendance: 2,793
Referee: Scott Oldham
26 August 2017 4 Grimsby Town 2–3 Wycombe Wanderers Cleethorpes
15:00 BSTRose  42' 52' (pen.)
Collins  43'   58'
Hooper 65'
ReportAkinfenwa 28', 75'
Bean  81'
El-Abd  90'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,016
Referee: Mark Heywood
2 September 2017 5 Grimsby Town 1–0 Crewe Alexandra Cleethorpes
15:00 BSTRose 36'  58'
Dembélé  48'
ReportCooper  11'
Raynes  33'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,066
Referee: Chris Sarginson
9 September 2017 6 Mansfield Town 4–1 Grimsby Town Mansfield
13:00Butcher  22'
Angol 34' (pen.), 80' (pen.)
Pearce 54'
Osborne 64' (o.g.)
ReportJones 85' (pen.)
Osborne  90+5'
Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 4,625
Referee: Paul Tierney
12 September 2017 7 Accrington Stanley 1–2 Grimsby Town Accrington
19:45 BSTJackson 45'
Hughes  65'
Wilks  90+2'
ReportDavies  12'
Jones 43'
Woolford 47'
Matt  57'
Dembélé  73'
Stadium: Crown Ground
Attendance: 1,288
Referee: Robert Jones
16 September 2017 8 Grimsby Town 2–1 Yeovil Town Cleethorpes
15:00 BSTCollins 8'
Jones  26'
Vernon 71'
ReportZoko 21'
Smith  40'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,945
Referee: Graham Horwood
23 September 2017 9 Newport County 1–0 Grimsby Town Newport
15:00 BSTAmond 63'ReportClarke  69'Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 3,356
Referee: Antony Coggins
26 September 2017 10 Grimsby Town 2–2 Colchester United Cleethorpes
19:45 BSTHooper 7'
Jones 89' (pen.)
Berrett  90+1'
ReportReid 5', 59'
Comley  23'
Vincent-Young  84'
Loft  90+4'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,438
Referee: Darren Drysdale
30 September 2017 11 Grimsby Town 0–0 Lincoln City Cleethorpes
13:00 BSTClarke  90+3'ReportBostwick  27'Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 7,669
Referee: Carl Boyeson
7 October 2017 12 Port Vale 1–2 Grimsby Town Burslem
15:00 BSTPope 39'ReportJones 51'
Dembélé 67'
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 5,849
Referee: Andy Woolmer
14 October 2017 13 Grimsby Town 0–0 Crawley Town Cleethorpes
15:00 BSTReportSmith  40'
Bulman  76'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,007
Referee: Gavin Ward
17 October 2017 14 Cheltenham Town 2–3 Grimsby Town Cheltenham
19:45 BSTPell 26'
Hinds  85'
Winchester 86'
ReportDembélé 13', 44'
Collins 42'
Davies  88'
Summerfield  90+2'
Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 2,469
Referee: Graham Salisbury
21 October 2017 15 Morecambe 0–0 Grimsby Town Morecambe
15:00 BSTWildig  73'ReportJones  35'Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,525
Referee: Ben Toner
28 October 2017 16 Grimsby Town 0–0 Cambridge United Cleethorpes
15:00 BSTDembélé  20'
Berrett  55'
ReportO'Neil  26'
Halliday  53'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,091
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
11 November 2017 17 Exeter City 2–0 Grimsby Town Exeter
15:00 GMTStockley 29'  54'
McAlinden 53'
ReportDavies  63'
Dixon  65'
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 3,854
Referee: Dean Whitestone
18 November 2017 18 Grimsby Town 0–1 Carlisle United Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTReportHill 70'Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,753
Referee: Robert Lewis
21 November 2017 19 Grimsby Town 3–2 Swindon Town Cleethorpes
19:45 GMTMatt 11'
Dembélé 71'
Rose 86'
ReportAnderson 26'
Matt 28' (o.g.)
Preston  39'
Smith  62'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,023
Referee: Martin Coy
25 November 2017 20 Barnet 0–2 Grimsby Town Canons Park
15:00 GMTPascal  54'ReportMatt 6'
Jones  59' 75'
Stadium: The Hive Stadium
Attendance: 2,033
Referee: Gavin Ward
9 December 2017 21 Grimsby Town 1–0 Forest Green Rovers Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTRose 39'
Summerfield  74'
Dembélé  76'
McKeown  90+1'
ReportFitzwater  33'   37'
Roberts  64'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,398
Referee: Carl Boyeson
16 December 2017 22 Notts County 0–0 Grimsby Town Nottingham
15:00 GMTYates  90+3'ReportJones  38'
McKeown  70'
Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 8,016
Referee: Craig Hicks
23 December 2017 23 Luton Town 2–0 Grimsby Town Luton
15:00 GMTShinnie  38'
Berry 40'
Collins 61'
ReportClarke  19'
McKeown  57'
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 9,102
Referee: Chris Sarginson
26 December 2017 24 Grimsby Town 1–1 Mansfield Town Cleethorpes
13:00 GMTRose 10'  23'
Matt  56'
Mills  69'
ReportWhite  35'
Hunt  43'
Rose  55'
Angol 80'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 5,704
Referee: Darren England
30 December 2017 25 Grimsby Town 0–3 Accrington Stanley Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTDavies  22'
Matt  73'
ReportJackson  31' 77'
Brown  37'
Kee 55' (pen.)
McConville 61'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,188
Referee: Darren Drysdale
1 January 2018 26 Crewe Alexandra 2–0 Grimsby Town Crewe
15:00 GMTPorter 12'
Ng  12'
Walker 34'
ReportWoolford  34'
Berrett  56'
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 3,292
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
6 January 2018 27 Grimsby Town 0–2 Morecambe Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTSummerfield  34'ReportEllison 10'
Lavelle  37'
Kenyon  38'
Old 41'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,104
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
13 January 2018 28 Grimsby Town 1–2 Newport County Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTClarke  34'
Matt 80'  89'
ReportWillmott 19'
Labadie  52'
Nouble 56'  69'
White  88'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,397
Referee: Graham Salisbury
20 January 2018 29 Colchester United 1–1 Grimsby Town Colchester
15:00 GMTMurray 47'ReportVernam 38'
Davies  66'
Stadium: Colchester Community Stadium
Attendance: 3,016
Referee: Craig Hicks
27 January 2018 30 Grimsby Town 0–1 Luton Town Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTDavies  41'
Dembélé  80'
ReportCook  21'   33'
Collins 49'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,159
Referee: Michael Salisbury
30 January 2018 31 Yeovil Town 3–0 Grimsby Town Yeovil
19:45 GMTWing 14'
Browne 71'
Gray 76'
ReportRose  6'
Summerfield  24'
Dixon  44'
Osborne  39'   60'
Stadium: Huish Park
3 February 2018 32 Grimsby Town 1–1 Cheltenham Town Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTJackson 3'
Hall-Johnson  45'
ReportBoyle  36' 77'
Graham  37'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,352
Referee: David Webb
10 February 2018 33 Crawley Town 3–0 Grimsby Town Crawley
15:00 GMTYorwerth  39'
Smith 45+1' (pen.)
Ahearne-Grant 62'
Boldewijn 69'
ReportWilks  10'Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 2,055
Referee: Kevin Johnson
17 February 2018 34 Cambridge United 3–1 Grimsby Town Cambridge
15:00 GMTIkpeazu 19'
Waters 67'
Maris 71'
ReportHooper 90' (pen.)Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 4,739
Referee: Dean Whitestone
24 February 2018 35 Grimsby Town 0–1 Exeter City Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTDixon  73'ReportStockley 37' (pen.)
Wilson  68'   81'
Moore-Taylor  79'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,151
Referee: Andy Haines
3 March 2018 36 Carlisle United 2–0 Grimsby Town Carlisle
15:00 GMTHope 3'
Hill  65'
Ellis 73'
ReportDixon  41'
Berrett  45+1'
Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 4,151
Referee: Scott Oldham
10 March 2018 (2018-03-10) 37 Grimsby Town 1–1 Port Vale Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTBerrett  27' 90+1'
Clarke  90+14'
ReportWorrall 10'  79'
Tonge  30' 63'
Howkins  88'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 5,198
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
17 March 2018 38 Lincoln City 3–1 Grimsby Town Lincoln
Frecklington 31'
Green 34'
Wharton 39'
Palmer  90'
ReportClifton  22'
Davies 45+2' (pen.)
Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 9,774
Referee: David Coote
24 March 2018 39 Coventry City 4–0 Grimsby Town Coventry
15:00 GMTVincenti 38'
McNulty 55', 76', 87'
ReportStadium: Ricoh Arena
Attendance: 8,755
Referee: Ollie Yates
30 March 2018 40 Grimsby Town 0–0 Stevenage Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTReportBowditch  90+3'Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 5,368
Referee: Martin Coy
2 April 2018 41 Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 Grimsby Town High Wycombe
15:00 GMTJombati  43'
O'Nien  53'
El-Abd 60'
Kashket 67'
Williams  68'
ReportWoolford 15'
Fox  53'
Berrett  60'
Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 5,215
Referee: Chris Sarginson
7 April 2018 42 Grimsby Town 1–0 Chesterfield Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTFox  53'
Woolford  55'
Dembélé  68'
Rose 88' (pen.)  88'
ReportReed  79'
Talbot  90'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 6,780
Referee: Robert Madley
14 April 2018 43 Grimsby Town 2–2 Barnet Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTCollins 6'
Clarke  45+2'
Rose 82' (pen.)
McSheffrey  90+5'
ReportWeston  16' 79'
Nelson  42'
Akpa Akpro 62'
Coulthirst  71'
Clough  84'
Sweeney  90+5'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 5,416
Referee: Darren Bond
21 April 2018 44 Swindon Town 0–1 Grimsby Town Swindon
15:00 GMTMullin  31'ReportHall-Johnson  40'
Rose 45+2' (pen.)  45+3'
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,690
Referee: John Brooks
28 April 2018 45 Grimsby Town 2–1 Notts County Cleethorpes
15:00 GMTClarke 29'
Woolford  59'
Matt 90+3'
ReportVirtue-Thick  24'
Jones 89'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 7,133
Referee: Carl Boyeson
5 May 2018 46 Forest Green Rovers 0–3 Grimsby Town Nailsworth
15:00 BSTGunning  19'ReportHooper 52', 84', 90'
Fox  67'
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 3,880
Referee: Seb Stockbridge

FA Cup

On 16 October 2017, Grimsby Town were drawn away to Plymouth Argyle in the first round.[7]

4 November 2017 First round Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Grimsby Town Plymouth
15:00 GMTCarey 9'  48'ReportDavies  60'
Dixon  72'
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 5,137
Referee: John Busby

EFL Cup

On 16 June 2017, Grimsby Town were drawn at home to Derby County in the first round.[8] Following the abandonment for the first round tie, the fixture was rescheduled for 22 August 2017.[9]

22 August 2017 First round Grimsby Town 0–1 Derby County Cleethorpes
19:45 BSTBerrett  28'
Davies  55'   63'
ReportLawrence  38'
Pearce  47'
Vydra 53' (pen.)
Bryson  69'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,033
Referee: Trevor Kettle

EFL Trophy

On 12 July 2017, Grimsby Town were drawn against Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United and Sunderland U23s in Northern Group H.[11][12]

PosLgeTeamPldWPWPLLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1L1Scunthorpe United (Q)3201052+37Round 2
2L1Doncaster Rovers (Q)3120021+17
3L2Grimsby Town (E)3002134−12
4ACASunderland U23s (E)3010225−32
Updated to match(es) played on 8 October 2017. Source: EFL.com
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
3 October 2017 Group Game 2 Scunthorpe United 2–1 Grimsby Town Scunthorpe
19:45 BSTMadden  20'
Hopper 43', 80'
Redmond  50'
van Veen  90+2'
ReportJaiyesimi 32'Stadium: Glanford Park
Attendance: 1,987
Referee: Tom Nield

Squad overview

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
17FW  SCOHarry Cardwell
18MF  ENGTom Bolarinwa (Departed in January 2018)
18FW  ENGMallik Wilks (on loan from Leeds United)
19MF  ENGLuke Summerfield
20MF  ENGDiallang Jaiyesimi (on loan from Norwich City)
21FW  ENGScott Vernon
22MF  ENGChris Clements
23FW  NEDAkwasi Asante (Departed in February 2018)
24DF  ENGJack Keeble
25MF  ENGMartyn Woolford
26MF  ENGThomas Sawyer
27MF  CIVSiriki Dembélé
28FW  JAMAhkeem Rose
29FW  JAMJamille Matt (on loan from Blackpool)
30GK  ENGBen Killip
31DF  ENGReece Hall-Johnson
33GK  ENGJake Kean (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday)
34FW  ENGCharles Vernam (on loan from Derby County)
35GK  ENGAndy Warrington (Goalkeeping Coach)
39FW  CANSimeon Jackson (on loan from Walsall)

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
1 July 2017DF Nathan Clarke Coventry CityFree[13]
1 July 2017MF Siriki DembéléNike AcademyFree[14]
1 July 2017MF Sam Kelly Port ValeFree[15]
1 July 2017MF Mitch Rose Newport CountyFree[16]
15 July 2017GK Ben Killip Norwich CityFree[17]
17 July 2017FW Harry Cardwell ReadingFree[18]
26 July 2017DF Karleigh Osborne KilmarnockFree[19]
29 July 2017DF Paul Dixon Dundee UnitedFree[20]
8 August 2017FW JJ Hooper Port ValeFree[21]
31 August 2017MF Martyn Woolford Fleetwood TownFree[22]
15 October 2017DF Reece Hall-Johnson Braintree TownFree[23]
9 March 2018DF Andrew Fox AFC EskilstunaFree[24]
15 March 2018FW Gary McSheffrey EastleighFree[25]

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
1 July 2017DF Danny Andrew Doncaster RoversFree[26]
1 July 2017MF Rhys Browne Yeovil TownUndisclosed[27]
1 July 2017FW Ashley Chambers Nuneaton TownReleased[28][a]
1 July 2017MF Craig Disley Alfreton TownReleased[28][b]
1 July 2017DF Josh Gowling Torquay UnitedReleased[28][c]
1 July 2017DF Gavin Gunning Port ValeReleased[28][d]
1 July 2017DF Dan Jones BarrowReleased[28][e]
1 July 2017DF Shaun Pearson WrexhamContract expired[34]
17 July 2017DF Andrew Boyce EastleighFree[35]
29 July 2017FW Adi Yussuf BarrowUndisclosed[36]
9 January 2018MF Tom Bolarinwa Sutton UnitedUndisclosed[37]
9 January 2018MF Jamey Osborne Solihull MoorsUndisclosed[38]
31 January 2018FW Sam Jones Shrewsbury TownUndisclosed[39]
7 February 2018FW Akwasi Asante TamworthMutual consent[40][f]

Loans in

Start datePositionNationalityNameFromEnd dateRef.
9 August 2017MF Diallang Jaiyesimi Norwich City30 June 2018[42]
29 August 2017FW Jamille Matt Blackpool30 June 2018[43]
5 January 2018GK Jake Kean Sheffield Wednesday30 June 2018[44]
8 January 2018FW Charles Vernam Derby County30 June 2018[45]
26 January 2018FW Mallik Wilks Leeds United30 June 2018[46]
31 January 2018FW Simeon Jackson Walsall30 June 2018[47]
31 January 2018DF Easah Suliman Aston Villa30 June 2018[47]

Loans out

Start datePositionNationalityNameToEnd dateRef.
24 August 2017MF Max Wright Scarborough Athletic30 June 2018[48]
29 September 2017MF Chris Clements Barrow31 December 2017[49]
16 October 2017FW Akwasi Asante Solihull Moors1 January 2018[50]
10 November 2017MF Tom Bolarinwa Sutton United9 January 2018[51][37]
1 December 2017MF Jamey Osborne Solihull Moors9 January 2018[52][53][38]
8 December 2017MF Sean McAllister York City8 January 2018[54]
31 January 2018MF Chris Clements Forest Green Rovers30 June 2018[55]

References