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That Winning Feeling
That Winning Feeling

The Elusive First Win

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 07/12/2009

NEIL Woods will have to wait longer than any other Town boss in the club's history for his first win. More than half Town's previous managers have picked up the elusive first win in their first two games. Woods has currently been in charge for nine games but has yet to see the Mariners emerge as victors.

Woods's predecessor Mike Newell did have the worst record of any Town boss. His first win came after 9 games last season - an away win at Bury. Prior to that Alan Buckley III had to wait 4 games.

The last manager to win their first game in charge was Graham Rodger, when Town beat Boston 3-2 in the first game of the season in 2006.

Other recent managers to win their first game are Paul Groves, Brian Laws, Mike Lyons, Dave Booth and George Kerr.

The table below shows the complete record of Town bosses, and in which game their first win occurred.

ManagerFirst winYear
Frank Womack11932
Charlie Spencer11937
Allenby Chilton11955
Bill Harvey11968
Lawrie McMenemy11971
George Kerr11979
David Booth11982
Mike Lyons11985
Brian Laws11994
Paul Groves12001
Graham Rodger12006
Wilf Gillow21924
Billy Walsh21954
Tim Ward21960
Don McEvoy21967
Ron Ashman21973
Bobby Roberts21987
H N Hickson31902
Bill Shankly31951
Tom Johnston31962
Alan Buckley I31988
Kenny Swain31996
Lennie Lawrence32000
Russell Slade32004
George Fraser41921
Alan Buckley II41997
Alan Buckley III42006
Jimmy McGuigan51964
Bobby Kennedy51969
Johnny Newman51976
Tom Casey61975
Nicky Law62004
Mike Newell92008
Neil Woods10+2009

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