Grimsby v Southport Preview

Their History

Southport were formed in 1881 as Southport Central after having been initially constructed from the foundations of the local rugby club. The Sandgrounders as their nickname goes played under several names in their introductory years and may well have been the first club to use a sponsor as part of their name. The Southport Vulcans named after the local Vulcan Motor Company carried the name for 3 years between 1918 and 1921 during which time the team became founding members of the Central Division in 1918 and then were promoted to the Football League for the first time in 1921 in to Division Three North as founder members where they met The Mariners for the first time. Things didn’t go to well for a Grimsby side that had just suffered relegation from the Second Division and were subsequently hammered 7-1 by Southport on the two clubs first encounter. The club was the first to ever reach the quarter finals of the FA Cup from the Northern Division in 1931 but after that and winning the Fourth Division in 1973 the club began to struggle finally been voted out of the league after finishing bottom in 3 consecutive seasons and been replaced by Wigan Athletic.

Last Season

But don’t despair dear people Southport are back and friendly (hopefully) and bring with them their much better pier and a derision to being called Scousers. Last Year saw the club promoted as Champions of the Blue Square North where a single point was all that separated themselves and local rivals Fleetwood Town a 3-0 win on the last day of the season secured the Championship for the club and a promotion back to the Conference for the first time since 2003.

This Season

The club have failed to maintain their league winning momentum this season currently languishing in 18th place. This despite the fact Southport seem to be able to keep games very tight, every game this season have either been drawn or won or lost by a single goals difference between both teams. Though wins against Kidderminster, Tamworth and Altrincham are results we have failed to get this season they along with a victory against Fleetwood have failed to get the club into the top half of the league and more worryingly just 2 points from the relegation zone.

Notable Former Players

The Team

It’s hard to pick out an outstanding player for a club who boast just 3 players who have recorded the club’s season high of 3 goals so far. The club have a rather tight back line especially away from home conceding just 9 all season (we’ve conceded 14) and just 8 at home on the northwest coast. The team have suffered a blow for Saturday though with influential defender Earl Davis suspended after picking up 5 yellow cards already this season. On the clubs OS they seem to be rather excited about the arrival of Chris Simm who has just this week returned from a month long loan spell at Chorley where the youngster bagged 3 goals all against Durham (back to back home and away matches.) The team also welcome back Rob Marsh-Evans from a loan at Vauxhall Motors.

Prediction

With Southport’s tough defence disrupted by Earl Davis’s suspension The Mariners should really be looking to take advantage of it and get Connell and Co an extra few goals (Not just to satisfy the nerves of a very weak and sometimes laughable defence)

Grimsby 3-0 Southport

Grimsby Town

1 Kenny Arthur
2 Peter Bore
3 Lee Ridley
4 Mark Hudson
5 Darran Kempson
6 Scott Garner
7 Lewis Gobern
8 Michael Cummins
9 Charles Ademeno
10 Lee Peacock
11 Michael Coulson
13 Nick Colgan
14 Michael Leary
15 Dwayne Samuels
16 Steven Watt
17 Alan Connell
19 Bradley Wood
20 Josh Fuller
22 Mark Gray
24 Nathan Dixon
25 Robert Atkinson
28 Andrew Wright
29 Robert Eagle
38 Richard O'Donnell
40 Rob Peet

Southport F.C.

1 GK Tony McMillan
2 DF Kevin Lee
3 DF Chris Lever
4 DF Adam Flynn (captain)
5 DF Earl Davis
6 MF Michael Powell (vice-captain)
7 MF Ashley Winn
8 MF Alan Moogan
9 FW Steve Daly
10 FW Tony Gray
11 MF Matty McGinn
12 DF Shaun Gray
13 DF Robert Marsh-Evans
14 MF Paul Barratt
15 DF Robbie Williams
16 FW Matty McNeil
17 MF Liam Blakeman
18 MF Dom Morley
19 MF Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick (on loan at Skelmersale United)
20 FW Jake Ellis (on loan at Runcorn)
21 FW Chris Simm
22 GK Steve Dickinson
23 FW Alan Collins

Add To Facebook

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!

Related Stories

• Square Trek: Episode 8. Kidderminster Harriers.
• Kidderminster v Grimsby Preview
• IT'S TAMWORTH!
• More Stories