Player Database: John McDermott

By: Sam Kinnaird
Date: 08/07/2009

The modest Middlesbrough-born full-back made his Town debut in 1987 and was part of the team that won back-to-back promotions from Division Four to Division Two under Alan Buckley.

He became an ever-present for the Mariners, and won the Player of the Year award three times. In 1995, he was linked with moves to Sunderland and Ipswich but remained fiercely loyal to Grimsby.

In the 1997-98 season McDermott was part of the side that won the Auto Windscreen Shield and the Division Two Play-Off Final under Alan Buckley. He was the man of the match in the Shield final, in Grimsby's first ever trip to Wembley.

The years passed, and McDermott remained an injury-free and dependable right-back, recognised by many as one of the best outside the Premiership.

In the 2005-6 season Grimsby held a testimonial for McDermott against Hull City, a packed Blundell Park saw the legend's benefit game. He made his final career appearance in the 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury Town in 2007.

In his 20 seasons with the Mariners, McDermott made 754 appearances and experienced nine promotions and relegations in that time. He was recognised by the PFA with the prestigious Merit Award award in 2009.

John McDermott truly is a legend, playing his full career for one club and being a genuinely nice bloke on top of that. He was always willing to spend time with the youngsters and played with a smile on his face, as well as always being willing to sign autographs for the fans.

He now works in a Football in the Community role at the club, a very fitting job for the ex-full-back, and his weekly blog can be read on the Grimsby Telegraph web site.

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