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Has Blundell Park ever been a fortress ?

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grimps
January 15, 2017, 5:45am
balderdash
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I know we always hear the "Let's get Blundell park back to being a fortress'
But in all my time supporting the Mariners (From the 80s) I can't ever remember it being a fortress , Under the Buckley promotion years we whacked a few teams but without checking I always seem to think it was out away record that took us up.
I would say under Buckley important big games we usually would win  but for the last 20 odd years we've never really done the business at home for some reason.
Under Hurst we was in the top five for four years on the bounce and still had a very average home record and always seemed to lose the important games or the games that we needed to kick on and start a run.

I can't for the life of me think why this is but it's probably one of the reasons why we have an exceptional away following , I know loads of people that go to big away games but hardly ever go to watch them at home.
Maybe a new ground would help ?
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Mrs Doyle
January 15, 2017, 6:45am
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It most definitely has, for older fans like me who remember the Laurie Mac/George kerr era. We were beating the likes of Man city, Wolves. Leeds,both teams from Sheffield etc at BP for fun.

B.P. was packed to the rafters and the wall of noise we made was unbelievable, it was said that it could be heard as far away as Freeman Street.

Brian Kidd ex Man Utd and Everton striker said Blundell Park was the most intimidating place he had ever played at.

If Davy Boylen sees this he will back me up on this one he was one of the heroes during that era.
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grimps
January 15, 2017, 6:51am
balderdash
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I was a young kid in the late 70s and early 80s so can't really remember much about that time.
What's changed since then ? When you look at our gates in the 70s and early 80s we was averaging 10-12000 at home.
There is defiantly something not right about Blundell park and I'd be more than happy for us to leave
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Mrs Doyle
January 15, 2017, 7:27am
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A combination of things mate we had a lot of local talent brought up through the ranks, a great team ethic.players who bust a gut every game proud to play for GTFC.

A manager that famously took the players down to the fish docks to show them the sort of people who paid there hard earned money to see them.

Standing was the best as far as atmosphere goes,better build up/banter before games between bigger more local Yorkshire derbies.

You could hear the crowd singing long BEFORE you got to the ground and that was twenty minutes before kick off.

People use to be running just to get in.

I agree the old Park is just a mere shadow of it's former self and is well past it's sell by date,

A new stadium might be needed for this mind set to change.
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97
January 15, 2017, 8:17am
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Noisier yes, but fortress is a bit of a misnomer. Certainly a reputation as somewhere other teams don't want to come, all the North Sea cliches etc, but the only time in recent years where I remember it as being genuinely fearsome was the Newell relegation game against Gillingham. I actually felt sorry for the Gillingham fans...

Before that? Early 80s. All seater killed it.
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97
January 15, 2017, 8:21am
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Oh and on the subject of a new ground, although I begrudgingly accept we need one - has there ever been an example of a new ground improving atmosphere? I suppose it you mix local away fans like they do at West Ham's fiasco bowl then that could work....
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Mrs Doyle
January 15, 2017, 8:33am
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The bottom line is if you win games the atmosphere will get better always as done.
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MuddyWaters
January 15, 2017, 9:15am
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As Mrs D says, GTFC of the 70's was a team that always had some local lads and managers who sent their teams out on the front foot.

Football has changed a lot since then, all seater stadia, more overseas players, much less local talent and therefore less comprehension by both managers and players as to what makes this area tick. Fans have always been fickle, many have stopped coming due to the long decline combined with the recession and it's nice to see some drifting back.
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Garth
January 15, 2017, 9:34am

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Has Blundell Park ever been a fortress ?

Yes, when the likes of Brace, Boylen, Brolley, Drinkall and the Moores brothers ruled the roost
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Bigdog
January 15, 2017, 10:20am
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A lot of clubs in this league might be asking the same question. Probably due to how teams are being cleverly set up for away games, there have been 118 home wins and 112 away victories so far this season..
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Mariner Ronnie
January 15, 2017, 10:22am

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2011/12 season we had a very long unbeaten streak at home


Today we got our team back - town fan leaving Wembley may 2016
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lee65
January 15, 2017, 11:24am
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Late 70's to early 80's we always expected to win at home, and usually did.
One notable difference to me is that back then if we went a goal down you always felt we would score 2, and that's not the same now.

I do agree with one of the above comments too, that teams are better set up to play away these days, more video footage to study and stats. etc perhaps?
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28195
January 15, 2017, 11:29am
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Must be related to the gypsy curse, need an exorcism or blessing by the holy and righteous fishy cu.....t
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HertsGTFC
January 15, 2017, 11:38am

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I don't think its every really been a "fortress" but it is clearly not a nice place for away teams to visit clearly we have been strong at home but never unbeatable. Under George Kerr, John Newman and Buckley we did not lose many but you wouldn't as they where successful sides.  

I think that in the recent non league years and to an extent this season the home form has been a mix of sides coming and playing1up front and our players not being of the standard to open them up.


"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style  
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Grimbiggs
January 15, 2017, 1:08pm
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I've been following Town for 40 years now, and football has changed dramatically during that time. Standing for me during the 80's created a better atmosphere, this together with more local talent and a connection to the players. The community spirit and connection with the players has all but gone. The game has changed, being promoted as family entertainment. Not that thats a bad thing, but for the casual supporter it's no different then going down to the local cinema, which creates a lack of atmosphere. This together with mass tv coverage has created a saturation point, were football is seen as just another form of entertainment, of which people are now spoilt for chioce.Tatics and variation in formations, with the masses of information available, means teams are better set up.

This club has never been very innovative in the PR department, so if we are to create a fortress and that intimidating fear factor for opposing teams, then the stadium has to match, as theres nothing worse than seeing a 16000 seater with 5,000 people spread around it.
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willows fc
January 15, 2017, 4:22pm
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One of the problems at home is the stewarding. If you show bit of passion/aggression there straight on you telling you to calm down or your out. Blundell park should be a loud intimidating place for away teams to come play can't even have a bit of banter without them trying to chuck you out...
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KingstonMariner
January 15, 2017, 5:23pm
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Simple answer is yes. As Mrs D and others have said, 70s and early 80s. You could hear the crowd at Top Shops.


Through the door there came familiar laughter,
I saw your face and heard you call my name.
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser,
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same.
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Lincoln Mariner 56
January 15, 2017, 5:35pm
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Think in 71/72 we only lost 2 home games out of the 23 with both reversals coming within the space of 4 days against that bogey team Southport and the Stan Bowles inspired Crewe.

Certainly remember nearly last home game being 2-0 down to Peterborough and winning 3-2. But in those days we had lots of goalscorers with Brace, Lewis, Tees and Hickman plus Chatterley and Gauden adding a few, loved that season.
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ginnywings
January 15, 2017, 6:02pm

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There was the season West Ham won the league and battered us at BP. Up until that game we were very hard to beat at home and very rarely conceded a goal, never mind lost.
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chaos33
January 15, 2017, 6:08pm
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Was that 79/80 Ginny? Went to that game and was gobsmacked. Lost 5-1.


"You should do what you love while you can"
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Paris Mariner
January 15, 2017, 6:09pm
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In 98/99 we only lost 6 home games in the league which I think is pretty decent as it was in Division 1/Championship. The season we got promoted 97/98 we lost 5 league games at home. Decent again. At the time I remember going to home games thinking there was a good chance we would win which would suggest BP was a bit of a fortress to me..


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ginnywings
January 15, 2017, 6:20pm

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Quoted from chaos33
Was that 79/80 Ginny? Went to that game and was gobsmacked. Lost 5-1.


80/81. We only let about 10 goals in at home all season and West ham got 5 of those. One of the best away displays i have ever seen. They tore us to pieces. Lost 3 home games i think.
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chaos33
January 15, 2017, 6:23pm
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They did. I remember being stunned by that as an 8 year old. David Cross hatrick?

Seem to think there was a Barnsley home defeat around that time too but could be wrong. They comfortably beat us at BP and that just didn't happen. My memory thinks they had Ronnie Glavin and Trevor Aylott in their team.


"You should do what you love while you can"
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ginnywings
January 15, 2017, 6:31pm

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Think Cross may have got 4. Him and Goddard was it, up front ran us ragged? It was indeed a shock as up until that point, we were very solid defensively. Kev Moore would have been in his pomp then. I was 21 and Kev was a year older.
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promotion plaice
January 15, 2017, 6:43pm

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"Has Blundell Park ever been a fortress ? "

1978/79    HT  Town 6 - 0 Darlington    
The best first half performance I have ever seen at BP

BP was a fortress back then, Town gaining promotion from the old Fourth Division as runners-up.

Third Division champions the next season, no team fancied coming here back then.


When Leeds trainer Les Cocker was once told Norman Hunter had broken a leg, he asked: “Whose is it?”
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barralad
January 15, 2017, 6:53pm
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Quoted from ginnywings


80/81. We only let about 10 goals in at home all season and West ham got 5 of those. One of the best away displays i have ever seen. They tore us to pieces. Lost 3 home games i think.


I think a few days before that we'd won at Hillsborough and Division 1 looked a real possibility. On the way home we reckoned the chairman/board had had a word and asked the players to calm down or another promotion was on the cards-such was the hammering. Not sure we won another game and finished with a hammering at Cambridge.
In 83/4 we were unbeaten anywhere in the league from November to March with Pompey being the last team to beat us and the team that ended the run. (For good measure they also put us out of the F.A. Cup). During that run B.P. was an absolute fortress.


The aim of argument or discussion should not be victory but progress.

Joseph Joubert.
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mariner tommy
January 15, 2017, 6:56pm
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Can anyone else remember the long unbeaten run we had that started 1975. We went 30 odd games without defeat in the league at home and I remember we played Gateshead in the FA Cup in November 1975 (they were non league of course) and they beat us 1-3.
We then went all the way into March 1976 unbeaten at home in the league until we played Walsall on a Tuesday night and they beat us 1-2. And who scored for Walsall that day ?, none other than Alan Buckley. We then lost again to Crystal Palace in the next home game.
We went from October 1974 to March 1976 without losing in the league at home.

UTM


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ginnywings
January 15, 2017, 7:25pm

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Quoted from barralad


I think a few days before that we'd won at Hillsborough and Division 1 looked a real possibility. On the way home we reckoned the chairman/board had had a word and asked the players to calm down or another promotion was on the cards-such was the hammering. Not sure we won another game and finished with a hammering at Cambridge.
In 83/4 we were unbeaten anywhere in the league from November to March with Pompey being the last team to beat us and the team that ended the run. (For good measure they also put us out of the F.A. Cup). During that run B.P. was an absolute fortress.


The win at Hillsborough was later on and was the only game we won after the West Ham defeat. I admit to having to go and check that out as i couldn't remember.
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GrimRob
January 15, 2017, 10:11pm

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Here's the number of home defeats per season (excluding zeroes if there every was an undefeated at home season). It was definitely a fortress at the Abbey before we moved to BP in 1899! But since then the general trend seems to have been to lose our fortress status.

1     1900-1901
1     1905-1906
1     1912-1913
1     1923-1924
1     1945-1946
2     1934-1935
2     1951-1952
2     1955-1956
2     1961-1962
2     1965-1966
2     1971-1972
2     1983-1984
3     1901-1902
3     1928-1929
3     1932-1933
3     1933-1934
3     1949-1950
3     1964-1965
3     1974-1975
3     1978-1979
3     1980-1981
3     1993-1994
4     1906-1907
4     1911-1912
4     1935-1936
4     1938-1939
4     1952-1953
4     1953-1954
4     1957-1958
4     1975-1976
4     1977-1978
4     1979-1980
5     1904-1905
5     1913-1914
5     1920-1921
5     1936-1937
5     1937-1938
5     1956-1957
5     1959-1960
5     1960-1961
5     1972-1973
5     1973-1974
5     1982-1983
5     1988-1989
5     1989-1990
5     1990-1991
5     1992-1993
5     1995-1996
5     1997-1998
5     2004-2005
5     2010-2011
5     2015-2016
6     1907-1908
6     1908-1909
6     1914-1915
6     1924-1925
6     1930-1931
6     1931-1932
6     1946-1947
6     1967-1968
6     1969-1970
6     1994-1995
6     1998-1999
6     1999-2000
6     2013-2014
7     1902-1903
7     1922-1923
7     1927-1928
7     1948-1949
7     1950-1951
7     1958-1959
7     1966-1967
7     1970-1971
7     2001-2002
7     2012-2013
7     2016-2017
8     1926-1927
8     1929-1930
8     1962-1963
8     1981-1982
8     1985-1986
8     1986-1987
8     2003-2004
8     2014-2015
9     1909-1910
9     1963-1964
9     1976-1977
9     1984-1985
9     2005-2006
9     2011-2012
10     1919-1920
10     1954-1955
10     1996-1997
10     2000-2001
10     2006-2007
10     2008-2009
11     1968-1969
11     1987-1988
11     2007-2008
11     2009-2010
12     1947-1948
12     1991-1992
14     2002-2003


'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.  
~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

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GrimRob
January 15, 2017, 10:25pm

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Redone the above showing the division (the one above includes cup games)

1     1905-1906 - Division 2 (old)
1     1912-1913 - Division 2 (old)
1     1923-1924 - Division 3 North
2     1934-1935 - Division 1 (old)
2     1951-1952 - Division 3 North
2     1955-1956 - Division 3 North
2     1961-1962 - Division 3 (old)
2     1964-1965 - Division 3 (old)
2     1965-1966 - Division 3 (old)
2     1971-1972 - Division 4
2     1983-1984 - Division 2 (old)
2     1993-1994 - Division 1
3     1901-1902 - Division 1 (old)
3     1928-1929 - Division 2 (old)
3     1932-1933 - Division 2 (old)
3     1933-1934 - Division 2 (old)
3     1949-1950 - Division 2 (old)
3     1952-1953 - Division 3 North
3     1973-1974 - Division 3 (old)
3     1974-1975 - Division 3 (old)
3     1975-1976 - Division 3 (old)
3     1977-1978 - Division 4
3     1978-1979 - Division 4
3     1979-1980 - Division 3 (old)
3     1980-1981 - Division 2 (old)
3     1988-1989 - Division 4
4     1906-1907 - Division 2 (old)
4     1911-1912 - Division 2 (old)
4     1920-1921 - Division 3 (old)
4     1935-1936 - Division 1 (old)
4     1938-1939 - Division 1 (old)
4     1953-1954 - Division 3 North
4     1957-1958 - Division 2 (old)
4     1959-1960 - Division 3 (old)
4     1990-1991 - Division 3 (old)
4     1994-1995 - Division 1
4     2004-2005 - League Two
4     2010-2011 - Football Conference
5     1904-1905 - Division 2 (old)
5     1908-1909 - Division 2 (old)
5     1913-1914 - Division 2 (old)
5     1914-1915 - Division 2 (old)
5     1924-1925 - Division 3 North
5     1936-1937 - Division 1 (old)
5     1937-1938 - Division 1 (old)
5     1956-1957 - Division 2 (old)
5     1960-1961 - Division 3 (old)
5     1966-1967 - Division 3 (old)
5     1969-1970 - Division 4
5     1972-1973 - Division 3 (old)
5     1982-1983 - Division 2 (old)
5     1989-1990 - Division 4
5     1992-1993 - Division 1
5     1995-1996 - Division 1
5     1997-1998 - Division 2
5     1999-2000 - Division 1
5     2013-2014 - Football Conference
5     2015-2016 - Football Conference
5     2016-2017 - League Two
6     1902-1903 - Division 1 (old)
6     1907-1908 - Division 2 (old)
6     1922-1923 - Division 3 North
6     1930-1931 - Division 1 (old)
6     1931-1932 - Division 1 (old)
6     1946-1947 - Division 1 (old)
6     1948-1949 - Division 2 (old)
6     1967-1968 - Division 3 (old)
6     1970-1971 - Division 4
6     1985-1986 - Division 2 (old)
6     1998-1999 - Division 1
6     2012-2013 - Football Conference
7     1927-1928 - Division 2 (old)
7     1929-1930 - Division 1 (old)
7     1950-1951 - Division 2 (old)
7     1958-1959 - Division 2 (old)
7     1962-1963 - Division 2 (old)
7     1976-1977 - Division 3 (old)
7     1984-1985 - Division 2 (old)
7     2001-2002 - Division 1
7     2005-2006 - League Two
7     2011-2012 - Football Conference
7     2014-2015 - Football Conference
8     1909-1910 - Division 2 (old)
8     1926-1927 - Division 2 (old)
8     1963-1964 - Division 2 (old)
8     1981-1982 - Division 2 (old)
8     1986-1987 - Division 2 (old)
8     2003-2004 - Division 2
8     2006-2007 - League Two
9     1919-1920 - Division 2 (old)
9     1954-1955 - Division 3 North
9     1996-1997 - Division 1
9     2000-2001 - Division 1
10     1987-1988 - Division 3 (old)
10     2008-2009 - League Two
10     2009-2010 - League Two
11     1947-1948 - Division 1 (old)
11     1968-1969 - Division 4
11     1991-1992 - Division 2 (old)
11     2007-2008 - League Two
13     2002-2003 - Division 1


'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.  
~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

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grimsby pete
January 15, 2017, 10:36pm

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1971/ 72  Played 23   won  18    drawn  3   lost  2   scored 60

ATT   11,000+

I think that was the best since I have been watching  (  62 years )  


                             Over 36 years living in Suffolk but always a mariner.
                             68 Years following the Town

                              Life member of Trust

                               First game   April 1955
                               
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KingstonMariner
January 15, 2017, 10:59pm
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Quoted from grimsby pete
1971/ 72  Played 23   won  18    drawn  3   lost  2   scored 60

ATT   11,000+

I think that was the best since I have been watching  (  62 years )  


So it's all been downhill for me. My first season.  


Through the door there came familiar laughter,
I saw your face and heard you call my name.
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser,
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same.
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Badger57
January 15, 2017, 11:09pm
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Quoted from grimsby pete
1971/ 72  Played 23   won  18    drawn  3   lost  2   scored 60

And those 2 defeats were in successive home games. I remember walking home after the second, weeping and smacking my knotted (home knitted) scarf against every available wall and fence on the way home thinking we'd blown our championship chances chances. So, ever the drama Queen then!
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HertsGTFC
January 15, 2017, 11:10pm

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Quoted from promotion plaice

"Has Blundell Park ever been a fortress ? "

1978/79    HT  Town 6 - 0 Darlington    
The best first half performance I have ever seen at BP

BP was a fortress back then, Town gaining promotion from the old Fourth Division as runners-up.

Third Division champions the next season, no team fancied coming here back then.


If I remember right that Tuesday night Mike Lester (good skilful player) got 4 and missed a penalty, one John Stone scored and absolute cracker for the visitors in the 2nd half. That is when night games where night games, I think in another night game a week or two earlier we destroyed Bradford 5 - 0, with Paul Reeney in their side. In those days we almost had to run home afterwards so dad could get the 10pm bus to do a night shift at Dunlop.

Who can forget the season after when after absolutely slaughtering Notts Counts we packed 20,000 + (could have even been 24K) into BP to see us beat Everton. In the morning paper the next day the headline was "Brolly reigns for Grimsby" . That season we despatched loads of sides in the league with the cream on top being the 4 - 0 defeat of Sheff U on the last day, fortress then Definitely!    


"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style  
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Badger57
January 15, 2017, 11:13pm
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....Bloody long walk too! Lived near Weelsby Road subway (now part of Peaks Parkway.)
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Chips44
January 15, 2017, 11:17pm
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Just reminded by the Clarrie Williams thread.  Round about when I started supporting Town.Season 1955/56
   Played 23. Won 20.Drawn1.Lost2.  I think that home record equates to being a fortress!
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HertsGTFC
January 15, 2017, 11:21pm

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I remember watching a Sky programme in the early 90s when Dougie Freidman was interviewed and played for Palace at the time they asked him what the difference was being in the premier league (the Yo yo had just had an up movement)  his reply? "You don't have to play at places like Grimsby" as a Town fan I saw that as a massive compliment.


"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style  
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promotion plaice
January 15, 2017, 11:21pm

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Quoted from HertsGTFC


If I remember right that Tuesday night Mike Lester (good skilful player) got 4 and missed a penalty, one John Stone scored and absolute cracker for the visitors in the 2nd half. That is when night games where night games, I think in another night game a week or two earlier we destroyed Bradford 5 - 0, with Paul Reeney in their side. In those days we almost had to run home afterwards so dad could get the 10pm bus to do a night shift at Dunlop.

Who can forget the season after when after absolutely slaughtering Notts Counts we packed 20,000 + (could have even been 24K) into BP to see us beat Everton. In the morning paper the next day the headline was "Brolly reigns for Grimsby" . That season we despatched loads of sides in the league with the cream on top being the 4 - 0 defeat of Sheff U on the last day, fortress then Definitely!    


I was in the Barrett's stand that night, the atmosphere was electric.



When Leeds trainer Les Cocker was once told Norman Hunter had broken a leg, he asked: “Whose is it?”
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ginnywings
January 15, 2017, 11:46pm

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Quoted from KingstonMariner


So it's all been downhill for me. My first season.  


And mine.
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GYinScuntland
January 16, 2017, 12:52am

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Quoted from mariner tommy
Can anyone else remember the long unbeaten run we had that started 1975. We went 30 odd games without defeat in the league at home and I remember we played Gateshead in the FA Cup in November 1975 (they were non league of course) and they beat us 1-3.
We then went all the way into March 1976 unbeaten at home in the league until we played Walsall on a Tuesday night and they beat us 1-2. And who scored for Walsall that day ?, none other than Alan Buckley. We then lost again to Crystal Palace in the next home game.
We went from October 1974 to March 1976 without losing in the league at home.

UTM

Jeez I remember that.
Supporting Town in the 70's in Scunthorpe you had to stand your ground and it was vicious and no mistake.
I remember gobbing off about how good Town were at the time and that result make me look a girl private.
I had to check the dates though as I thought it was my first year at work, but can now remember it was on one of the sports fields at Thomas Sumpter comp that I got my nose broke.
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Mrs Doyle
January 16, 2017, 4:53am
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Quoted from ginnywings
There was the season West Ham won the league and battered us at BP. Up until that game we were very hard to beat at home and very rarely conceded a goal, never mind lost.


That was the season we could have made it into Div1 (the prem) we needed a couple of players due to injuries for the final push because we were on top spot for quite a while that season and were looking great. Trouble was the board never bothered dud not want to go up imho, got nose bleeds.(nothing new)

West Ham walloped us a guy called Cross got a hat trick 5-1 I think here near the end of season and the rest is history.

Nearest I have seen us get to the top.

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HertsGTFC
January 16, 2017, 8:22am

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Quoted from Mrs Doyle


That was the season we could have made it into Div1 (the prem) we needed a couple of players due to injuries for the final push because we were on top spot for quite a while that season and were looking great. Trouble was the board never bothered dud not want to go up imho, got nose bleeds.(nothing new)

West Ham walloped us a guy called Cross got a hat trick 5-1 I think here near the end of season and the rest is history.

Nearest I have seen us get to the top.



I think we where in the mix but don't remember us being top that often, interesting view on the board situation.


"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style  
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Garth
January 16, 2017, 8:30am

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Quoted from Mrs Doyle


That was the season we could have made it into Div1 (the prem) we needed a couple of players due to injuries for the final push because we were on top spot for quite a while that season and were looking great. Trouble was the board never bothered dud not want to go up imho, got nose bleeds.(nothing new)

West Ham walloped us a guy called Cross got a hat trick 5-1 I think here near the end of season and the rest is history.

Nearest I have seen us get to the top.



He was either bought from Norwich or the other way round and was a very good striker in those days, sadly the Hammers at that time for us that is were on another planet
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dapperz fun pub
January 16, 2017, 8:45am
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One of the finest displays of pass and move football I've seen live , West Ham were different class
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barralad
January 16, 2017, 9:51am
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Quoted from HertsGTFC


I think we where in the mix but don't remember us being top that often, interesting view on the board situation.


I don't think we were ever top. It took us a while to find our feet but after Christmas we had a good run and some very good away wins (remember going to Luton and Wrexham both 2-0 wins). We were definitely in with a shout though. I cannot remember when 3up 3down came in so there may have been only two places up for grabs. As previously mentioned we fell away after  West Ham but got a top half finish.
Our best season was 83/84 where fifth now would've seen us in the play offs


The aim of argument or discussion should not be victory but progress.

Joseph Joubert.
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