Captain, Leader, Legend

No matter what happens in the near future, this photo sums it up. Passion, loyalty and class rolled into one.

https://twitter.com/gtfcnathan/status/826177902672748544

Phew, I thought he'd gone, really hope he stays nearly as much as want Omar to!

I'm actually not fused about Omar because I know we will get a nice pay day ..  But Diz has genuine football ability and can play the simple game and make a good pass. Not to mention he's a proper gent and all that. A shame if he does go but hope whatever happens it works out for him and his family.

Quoted from Mariner_09

Phew, I thought he'd gone, really hope he stays nearly as much as want Omar to!

Please get over this! Dis is here for four more months maximum - MB has effectively said so and is allowing Dis to leave now if he wants. Add to that, if Omar leaves (for the right money), we will become a better TEAM!

I've developed a massive affinity towards Dis over his five and half years here. The only player for years with any composure in possession until Jon Nolan arrived, the only midfielder since Groves to make late runs into the box and score goals and the only Town player ever to show raw emotion at Braintree last season.

This is the difference between manager and fan. MB won't have and nor should have that much affinity for a player but I do.

What would Macca's banner say now I wonder?

It's a strange one as part of me wants him to get fixed up somewhere else because he deserves it and that may mean him leaving on the quiet, perhaps even tomorrow, but part of me wants him to stay until the end of the season and have a final game to give him a good send off.  

Yes Ginny, we can bring him on when we're 3-1 up in the play off final after someone has scored a last minute goal...

Quoted from Mariner_09

I've developed a massive affinity towards Dis over his five and half years here. The only player for years with any composure in possession until Jon Nolan arrived, the only midfielder since Groves to make late runs into the box and score goals and the only Town player ever to show raw emotion at Braintree last season.

This is the difference between manager and fan. MB won't have and nor should have that much affinity for a player but I do.

I totally agree with the sentiment but I think you're wrong about MB. He is allowing Dis to dictate the terms of his departure which is both fitting and fair.

Quoted from Mariner_09

Yes Ginny, we can bring him on when we're 3-1 up in the play off final after someone has scored a last minute goal...

Now that would be sensational, we can only dream.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I totally agree with the sentiment but I think you're wrong about MB. He is allowing Dis to dictate the terms of his departure which is both fitting and fair.

Completely agree!

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I totally agree with the sentiment but I think you're wrong about MB. He is allowing Dis to dictate the terms of his departure which is both fitting and fair.

Agreed - he is showing Dis the respect he deserves and giving him the choice. I would love to see him stay for a few more months, but  i hope his reputation is not diminished if he does fade away first team wise. i personally still think he has a useful part to play thi season.

When the season started I kinda hoped he would stay on as a coach..player/coach  

simply will always be a legend at GTFC. All things come to an end but he will always be a star at Blundell Park

Quoted from Sigone

When the season started I kinda hoped he would stay on as a coach..player/coach  

He's doing his accountancy exams, I believe? Probably better off to stick with that plan given the precariousness of coaching/management. Also, for all his many laudable qualities, he's always struck me as a 'quiet' sort so I'm not sure he'd be suited to management which is generally the ultimate destiny you are heading for when entering coaching.

Quoted from Maringer

He's doing his accountancy exams, I believe? Probably better off to stick with that plan given the precariousness of coaching/management. Also, for all his many laudable qualities, he's always struck me as a 'quiet' sort so I'm not sure he'd be suited to management which is generally the ultimate destiny you are heading for when entering coaching.

You don't have to be a "gob shite" t be a coach you just need to be able to engage players to improve & perform better.

I think you must have misread my post. I'm pretty certain that I didn't say that you needed to be a gob shite to be a coach.

What I did say was that the ultimate role of a former pro who enters coaching is likely to be management and you don't get many 'quiet' managers.

For that matter, has Disley even taken his coaching badges? The fact he's taking his accountancy exams (which are a damn sight more difficult than coaching badges in any case) indicates he's already got a future career plan.

Quoted from Maringer

I think you must have misread my post. I'm pretty certain that I didn't say that you needed to be a gob shite to be a coach.

What I did say was that the ultimate role of a former pro who enters coaching is likely to be management and you don't get many 'quiet' managers.

For that matter, has Disley even taken his coaching badges? The fact he's taking his accountancy exams (which are a damn sight more difficult than coaching badges in any case) indicates he's already got a future career plan.

Agree, apologies. PH was quiet though IMO, Though it's a ball ache to qualify having an accountancy qualification opens up many more doors than coaching.




  

Quoted from Maringer

I think you must have misread my post. I'm pretty certain that I didn't say that you needed to be a gob shite to be a coach.

What I did say was that the ultimate role of a former pro who enters coaching is likely to be management and you don't get many 'quiet' managers.

For that matter, has Disley even taken his coaching badges? The fact he's taking his accountancy exams (which are a damn sight more difficult than coaching badges in any case) indicates he's already got a future career plan.

One won the Premiershit last season

Quoted from Garth

One won the Premiershit last season

I reckon one qualifies as " not too many "



UTM

I can be a gobshite accountant and so best not to generalise

Did has been a good player for town and arrived at the right time when we needed a steadying , experienced head in mid-field. He joins a long list of players who have served our club for 5+ years. He is in the twilight of his career and this is, IMO, the last season he could effectively play at this level. I wish him the best for whatever and wherever his remaining playing days may take him and would like to thank him for his contribution to our club. Unfortunately, all players reach this point in their careers and it's a fact that they and us fans have to face. Sentiment can't play much of a part in this and I think MB has paid Dis a lot of respect in saying that he ( Dis ) will leave at his own terms. MB says Dis still has a part to play for the club this season and hopefully we will still get the opportunity to see him in a town shirt.

I think he'd be the perfect foil for the inexperienced pair of Osborne and Comley. Will add some composure and will probably still make those lethal late runs into the box.

Quoted from Mariner_09

I think he'd be the perfect foil for the inexperienced pair of Osborne and Comley. Will add some composure and will probably still make those lethal late runs into the box.

Personally think you need a good passer of the ball to complement those two - and when did Dis last make a 'lethal late run'?

Quoted from Sigone

When the season started I kinda hoped he would stay on as a coach..player/coach  

A good player doesn't always make a good coach. Gazza is a prime example, partly due to the company he kept such as 'moaty'. Fishing always brings the worst out in people, especially whilst drinking.

🐍

Wow. Craig disley is a 'leader and legend' of Grimsby town football club. It's embarrassing and cringey. Who even posts this garbage? Surely no one over the age of 10? What did my great football club become? I keep saying it, Craig disley is a cracking bloke, WAS a fairly decent player and a good servant. But legend? REALLY? Do we not remember real greats? McDermott, waters, drinkell, waters, groves, ford etc etc.

Do we not remember our once proud history? 2nd tier football throughout the 90s? Are we really that upset about a 34 year old bloke who did ok for us in the 5th tier of English football? Ridiculous. Is this what we have become?

Bignot has handled this perfectly. He's tried to help disley get one last contract before he is in the scrapheao. For all you lot upset about bloody Craig disley get over it. Football moves on!

I'm guessing you looked up the history of GTFC.
Do you actually follow any team when your not trolling ?

Perhaps Saddo Dan might be a better name ??

Quoted from Civvy at last

I'm guessing you looked up the history of GTFC.
Do you actually follow any team when your not trolling ?

Perhaps Saddo Dan might be a better name ??

Boo perhaps In the real world at last might be a better name??

Quoted from Superdan147

Wow. Craig disley is a 'leader and legend' of Grimsby town football club. It's embarrassing and cringey. Who even posts this garbage? Surely no one over the age of 10? What did my great football club become? I keep saying it, Craig disley is a cracking bloke, WAS a fairly decent player and a good servant. But legend? REALLY? Do we not remember real greats? McDermott, waters, drinkell, waters, groves, ford etc etc.

Do we not remember our once proud history? 2nd tier football throughout the 90s? Are we really that upset about a 34 year old bloke who did ok for us in the 5th tier of English football? Ridiculous. Is this what we have become?

Bignot has handled this perfectly. He's tried to help disley get one last contract before he is in the scrapheao. For all you lot upset about bloody Craig disley get over it. Football moves on!

If you're of a certain age, the word legend applies to the likes of Tees, Waters, Mendonca et al - those who have only followed the club in the 21st century are entitled to think of Dis in those terms as he's the only player who has been here long enough/won something worthy of the accolade.

Quoted from Civvy at last

I'm guessing you looked up the history of GTFC.
Do you actually follow any team when your not trolling ?

Perhaps Saddo Dan might be a better name ??

Tbf civvy, he has got a point. Disley has been great for us, but it does rather illustrate how Shiite we've been. There's probably at least 50 players, going back to the thirties have more claim to being a legend. Christ jack Lewis, Harry wainmanand Dave boylen have got a greater claim to legend status imho and they were all part of a pretty awful gtfc team in the mid 70s

Yeah can all you teenage Town fans stop going on about Disley and get a flag made with Harry Wainman on it instead.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Yeah can all you teenage Town fans stop going on about Disley and get a flag made with Harry Wainman on it instead.

Not Harry - Graham 'Basil' Rathbone is the true legend of that era.

Quoted from forza ivano

Tbf civvy, he has got a point. Disley has been great for us, but it does rather illustrate how Shiite we've been. There's probably at least 50 players, going back to the thirties have more claim to being a legend. Christ jack Lewis, Harry wainmanand Dave boylen have got a greater claim to legend status imho and they were all part of a pretty awful gtfc team in the mid 70s

I can agree with that Forza.
It's the style of the post and others that make me think he's a troll !!  

Also I am old enough to remember all of the above and more 😥

Quoted from Superdan147

Wow. Craig disley is a 'leader and legend' of Grimsby town football club. It's embarrassing and cringey. Who even posts this garbage? Surely no one over the age of 10? What did my great football club become? I keep saying it, Craig disley is a cracking bloke, WAS a fairly decent player and a good servant. But legend? REALLY? Do we not remember real greats? McDermott, waters, drinkell, waters, groves, ford etc etc.

Do we not remember our once proud history? 2nd tier football throughout the 90s? Are we really that upset about a 34 year old bloke who did ok for us in the 5th tier of English football? Ridiculous. Is this what we have become?

Bignot has handled this perfectly. He's tried to help disley get one last contract before he is in the scrapheao. For all you lot upset about bloody Craig disley get over it. Football moves on!

If you think football moves on then why do you mention the players above? They played for us in the 80s and 90s and quite rightly deserve the high regard we hold them in as does lots of players before them at the same time and a few afterwards.

Like a journeyman non league footballer Dis could have gone and played elsewhere for an extra £50 a week I'm sure but he chose to stay at GTFC and get us back where we belong. Christ there has been lots of examples  in the last few years where players came and went to chase a few quid. Which they also did n the glory times you mentioned above.

It's not Dis's fault that we went into non league but he did do a lot to get is out of it and deserves some respect for that. Is he a legend as a player? Who knows as awarding such status to a player is in my view based upon how the majority talk of him which would suggest in the non league days we suffered he may be. As a captain, person and representative of the club I reckon so too, anyone who went to Cambridge and saw him talking to fans and having his pic taken at the end of the warm up might well just agree.

BTW who was the other Waters  who played for us?  

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Not Harry - Graham 'Basil' Rathbone is the true legend of that era.

I'll second That!

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Yeah can all you teenage Town fans stop going on about Disley and get a flag made with Harry Wainman on it instead.

Thanks mate, I'll no consider myself a teenager as I reckon placed in context Dis is right up there. We are fortunate enough to be able to call lots of player a legend "in their lifetime" with GTFC at least.

Similar to Das Harry was right up there not just for his skills as a keeper but also as a person, nice bloke. When he had his sports shop on Freemo we used to go in there quite a bit one day when we where there he asked if I was going to Liverpool away in the cup (lost 5 - 0 versus a side that where truly Europe's elite) I told him that I could not go as I was due in hospital for an op that week and would not be well enough to which he replied something like "that;s a shame I'll sort something out for you".

Thought nothing of it until we went back in at the end of that Jan and he asked me if I was ok and then went in the back and came out with a programme from the game signed by every Town player - Now that's an effing legend!    

With respect, not all of us had the pleasure of watching the great sides of yesteryear. Yes Disley represents an era where town were at their lowest but at the same younger people look up to these players so legendary status is an age thing is it not?

Quoted from Wrawby_Mariner

With respect, not all of us had the pleasure of watching the great sides of yesteryear. Yes Disley represents an era where town were at their lowest but at the same younger people look up to these players so legendary status is an age thing is it not?

Fair point wrawbz but even someone like me can appreciate that bestall, betmead, Buck and tweedy are amongst the most deserving of legendary status. International class players when we were in the top 10-15 clubs in the country

Yeah all you johnny cum latelies with your Harry Wainman flags - he wasn't fit to lather George Tweedy's boots in dubbin.

Ford can never be regarded as a legend after getting sent off giving away that penalty v Preston.

Quoted from Abdul19

Ford can never be regarded as a legend after getting sent off giving away that penalty v Preston.

?

Maybe it's not always about the footballing qualities of a player but the personal ones. Dis re-signed year upon year because he was determined to get us back in the league. He along with the other two of the "coley trinity" - McKeown and Pearson - will always be remembered in the same way as the other legends I've seen at Town for that.

Quoted from Abdul19

Ford can never be regarded as a legend after getting sent off giving away that penalty v Preston.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

?

[url=http://www.prestonnorthend-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/grimsby_3__preston_north_end_3_74460/index.shtml]http://www.prestonnorthend-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/grimsby_3__preston_north_end_3_74460/index.shtml[/url]

Quoted from LH

Maybe it's not always about the footballing qualities of a player but the personal ones. Dis re-signed year upon year because he was determined to get us back in the league. He along with the other two of the "coley trinity" - McKeown and Pearson - will always be remembered in the same way as the other legends I've seen at Town for that.

I think this may have helped too?

[url=http://www.101greatgoals.com/101ggvideos/grimsby-town-captain-weeps-live-tv-interview-following-play-off-win-video/]http://www.101greatgoals.com/101ggvideos/grimsby-town-captain-weeps-live-tv-interview-following-play-off-win-video/[/url]

And perhaps this?

[url=http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/it-has-flown-by-but-i-ve-loved-it/story-29823910-detail/story.html]http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/it-has-flown-by-but-i-ve-loved-it/story-29823910-detail/story.html[/url]

Craig... Please Stay... In a very bleak period of our history, you have shown fantastic loyalty and quality. Enjoy the remaining 4 months we us and let's have a real big send off, before your new chapter begins. Top bloke. We owe you lots and thank you.

In my lifetime I have witnessed players like Serge Makofo, Phil Barnes, Peter Bore, Lee Peacock etc. so as far as I'm concerned Disley and Mcdermott are the only legends of my time.

I know a bit of town history.  

Obviously Buck, Betmead, Hall, Bestall and Glover are the legends of what our ancestral supporting fans have claimed them to be.

Then Waters, Ford, Boylen and Drinkall during the 70's and 80's.  Again before my time maybe saw them twice when i was 8.  

Then Mendonca, Futcher, Groves (maybe Gilbert and Childs) .

So who is given the status during our exiles as there wasn't much to cheer about before we finally got promoted..

Disley......and Pearson at the moment.  But that is my choice.

Excellent summary of the legends , I would add Kev Moore as well

In principal I agree with that Meza. Legends are always relative to the level we're at. And what's happening in your own time.

Matt Tees has legendary status to some of us. Late 60s-early 70s. The messiah who returned. But we were only a fourth division side then. Dave Boylen was part of the same era.

Then at the higher levels in the late 70s and early 80s, and in the 90s we had two great generations of legends.

RRFC will probably have his own legends from the 50s and early 60s to add - from a better team than the later 4th division team.

Disley, Pearson and Mckeown could be classed amongst the legends. The backbone of the squad that stopped the rot and clawed their way back to the League. Among Hurst's (and Scott's let's not forget) better choices.

Agree Kingston, i have missed a few like Tees, Brace, Moore,Rafferty but you are spot on everyone will see legends as to what they think.  Then there are club legends, bestowed by the club? maybe.

Quoted from Meza

Agree Kingston, i have missed a few like Tees, Brace, Moore,Rafferty but you are spot on everyone will see legends as to what they think.  Then there are club legends, bestowed by the club? maybe.

For a dreadful moment there I thought you were referring to Gary Moore, allegedly our striker in late 60's, but then realised you meant Kev. Choking now over and happy to endorse all 4, loved Tees & Brace but thats because they were key components in first successful town team I ever watched.

How about Tony Ford? Local lad, made over 400 appearances for the Mariners in two spells. Almost double the number of appearances of Dizza.

Surely enough to be considered a 'Legend'?

Tees was a legend.  He was a character and like Alf Tupper (from the old comics).

Bobby Cumming was a hero of mine and a real hard-man.  Not quite a legend, but no one will ever forget him!

The term legend is surely down to the invidual?

I fully appreciate that the likes of Cumming, Tees, Waters are legends to people who saw them play, but they're not my legends.  

My legends are Groves, Gilbert, Futcher, Super Clive.  They're of my generation.

Disley, Pearson, McKeown etc. are of this generation.  If they're the legends of this generation then so be it. It's not Disley's fault he has played for us when we've sat in the Conference.  What he has done is everything in his power to make sure we got out of it. We've been devoid of heroes for so long, why the intercourse shouldn't we celebrate players who have achieved something but most importantly meant something to the fans?

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

Tees was a legend.  He was a character and like Alf Tupper (from the old comics).

Bobby Cumming was a hero of mine and a real hard-man.  Not quite a legend, but no one will ever forget him!

Legend for me , " ( Bobby C ) I know sir Matt is a legend but only caught his last yer or so .
Last 10 yr ? Pearson and Diz for sure .

UTM

Batch and Futcher would be added to that list for me

John Cockerill and Shaun cunnington midfield pairing was definitely legendary for me - well 'ard! John was a local lad, son of a town player, went thru from 4th to 2nd tier with us and even managed town briefly as I recall. Scored the goal that put us back in the championship under Buckley Mk1. He would be up there for me.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

Bobby Cumming was a hero of mine and a real hard-man.  Not quite a legend, but no one will ever forget him!

By some considerable distance, this is the most preposterous statement to ever disgrace this forum (and consider the competition).

Do you remember him against Norman Hunter? Fouled him, and when NH turned around in shock (his reputation was such)
BC turned around so Norm could see the number (name? ) on his shirt.

Do you recall us playing West Ham (losing 1-5 IIRC) and Mark Hateley being so imperious that no other Town defender wanted
to go near him? Bobby C tracked over and put in one of the most disgusting challenges from behind you could wish to see.
Hatelely turned around, like some Prince who'd been slighted - and BC was standing six inches from his face...and smiling!

Or the Tuesday night game against Notts County after Paddy Hamilton passed away - where he terrorized their defence all
night? He didn't bother beating their defenders....he just ran through them.

They're just the first memories to hit me about Bobby C. Absolute legend for me!!

Joe Waters, Matt Tees and Paul Groves are the next in line IMO.

(Btw, off the pitch Bob was a gentle - almost shy - individual who wouldn't say boo to a goose.)

Quoted from 137

By some considerable distance, this is the most preposterous statement to ever disgrace this forum (and consider the competition).

Do you remember him against Norman Hunter? Fouled him, and when NH turned around in shock (his reputation was such)
BC turned around so Norm could see the number (name? ) on his shirt.

Do you recall us playing West Ham (losing 1-5 IIRC) and Mark Hateley being so imperious that no other Town defender wanted
to go near him? Bobby C tracked over and put in one of the most disgusting challenges from behind you could wish to see.
Hatelely turned around, like some Prince who'd been slighted - and BC was standing six inches from his face...and smiling!

Or the Tuesday night game against Notts County after Paddy Hamilton passed away - where he terrorized their defence all
night? He didn't bother beating their defenders....he just ran through them.

They're just the first memories to hit me about Bobby C. Absolute legend for me!!

Joe Waters, Matt Tees and Paul Groves are the next in line IMO.

(Btw, off the pitch Bob was a gentle - almost shy - individual who wouldn't say boo to a goose.)

Was it not David Cross in that West Ham game? Could not agree more re' Bobby!! I also think that Bobby put pay to Alan Clarke's career in a game versus Barnsley a BP as well with another "hard but fair" challenge. He could play though with the ball at his feet he could drop a shoulder and go either left or right past defenders, scored some decent goals too.    

Can we add Dean Crombie and Kev Moore to that list too, Kev was one of the best players we have ever produced and the original "Deano... Deano...Deano.... " was a "proper" defender and could belt a free kick past a wall as well as anyone at the time.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

Tees was a legend.  He was a character and like Alf Tupper (from the old comics).

Bobby Cumming was a hero of mine and a real hard-man.  Not quite a legend, but no one will ever forget him!

There's no scope for an Alf Tupper to break through in competitive athletics these days. All those railway arches have been gentrified and taken over by craft beer outlets, artisan cheese retailers and the like.

Two players I remember from when I first started watching town that , for me, deserve the title " legend " were Keith Jobling and Ron Cockerill. Both were ever presents for a long time and did the business week-in/ week-out . I think Jobling was a local lad and GTFC was his only professional club ( ? ). They were both at the end of their careers when I started watching town but you could see that they were true professionals and dedicated to town.

Ok my legends from when i started to watch town Buckley mk1 1989-1990

McDermott
Jobling
Futcher
Cunnington
Cockerill
Gilbert
Childs
Mendonca
Groves
------------------------------------
10 years of dog pooh
------------------------------------
Mckeown
Pearson
Disley

I always had a soft spot for Mark Lever as well. A very underrated player due to his ungainly style, but a good defender.

Quoted from Maringer

I always had a soft spot for Mark Lever as well. A very underrated player due to his ungainly style, but a good defender.

And a really nice lad too the couple o times I met him/ once at an open day thing where he was really kind to my daughter who was a toddler at the time.

Another legend of recent times?

Tony Gallimore - he was a pretty good footballer considering his levels of consumption.

Quoted from Maringer

I always had a soft spot for Mark Lever as well. A very underrated player due to his ungainly style, but a good defender.

Had all the grace of a new born giraffe but got the job done.

Did have some pretty impressive centre backs play next to him though.

Wasn't his nickname Plug?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Another legend of recent times?

Tony Gallimore - he was a pretty good footballer considering his levels of consumption.

Get out.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Was it not David Cross in that West Ham game? Could not agree more re' Bobby!! I also think that Bobby put pay to Alan Clarke's career in a game versus Barnsley a BP as well with another "hard but fair" challenge. He could play though with the ball at his feet he could drop a shoulder and go either left or right past defenders, scored some decent goals too.    

Can we add Dean Crombie and Kev Moore to that list too, Kev was one of the best players we have ever produced and the original "Deano... Deano...Deano.... " was a "proper" defender and could belt a free kick past a wall as well as anyone at the time.

Yes - you're right about David Cross....my memory shows its age rather frequently these days.

No probs with Kev Moore.....but "Thistle - to the keeper...." is what I remember most about Deano's free-kicks!  

Really felt for him Saturday... he looked "lost" when he came over the fans.

He must be thinking ..What does he have to do to play? Christ we were 4-0 down at half time

He should have been on at half time and showed the new brigade what was needed. That's not nostalgia either.

If he doesn't get any game time tomorrow then I think he is better off moving on, go to a club who will offer him games