I reckon 1998 (24 years ago)

Okay, we've had the odd decent result since then,  but as a whole it really is feeling good to be a Mariner at the minute.

1998. They were magical times too and I remember feeling so excited for that Ipswich game on Sky on the Sunday for our first game back in Division One (that save from Richard Wright is still the best I think I’ve ever seen).

Following that up with a trip away to Bolton’s then out of this world Reebok Stadium. Great times, as are these.

2016 for me, the relief

that first game against Morecambe was special

Quoted from Poojah

1998. They were magical times too and I remember feeling so excited for that Ipswich game on Sky on the Sunday for our first game back in Division One (that save from Richard Wright is still the best I think I’ve ever seen).

Following that up with a trip away to Bolton’s then out of this world Reebok Stadium. Great times, as are these.

I was in turkey watching that game. The pub was heaving with Man Utd and arsenal (????) ‘supporters’ watching the charity shield. That game finished and there’s just me and this Ipswich fan left. They kept the raki and efes flowing and I think I stumbled back to the hotel about Tuesday

Quoted from Hagrid

2016 for me, the relief

that first game against Morecambe was special

Same for me. 1998 was great, but after 6 years in non-league I was starting to fear for the future of the club, and although I wasn’t worried this time, even if were non-league for a while, I don’t think I will ever have the feeling of relief I did in 2016. I cried my eyes out that day, Sunday I just screamed with enjoyment.

I’d say since ‘when’!

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

I was in turkey watching that game. The pub was heaving with Man Utd and arsenal (????) ‘supporters’ watching the charity shield. That game finished and there’s just me and this Ipswich fan left. They kept the raki and efes flowing and I think I stumbled back to the hotel about Tuesdayi

The second half is here if you want to relive it. The replay of the save I was referring to is bang on 30 mins. Still no idea how he kept it out.

https://youtu.be/UrMZoeyRl1g

1958 in the Osmond on a stool behind the goal. Alan Barnett always want to know the horse race winners and the banter he had with the fans was brilliant. The Osmand was full and I remember some loud mouth telling Mike Cullen he was bloody rubbish.

Copper in each corner and a Sargent at the players' tunnel Those were the days that made me a mariners fan for life through good times and bad.

I have to say 1990-1993 when our double promotion and renaming of the divisions when the Prem started meant we went from Division 4 to Division 1 in 3 consecutive seasons.

Quoted from DB

1958 in the Osmond on a stool behind the goal. .

Now it’s just on the pavement around the ground

Best time in my 20 years supporting town. The rest has been utterly depressing tbh. I wonder what changed?

The best since 2001. Top of the Championship, beating Liverpool "Look at me Ma. Top of the World!", and then the whole thing exploded in a shower of excrement

1998 for me...  That was a very special team which played some great football...

1980...last time we actually came top..though the Buckley mk1 years take some beating as well.

98 was pure joy n emotion
2016 was relief and buckets of tears
2022 was can't believe we've done it, chill with a port n cigar and think of my 50 year anniversary, 50 years since lawrie mac and give thanks to 1878

1980..Though seeing Town walk out at the old Wembley for the first time is my biggest moment as a Town supporter.

For lots of reasons though they all sit in isolation as great events in the club history.

There has never been a bad time to be a Mariner. A Scunt, however…

Last season was our highest average gate since 2002-2003 when we were in the Championship.

Quoted from GrimRob

Last season was our highest average gate since 2002-2003 when we were in the Championship.

Perhaps a few more away fans that season...although Wimbledon probably only just beat Borehamwood...

The last 2 weeks have been the best since 98 certainly. But for some reason this promotion feels even better than the 98 one. I've lived in hope all season but not expectation - it's been one game at a time since we came out of the bad run with only the Eastleigh as a dead fixture - but it always looked like a mountain climb because best case since Christmas has always been needing to win 3 games on the bounce and most likely away. In 98 we looked nailed on for the play-offs for a good while and certainly went into the Northampton game as favourites.

89-91 with Buckley
We had big cup runs and a double promotion , it’s was the best time in my life to be a Town fan without doubt

Quoted from grimps

89-91 with Buckley
We had big cup runs and a double promotion , it’s was the best time in my life to be a Town fan without doubt

Absolutely this . The season just gone doesn't belong in the same discussion. People have short memories. The club was heading into the conference when Buckley took over . No players and a right mess . Within 3 seasons we were in the championship. Unbelievable.

surprise nobody has mentioned the 1930's  - surely the best ever time to have supported GTFC.
Top 5 finish in the top division and FA Cup semi finalists - doesn't get much better than that

Quoted from forza ivano

surprise nobody has mentioned the 1930's  - surely the best ever time to have supported GTFC.
Top 5 finish in the top division and FA Cup semi finalists - doesn't get much better than that

I think you have made a good point. The top ever finish for the club.  I just wondered if we still supporters in this age group?

Quoted from DB

I think you have made a good point. The top ever finish for the club.  I just wondered if we still supporters in this age group?

My Mum was born in 1930 and she said on the day she was born her Dad was at Hillsborough watching Town in The First Division.

Quoted from grimps

89-91 with Buckley
We had big cup runs and a double promotion , it’s was the best time in my life to be a Town fan without doubt

Although attending the odd game in the 70’s stood on a beer crate with my best mate. It was Buckley mk1 that cemented my love for the club. I became that obsessed with the mariners I asked my father in law (to be) if he could drive me back from Dornoch in Scotland for kick off. He politely obliged. 480 miles later he dropped me off at 14.50. Great times.

Quoted from heppy88

Although attending the odd game in the 70’s stood on a beer crate with my best mate. It was Buckley mk1 that cemented my love for the club. I became that obsessed with the mariners I asked my father in law (to be) if he could drive me back from Dornoch in Scotland for kick off. He politely obliged. 480 miles later he dropped me off at 14.50. Great times.

Did we win?!

1998 for me, the joy of going to Wembley to see the Mariners in the Auto Windscreens final followed a few weeks later for a play off final really doesn’t get any better than that, and winning both games was something very special.

Early 80's for me, Nigel Batch, Trevor Whymark, Drinks, Kev Moore, Fordy, Joey Waters, Bobby Cumming, the list goes on, great times

Agree about the 80’s and playing with 2 wingers Ford and Cummings was a great time on an awful Blundell Park pitch.

Quoted from Spurn boy

Agree about the 80’s and playing with 2 wingers Ford and Cummings was a great time on an awful Blundell Park pitch.

It's Cumming ffs  ;D

But yeah I agree.

Ever for me. My first game was 96/97 but somehow my Dad deemed me 'too young' for Wembley in 98.

2016 was brilliant, the relief was something else but unfortunately for me, my life was absolutely in tatters, mainly self inflicted. So the memory of that day is great but vague at best.

Sharing last Sunday with my 2 kids and getting them their first season ticket as a proud Dad, and a guy even worthy of being called 'Dad', really is the best time I've had in my town endeavours, and life as a whole.

Late 90's was a great time. The 98 year a pinnacle. The early 1980's was also very interesting, if a little non politically correct nowadays.....The Time of Towns quite notorious " Firm ". They very rarely get mentioned now but not only were they notorious across the country, they also had the best name going amongst all the football firms at the time. The " Cleethorpes Beach Patrol ". Whatever became of them?. I remember that they were quite a serious player in 1980's football terrace agro. Not many wanted to mess with them back in the day.

Quoted from Shipwrecked In Gainsborough

Late 90's was a great time. The 98 year a pinnacle. The early 1980's was also very interesting, if a little non politically correct nowadays.....The Time of Towns quite notorious " Firm ". They very rarely get mentioned now but not only were they notorious across the country, they also had the best name going amongst all the football firms at the time. The " Cleethorpes Beach Patrol ". Whatever became of them?. I remember that they were quite a serious player in 1980's football terrace agro. Not many wanted to mess with them back in the day.

Most of the cbp are dead due to drugs.

I was only 7 in 1998 so dont have that much memory of it really, since then I dont think there has been a time that comes close, as 2016 was brought down to earth so quickly as I remember being frustrated at the time that season tickets took so long to go on sale, wasnt much PR from the club and good players were getting let go. I was still positive overall but didnt have the feeling that the club would really kick on the way I do now. So for me this is the best time, as I think theres so much to look forward to

Quoted from Les Brechin

My Mum was born in 1930 and she said on the day she was born her Dad was at Hillsborough watching Town in The First Division.

This post reminds me of when my oldest son was born in BMH Dhekelia in Cyprus,  I couldn't attend the Birth as I was playing for the Battalion football team up in Happy Valley, Episkopi.

Quoted from 123614

This post reminds me of when my oldest son was born in BMH Dhekelia in Cyprus,  I couldn't attend the Birth as I was playing for the Battalion football team up in Happy Valley, Episkopi.

My sister was based at Episokpi / Paramali for about 10 years (her kids born in Akrotiri). Beautiful part of the world; I remember going to an armed forces even in Happy Valley a few years ago and it was about the hottest I’ve been in my life. Absolutely baking.

Anyway, carry on.

Definitely 1998 , the two Wembley appearances had the whole town buzzing.

Under Buckley, we played some of the best football I've ever seen anywhere. Football is such a simple and beautiful game when all the team are working as one and the passing and movement becomes almost like choreography.

We utterly bamboozled teams at times and you could see them going to pieces before your eyes as the ball was passed around through them.

Seen some great teams in my time going back to 1972, but purely for achievement and what it means in terms re-establishing us as a league side at the first time of asking by the new owners, this season is right up there with the best.

The speed with which they have turned round the entire club is astonishing, so it's the best time to be a Mariner since a certain non chairman took the reins. It had been dire for almost 20 seasons, with the club never rising above mid table league 2 in all that time. What a waste of potential, which is now about to be realised.

Quoted from ginnywings

Under Buckley, we played some of the best football I've ever seen anywhere. Football is such a simple and beautiful game when all the team are working as one and the passing and movement becomes almost like choreography.

We utterly bamboozled teams at times and you could see them going to pieces before your eyes as the ball was passed around through them.

Seen some great teams in my time going back to 1972, but purely for achievement and what it means in terms re-establishing us as a league side at the first time of asking by the new owners, this season is right up there with the best.

The speed with which they have turned round the entire club is astonishing, so it's the best time to be a Mariner since a certain non chairman took the reins. It had been dire for almost 20 seasons, with the club never rising above mid table league 2 in all that time. What a waste of potential, which is now about to be realised.

We need to be careful not to get carried away. I think we’re all grateful that the owners are realistic yet inspirational and leading us in a transition to sustainability.
For me, watching Buckley ball was amazing, teams of much higher standing were ritually taken apart by fast moving football and we climbed way above our expectations. What’s happened since has dumbed those expectations down beyond belief but what we mustn’t do is to expect too much too soon.

Given the first week of ST sales, I’m looking forward to seeing who we do retain and sign, it’s great but the Buckley era still gets it for me.

Buckley Mk 1 but not just for the wins and promotion. We played great football and were a joy to watch. The team made you proud to support them. I was at university and would get into conversations about football and when I said I supported Grimsby everyone would compliment me on the football town played and how they didn't fancy playing us.
It was a special time to be a Town fan.