Can you remember what promotion feels like?

We were last promoted in 1998 nearly 17 years ago. Can anyone under 30 remember much about it?

At home listening on the radio. Felt good, wish I was there to see it though. Was 13 at the time

I'm 23 and all I really know is disappointment/failure. I began to take real notice of town probably 10 years ago and have seen us lose in the league 2 playoff final, lose in the JPT final, lose in the Fa trophy final and lose in the playoffs twice and I suppose you can add a third round Fa cup defeat as we should have beat Huddersfield. Here's hoping this is our year!

I'm 23 and started going in 1999 with my Dad. Never experienced promotion.

I remember it well, but then again I am not under 30.....

Quoted from pizzzza

I remember it well, but then again I am not under 30.....

Same here. I've been lucky enough to remember 6 promotion seasons, 1972 (just), 1979, 1980, 1990, 1991 and 1998.

Here's hoping I'll witness another one in 2015.

I feel for all our younger supporters who have only ever known us be pretty rubbish for most of the time.

My first experience was a relegation in 1957-8 followed by a promotion in 1962. I remember the night we won at Brentford, waiting for the result on the radio under the blankets listening to Radio Luxembourg until the BBC news and Sport at 11 o'clock. Absolute magic.

Matched by the atmosphere at a jam packed BP in 1972 versus Exeter when we needed a point to be champions and won 3-0.

Nothing beats your first promotion, I hope the lads get to experience it because there really is no feeling like it in football.

89-90 I had been taken to a few games but didn't see any fixtures near the end of the season.  
90-91 went to almost all home games and remember the euphoria of the Exeter win but definitely didn't appreciate the importance.

97-98 I can't ever remember doubting we would get promotion.  From October we were just incredible and ripped so many teams to pieces, which probably didn't help the confidence/arrogance that promotion was ever in doubt.  People talk about the nerves late on in the Northampton game especially with all the added time.  I don't remember ever feeling concerned, even going up against Fulham in the semi's.

05-06 I had the same cocksure attitude as 97-98 in that I just didn't see us not getting promoted.  From the second game of the season away at Bristol Rovers when we turned it round late on from 1-0 down to win 2-1 with Mildenhall going crazy in front of the away fans, I just felt we were untouchable.  Even the home defeat to Wycombe just after New Year didn't change that mindset, nor the subsequent dip in form or even the hammering away at Lincoln. In fact my belief probably grew stronger.  Away at Notts County we had Gary Cohen at right-back, Tom Newey centre-back and Paul Bolland right wing picking up a 1-0 win, I couldn't see us not going up at this point.

It was away at Leyton Orient with a couple of games to where it finally hit home we wouldn't go up.  I think I'm right in saying that a win would have more or less guaranteed us promotion, or at least put is in a very strong position.  Goodfellow misses a sitter late on and then hits the bar with an audacious chip.  I remember sitting in the stand at Brisbane Road that day with my head in my hands just knowing it wasn't going to happen for us.  A draw against Macclesfield two games later left us needing results to go our way on the final day and then the final day against Northampton we didn't get the result, nor did other games our way.  Even through the play-off games with Lincoln, as enjoyable as they were, I didn't believe we would go up, even more so with Cheltenham getting through.  We had beaten them in both league games so it was almost fate we would fall short when it mattered.  The weeks leading up to the play-offs too many players had dropped off or were carrying injuries.  Our attack was heavily reliant on Reddy's pace and with him carrying an injury it was completely nullified.  Maybe Slade should have protected him a bit more and used Cohen more as back up..

Post Cheltenham game I was dejected but having seen an impressive team built over the previous 20-months, was confident we would go again next season even stronger.  The next few days/weeks would soon shatter that hope.

This time around we've seen two years of going close so it feels more like a need than something that we aspire towards.  I've been critical in the past of Hurst's negative attitude, including his comments to the press, but I think he's got it right in trying to play down our title aspirations.  Avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the players, try to keep ourselves under the radar until late as possible and let the momentum build itself.  

Biggest achievement I can clearly remember as a Town fan was surviving the drop in 01-02 under Groves.  For so long it looked nailed on that we would be down without even a whimper, to turn it round and in such style was unbelievable.  From a team that looked so hopeless to one where everything just clicked and played with such intent and without any fear was brilliant.

like some have said, i am 22, and remember losing.

Burton Away
MK Dons JPT Final
Wrexham FA Trophy Final (Still Hurt)
Cheltenham Play Off Final
Gateshead Play-off Semi-Final Really Hurt

I remember having to apply for re-election

I remember 98 so well. I recall the ref showing AB 6 fingers at the end of the game and was gob smacked

Those 6 minutes were hellish at the time, but watching the game back I don't think Northampton would ever have scored as they were utter shit!

I was 5 at the time. I went to the first wembley trip and I can remember bits of it, we didn't go to the playoff final however. I remember the championship period after that pretty well and of course all of the failure since!

Obviously we have to win the league to guarantee promotion..... and the last time we won a league was season 79/80......thirty five years ago!

Quoted from diehardmariner

05-06 I had the same cocksure attitude as 97-98 in that I just didn't see us not getting promoted.  

Same. That's what made it even more miserable.

Quoted from Les Brechin

Same here. I've been lucky enough to remember 6 promotion seasons, 1972 (just), 1979, 1980, 1990, 1991 and 1998.

Here's hoping I'll witness another one in 2015.

I feel for all our younger supporters who have only ever known us be pretty rubbish for most of the time.

6 Promotion seasons?!?!?! Fair play Les, , , a true Town fan. Whis one of the 6 is your fav?? was 1972 the last title win??

Tim

I was 7, but I vaguely remember a goal in extra-time hitting the side-netting and one side of Wembley going nuts thinking we'd won.

I'm 32 so had a few real decent seasons supporting Town and a few lets say disappointing seasons!  

We moved to Northampton in 1994 so going to school in Northampton during the 1997/1998 promotion season was pretty good!!!  

I do remember at school writing 1-0 to the Mariners on the whiteboard in our tutor classroom only to realise instead  of using the Whiteboard marker I had used a Permanent marker!!!  

Hoping this season we have another Promotion to celebrate and one thing Town fans are good at, ,  is celebrating!!!!

UTMM
GTID

98 season was my first season as a town fan and being only young I can't remember much about it other than being in the kop end at Liverpool with loads of other town fans and seeing a young Michael Owen hat-trick and then can remember the amazing feeling when we won the play-off final and me wanting to stay inside Wembley forever to celebrate only for my dad to drag me out so we didn't miss our train  

If we do go up then I cannot think of anything better to add to it other than those tw@ts from Tranmere getting relegated down to the Conference considering how they celebrated us getting relegated that day at Prenton Park.

out of all the ones ive been to the last game of the season against Northampton and we were relying on Leyton Orient to draw. Then right at the death, Northampton equalised then Leyton Orient scored that left me feeling sick for a while.  I think it was under Slade when we lost to Cheltenham in the final at Cardiff.

Supporting Town is full of ups and downs,

I first went to Blundell Park in 1955,

We got re elected after finishing in the bottom 2.

1956 I saw us getting promoted,

1959 I saw us getting relegated,

1962 I saw us getting promoted,

The rest is history as they say,

Up and down, lets hope 2015 is an up year.

Quoted from Mariner Timsky

6 Promotion seasons?!?!?! Fair play Les, , , a true Town fan. Whis one of the 6 is your fav?? was 1972 the last title win??

Tim

No 79/80 was the last title winning season when we beat Sheffield United 4-0 on the last day of the season at BP. They had one Alex Sabella in their team that day who would go onto become manager of Argentina.

As for a favourite, although we had a fantastic team in that 79/80 season,  it would have to be the 98 Wembley double season. If you could guarantee winning then the play-offs make it all the more dramatic and enjoyable for me.

Around half a million people die every year in the UK so 8 million people have died since Grimsby last got promoted. A handful will have been born and died in that time.

Really hope we get promotion this season so my son Harry can see what it's like, it would be brilliant to win the play off final so him and me could be there to witness it, we've never been to Wembley the pair of us.

Quoted from cmackenzie4

Really hope we get promotion this season so my son Harry can see what it's like, it would be brilliant to win the play off final so him and me could be there to witness it, we've never been to Wembley the pair of us.

Well you might not be going again this year Chris  

My first two seasons were double promotion seasons (89/90 & 90/91).  I thought promotion was the normal thing.  

Can I just bring everyone back down to earth by telling them that when (if) we go up this year, we're going up to the bottom tier of League football.

That's depressing.

My first promotion was 72 , and all the rest . This I feel , influences mine and older supporters views from the younger ones . We have seen so many highs and lows , but the last ten years have been painful.  The feeling of promotion , and that first Wembley win , if you could bottle that emotion it would be worth a fortune .

Quoted from Les Brechin

Same here. I've been lucky enough to remember 6 promotion seasons, 1972 (just), 1979, 1980, 1990, 1991 and 1998.

Here's hoping I'll witness another one in 2015.

I feel for all our younger supporters who have only ever known us be pretty rubbish for most of the time.

6 for me too. Ist was 1972 under mcmenemy

If the young lads can remember what it felt like when Disley stuck the ball in the net in the 90th minute at Barnet and then times that by 1000 then they'll be somewhere close to knowing what promotion feels like.

Quoted from cmackenzie4

Really hope we get promotion this season so my son Harry can see what it's like, it would be brilliant to win the play off final so him and me could be there to witness it, we've never been to Wembley the pair of us.

I hope we go up as champions,

I don't think I could  another play off failure.

Quoted from Biccys

Can I just bring everyone back down to earth by telling them that when (if) we go up this year, we're going up to the bottom tier of League football.

That's depressing.

Aye.  But it could be the springboard for more success.  Our own history shows that back-to-back promotions is not unheard of.  The momentum from a promotion season is a real asset in my opinion, only have to look at the number of teams achieving back-to-back promotions from Conference to League One in recent seasons.

Ahem!!  Getting way ahead of things we have a massive amount of work to do yet starting at Chester. IF and it's a big IF we get out it as been one hell of a tough learning curve.  

1971-2 was just so special. Where Buckley undoubtedly had the better tactical footballing brain Lawrie McMenemy was a master at Public Relations and really got the whole of the town on board.

Players "down dock" to see the fish being landed and sold - with the GET there as well of course - and visiting factories all over the place. Trawler skippers regularly sending in telegrams wishing the team well was par for the course. If I remember rightly, wasn't there a guy who said he would either run round BP naked, or his workplace (Findus, I think) if we won the championship. Lawrie was there as well, of course.

Promotion must be the male equivalent of a multiple orgasm. Don't forget though, to have experienced 6 promotions like Les and myself, you've had to suffer the six times being relegated as well! That's what makes it so very special.

The last time we got promoted I was sat in a pushchair being pushed  around Ramsdens Toy Store in which my mother bought me a Tinky Winky Teddy Bear.

Another six'er here. First one in 71/72. Hope i live to see another.  

Quoted from jock dock tower

1971-2 was just so special. Where Buckley undoubtedly had the better tactical footballing brain Lawrie McMenemy was a master at Public Relations and really got the whole of the town on board.

Players "down dock" to see the fish being landed and sold - with the GET there as well of course - and visiting factories all over the place. Trawler skippers regularly sending in telegrams wishing the team well was par for the course. If I remember rightly, wasn't there a guy who said he would either run round BP naked, or his workplace (Findus, I think) if we won the championship. Lawrie was there as well, of course.

Promotion must be the male equivalent of a multiple orgasm. Don't forget though, to have experienced 6 promotions like Les and myself, you've had to suffer the six times being relegated as well! That's what makes it so very special.

7 times relegated for me John. 1977 back to Div 4, 1987 back to Div 3, 1988 (Div 4), 1997 (3rd tier), 2003 (3rd tier), 2004 (4th tier) and obviously 2010.

Yep same again, 72 was my first,
but seven relegations too

Only 16 so born in 1998.

Since following town I've experienced;

2006 Play offs.
Burton Away.
Wembley 2008
Wembley 2013
Newport Play Offs
Gateshead Play Offs.
Huddersfield in the Third round.

No good times..

Watching town 31 years now. I live off my younger days of watching Town during the Buckley era...my little lad (Liverpool fan) can't believe we were a established 'Championship' club and regularly show him that goal at Anfield to remind him and for myself to remember the good days!

I remember 98, as a young Liverpool fan back then. I'm 26 now (27 in the summer) and I wasn't really much of a fan back then. I remember wanting to go to games back then, because my dad and older brother went to most games home and away back then. I remember watching the shield final V Bournemouth and the play off final V Northampton on Sky I think. My dad and older brother went to both. I were 9 at the time and can't really say I can remember how it felt to get promoted, I were always upset about not being allowed to a game, haha.

We (my family and I) moved away the next year. I use to keep and eye for town's results whilst away. But lost interest in football at the age of 13 after and accident I were victim of gave me injuries which stopped me from playing for a few years. But then I when I started working (age 17) I knew some Peterborough united fans and they were in the same league as town, so then I started looking at town results again. Started to get interested in football again. 2008 came and I wanted to go Wembley in the Johnson's pint trophy final (V MK Dons), but ended up watching it on Sky.

Moved back town that summer of 2008 and started going to games after I started working in a factory. 11th October 2008 Grimsby V Wycombe was the first game I eventually attended. Been going to as many games as I can afford to go to ever since.

Now I'm become quite passionate and proud to call myself a town fan.

Since going to town games, I've only really seen misery and failure, even at Wembley. But WHEN the Mariners get promoted, this time I'll be there! UTM  

I Actually think i would cry with joy if we got promoted !

Ill never forget that feeling when Disley scored away at Gateshead !! ill also never forget the following aprox 1 hour later

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

I Actually think i would cry with joy if we got promoted !

Ill never forget that feeling when Disley scored away at Gateshead !! ill also never forget the following aprox 1 hour later

Think I would too.    

I have never known a promotion while i have been posting on The Fishy ( not sure what year it started ) but if we do get promoted this season, the day or night after promotion is achieved i would be in front of the computer with a bottle of wine watching The Fishy go ballistic with great pride, then i would ask the moderators on The Fishy if i could change my user name to promotion plaice. I started watching Town about 1978 and have been on a roller coaster ride ever since.

All will come good this year..
There is something special about been a town fan, young or old..
Even more so at the moment
Come on Town!!

I don't know how many promotions I've seen but seeing we
were in the top flight when I started I must have seen four
more relegations than promotions.

All of the promotion games naturally were great but I seem
I seem to remember watching Town one night at Northampton
when promotion was clinched due to our rivals losing elsewhere.

Not so exciting but equally satisfying.

Quoted from Caveman

I don't know how many promotions I've seen but seeing we
were in the top flight when I started I must have seen four
more relegations than promotions.

All of the promotion games naturally were great but I seem
I seem to remember watching Town one night at Northampton
when promotion was clinched due to our rivals losing elsewhere.

Not so exciting but equally satisfying.

Top flight

I remember what nearly promoted feels like.

To be honest - it's just ridiculous being in this division - we're a League 1 club (at least) - simples. - and let's not forget it.

Quoted from Teestogreen

To be honest - it's just ridiculous being in this division - we're a League 1 club (at least) - simples. - and let's not forget it.

True,but there is no divine right to achieve in this game. Let's just hope we return to the highs I've read so much about!

Quoted from JMT

Only 16 so born in 1998.

Since following town I've experienced;

2006 Play offs.
Burton Away.
Wembley 2008
Wembley 2013
Newport Play Offs
Gateshead Play Offs.
Huddersfield in the Third round.

No good times..

Plenty of time young 'un and it will be sweet when it happens.

My first season was promotion in 79/80. Beating Sheff Utd 4-0 At BP in front of 20,000 will never be topped, even if I live to be 150. Seen my fair share of promotions and an ever bigger portion of relegations and disappointments.

I'm 25. My first game was a friendly vs Leeds in '96. First season ticket was the '97 relegation season .First (and last) promotion was '98. I missed the Anfield win as I had no-one to take me but still have good memories of beating Tottenham and going to Wembley and the Millenium etc despite results.

We've got to get out of this sewer of a league and make some new memories soon ffs.

I'm 24. Can't remember us getting promoted in 98, but have vague memories of the Auto Windscreen Final, when I see Burnetts goal I feel like I can remember being there seeing it. I was 7 that season. Also remember the names of Wayne Burnett (IIIRC was my favourite player), Groves, Livingstone, Davison, Mcdermot I could check it up it if they were all that era, but I'm just going off memories of a very young kid. Still got and wear the Dixon shirt from that season (it was my older brothers of course, not mine!! I'd like to think a younger cousin is still wearing mine...)

I can of course remember subsequent Wembley and Cardiff visits all too clearly, unfortunately!

P.S: Dixon shirt might have been season after. Can remember the Food Town tops, don't think we kept them though... what season did we change kit sponsor from Food Town to Dixon?

Quoted from chaos33

My first season was promotion in 79/80. Beating Sheff Utd 4-0 At BP in front of 20,000 will never be topped, even if I live to be 150. Seen my fair share of promotions and an ever bigger portion of relegations and disappointments.

Agree -
[IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/250l8gy.jpg[/IMG]

Success is all the sweeter when you have tasted failure,

I'm 18.. Feel for me

Quoted from pizzzza

I remember it well, but then again I am not under 30.....

yep a lot of us in that boat!

Quoted from promotion plaice

Agree -
[IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/250l8gy.jpg[/IMG]

yeah that was a match I recall going with my dad. great days.....

Quoted from sutton mariner

I'm 18.. Feel for me

I'm not allowed to do that any more.....  

Started supporting Town just after the Buckley double promotions so didn't experience those.  Obviously though remember the Wembley double quite well as was the year I moved to secondary school, loved shoving my fantastic experiences in the faces of all thos plastic premeir league fans.  Feeling was quite sensational, is hard to put down in words how happy that occassion was, can still recall screaming at the ref to blow the whistle and then finally it going.  As others have said the 6 minutes felt nerve wracking at the time but on t.v. Northampton really were not as threatening as I remembered.  

Getting back into the football league will beat that by a long way though.  Then I was lucky enough just to experience it, if/when it happens I will really feel I have earnt it and deserve the experience as oppossed to just being a lucky kid getting into football at the right time.  Always have to give massive respect for those Town fans on here (or at the games of course, anyway in fact) who don't have those memories to cling to!

Quoted from Biccys

Can I just bring everyone back down to earth by telling them that when (if) we go up this year, we're going up to the bottom tier of League football.

For the 16 year old Town fan on this thread, for example, that won't matter one jot.

So no, no you may not  

17 years is probably the longest this club has ever gone without a promotion. I was lucky enough to see a promotion in my first season (71-72). My son, now 17, is yet to see one and half-jokingly asked me on the way home from Woking why I hadn't taken him to the Wembley games in 98.

It's obviously been a character building experience because despite living in an area dominated by Chelsea (they even have one of their disgustingly lurid blue and yellow shops in Kingston town centre) - his second club is Wimbledon.