Grimsby Town: Captains from years 1878–2018

Okay I need you wise Grimsby Town fans help if it's not too much trouble, thank you.  I'm doing a list of all the Captains that Grimsby Town have had through the years by date as far back as possible.

Can you check over these seasons and correct any errors I may have made and add any you definitely know are correct

Grimsby Town Football Club - Captains

BOLD = Confirmed Captains

1878–1879 Charles Horn (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 4) Also >> https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/february/the-life-and-timers-of-gtfc-kits---2/
1879–1880 Charles Horn ?? - Played second season.
1880–1881 Charles Horn >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 6)
1881–1882 Rev J.F Flowers >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 6)
1882–1883 Rev J.F Flowers >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 6) (added via mike502 - 27/11/1882 Sheffield Independent)
1883–1884 G. Kimpson >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 6)
1884–1885 G. Kimpson ???
1885–1886 G. Atkinson >> (added via mike502 - 9/11/1886 Lincolnshire Chronicle)
1886–1887 ?
1887–1888 Robert McBeth >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 8 )
1888–1889 Robert McBeth  >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 9)
1889–1890 Robert McBeth >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 10)
1890–1891 Jimmie Lundie >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 10)
1891–1892 Ramsay Gray >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 10)
1892–1893 Jimmy Lundie >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 165)
1893–1894 Jimmy Lundie >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 166)
1894–1895 Billy Lindsay >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 167)
1895–1896 ?
1896–1897 Billy Lindsay >> (added via mike502 - 11/1/1897 Hull Daily Mail) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 170)
1897–1898 Billy Lindsay >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 171)
1898–1899 Paddy Gray >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 172)
1899–1900 Paddy Gray >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 174)
1900–1901 Joe Leiper >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 17, 175)
1901–1902 Joe Leiper >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 176)
1902–1903 Dave Gardner >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 178 )
1903–1904 Dave Gardner >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 179)
1904–1905 Alf 'Happy' Nelmes >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 181)
1905–1906 Herbert 'Bert' Morley >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 182)
1906–1907 Herbert 'Bert' Morley >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 183)
1907–1908 Harry Fletcher  >> (added via mike502 - 8/2/1908 Cricket and Football Field) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 185)
1908–1909 Andrew Davidson, but could be 'Chopper' Lee >> (added via mike502 - 26/3/1909 Daily Mail) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 24, 186)
1909–1910 'Chopper' Lee >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 188 )
1910–1911 'Chopper' Lee >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 189)
1911–1912 Sid Wheelhouse >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 191)
1912–1913 Sid Wheelhouse >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 192)
1913–1914 Sid Wheelhouse >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 193)
1914–1915 Sid Wheelhouse >>  (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 195)
1915–1916 Never a full squad, players all taking duty in World War I.
1916–1917 Never a full squad, players all taking duty in World War I.
1917–1918 Jesse Pennington >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 29) Guest player only from West Brom, due to World War I.
1918–1919 Never a full squad, players all taking duty in World War I.
1919–1920 Dave Kenny  >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 200)
1920–1921 Will Gillow or Joe Bache >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 31, 201)
1921–1922 Charles Deacey >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 202)
1922–1923 Charles Deacey >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 203)
1923–1924 Jimmy Carmichael >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 205)
1924–1925 Jimmy Carmichael >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 206)
1925–1926 Jack Hardy (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 35, 208 )
1926–1927 Pugsley or Jack Hardy/Charlie Wrack  >> (added via mike502 - Daily Mail 30/9/1927 for Pugsley) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 35, 209 for Jack Hardy/Charlie Wrack)
1927–1928 Charlie Wrack >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 210)
1928–1929 Jock Priestley >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 212)
1929–1930 W. Powell or Jock Priestley >> (added via mike502 - 18/10/1929 Yorkshire Evening Post for W. Powell) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 35, 213 for Jock Priestley)
1930–1931 Jock Priestley >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 215)
1931–1932 Jock Priestley >> (added via mike502 - 5/9/1931 Star Green'un)
1932–1933 Jackie Bestall >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 42, 218 )
1933–1934 Jackie Bestall >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 43, 219)
1934–1935 Jackie Bestall >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 221)
1935–1936 Jackie Bestall >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 222)
1936–1937 Jackie Bestall >> https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/32000-packed-blundell-park-grimsby-730730 (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 224)
1937–1938 Alec 'Ginger' Hall >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 225)
1938–1939 Alec 'Ginger' Hall >> https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/3399989 (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 227)
1946–1947 Harry Clifton >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 236)
1947–1948 Billy Cairns or Harry Clifton >> (1947–1948 team photo states him as Captain) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 237 for Harry Clifton)
1948–1949 Billy Cairns >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 239)
1950s male private Conner (added via grimsby pete)
1951–1952 Bill Brown  >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 61)
1952–1953
1953–1954
1954–1955
1955–1956 Allenby Chilton  >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 67)
1956–1958 Bill Brown >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 67, 68 )
1958–1959 male private Conner (added via grimsby pete)
1959–1964 Keith Jobling
1966–???? Graham Taylor
1965–1966
1966–1967
1967–1968
1968–1969 Graham 'Basil' Rathbone >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 79)
1969–1970
1970–1971 Dave Worthington >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 82)
1971–1972 Dave Worthington >> Match of the Day: Brentford vs Grimsby Town (25 March 1972) YouTube search code: 4tPMK1Cuvhk
????–???? Dave Booth (added via Lincoln Mariner 56)
1973–1974
1974–1975
1975–1976
1976–1977
1977–1978 Joe Waters
1978–1979 Joe Waters
1979–1980 Joe Waters
1980–1981 Joe Waters >> Match of the Day: West Ham vs Grimsby Town (8 November 1980) - YouTube search code: VnDbPpsylq0
1981–1982 Joe Waters ???
1982–1983 Joe Waters ???
1983–1984 Joe Waters
1984–1985 Kevin Moore >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 96)
1985–1986 Kevin Moore >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 98 ) Also Tony Ford and Phil Bonnyman deputised
1986–1987 Kevin Moore
1986–1987 Mick Halsall >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 99)
1987–1988 Don O'Riordan >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 100) (added via TwoLeftFeet / toontown)
1988–1989 Tommy Williams >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 101)
1989–1990
1990–1991 Shaun Cunnington >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 104)
1991–1992 Shaun Cunnington ???
1992–1993 Graham Rodger >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 106)
1993–1994 Paul Groves
1994–1995
1995–1996 Paul Groves
1996–1997
1997–1998 Paul Groves
1998–1999 Paul Groves
1999–2000 Paul Groves
2000–2001 Paul Groves
2002 John McDermott  (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 330)
2002–2003 Paul Groves ?
2003–2004 Paul Groves ?
2004–2005 ?
2005–2006 Justin Whittle
2006–2007 Justin Whittle
2007–2008 Justin Whittle
2008–2009 Matthew Heywood (added via Abdul19)
2008–2009 Tom Newey
2008–2009 Ryan Bennett
Nick Colgan?
2009–2010 Matthew Heywood until Feb 2010 / Lee Peacock
2009–2011 Lee Peacock
2011–2012 Darren Kempson until December 2011 / Craig Disley
2012–2017 Craig Disley
2017–2018 Nathan Clarke

Were we the first team to have a female captain in the league?

Quoted from tanga_the_indestructible

Were we the first team to have a female captain in the league?

O'oops, I've turned Whittle into a women lol, editing.

This is much harder than the assistant manager thread. Trying to help you out I looked at a load of programmes from the 60s and 70s but the captain isnt singled out either on the team listing or in the pen pictures in any of the seasons I looked at..

male private Connor was captain in the 50's

Don O'Riordan 87-88??? not 100% certain tho

Heywood started 08/09 as captain until he was put down in November.

Seem to recall Dave Booth being captain for a few seasons cannot remember exactly when.

Was Geoff Barker captain for that first promotion under Newman and also seem to remember Malcolm Partridge leading us out but could have been a one off, as was he!!!

H'mm, finding some clues off televised football matches, shows the Captains in the line ups before kick-off.

Joe Waters Captain in this West Ham vs Grimsby Town match from 8 November 1980.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/cR5dRA5.png[/img]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnDbPpsylq0

Looking at that Town line-up that day, I played against three of them in the Sunday League...Batch, Brolly & Steeples.

John Welsh captain 18/19?

Dave Worthington the Captain in this Brentford vs Grimsby Town (25 March 1972) match from the 1971–72 season, mentions it on 2:15 seconds in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tPMK1Cuvhk

Jack Bestall, Captain in this FA Cup game - Grimsby Town 1–1 Wolverhampton (att 31,651) , 20 Feb 1937 according to this >> https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/32000-packed-blundell-park-grimsby-730730

Quoted Text

Bestall captained Grimsby to the 1933–34 Second Division title and back into the First Division after two seasons in the Second. This helped Bestall to earn his only England cap aged 34 years, 226 days against Northern Ireland on 6 February 1935. He is the sixth oldest player to make his England debut and was the first Grimsby player to be capped by England.

Source >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Bestall

87-88 was Don O'riordan I believe but not 100 per cent certain

88-89 Tom Williams was captain but was injured in the first week or two I think and didn't play again, not sure who took his place.

Quoted from grimsby pete

male private Connor was captain in the 50's

You was right!

Quoted Text

Following on from his full set of appearances in the 1958–9 relegation season, Keith Jobling was made captain for the first year in Division 3, taking over from male private Conner. It was a position he retained until 1964.

Found an archived source from Grimsby Towns old website that closed down from 2009 >> https://web.archive.org/web/20.....0417~1073423,00.html

Oh my goodness !

There's only Jack Hardy and Sid Wheelhouse that I
didn't see play at Blundell Park

Joe Waters 81-82 and 82-83 Too, If my memory serves me right

Quoted from Caveman

Oh my goodness !

There's only Jack Hardy and Sid Wheelhouse that I
didn't see play at Blundell Park

Just going through 1878 through to the 1930s now.  First Captain in the 1878–79 season appears to be a Charles Horn who was goalkeeper.

I doubt I'll find a lot as not all Captains/Skippers are listed in this book, I only just started reading it yesterday. I'm posting links next to the years on the front page, some videos, some archive press pics etc with the clues etc.

EDIT:  Now found a link with the info on the Grimsby Town website from googling his name lol.

Quoted from Grimsby Town F.C. official website | Posted: 5 February 2018

The Life And Times Of GTFC Kits - Part 2

Town's first goalkeeper and Captain was a schoolteacher by the name of Charles Horn. If any one person can be named as the actual founder of the club, then it is he, because he first introduced the team of cricketers to a football (or what passed for such) several weeks before the idea of a football club had been suggested. He was in goal for that first game against Brigg and Britannia. Later he became a director of the club, and outside of football a Headteacher and local JP.

Source >> https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/february/the-life-and-timers-of-gtfc-kits---2/

I've found quite a few additions to your list by searching the British Newspaper Archive... some interesting snippets here too!


3/3/1882 Lincolnshire Chronicle: "Grimsby Town: Horn ( captain )..."

19/11/1886 Lincolnshire Chronicle: "Grimsby Town: G. Atkinson ( captain ), goal;"

11/1/1897 Hull Daily Mail: "Some unpleasant episodes occurred in the Lincoln v Grimsby Town match on Saturday. See to-morrow's Mail for special interview with Lindsay, the Grimsby Town captain"

8/2/1908 Cricket and Football Field: "Fletcher, the Grimsby Town captain and outside right, has been playing football..."

18/10/1929 Yorkshire Evening Post: "The Football Association have upheld the action the referee. Mr. A. Josephs, in  ordering W. Powell, the Grimsby Town captain, from the field during the Liverpool-Grimsby match"

5/9/1931 Star Green'un: "Through injury, Priestley, the Grimsby Town captain, was out of the game between the Town and Newcastle at Blundell Park this afternoon."

27/3/1934 Hull Daily Mail: "C. Horn Captain and goalkeeper of Grimsby Town for the first four years the club's existence, Councillor Charleb Horn, J.P., died Scarthoe, Grimsby, yesterday, his 80th year."

13/5/1935 Lincolnshire Echo: "Sleaford Carre's Grammar School had the privilege yesterday afternoon of receiving football coaching from Jackie Bestall, the Grimsby Town captain and international inside right"

29/8/1939 Sheffield Daily Telegraph: "it was found that Alec Hall, the Grimsby Town captain and right half-back, broke a toe in Saturday’s match at Old Trafford"

6/5/1948 Hull Daily Mail: "I wish to register protest against the behaviour of a large section of the crowd. The booing which greeted the chairman of the ERCFA when about to hand the trophy to Tommy Blenkinsop, Grimsby Town's captain..."

2/2/1954 Daily Mirror: "BILL BROWN. Grimsby Town captain and right back, who has been placed on the transfer list "

2/9/1957 Lancashire Evening Post: "Bill Brown, the Grimsby Town captain and right back, will miss the visit to Cardiff on Wednesday because of a groin injury." [Presumably we failed to get rid of him when he was on the transfer list in 54!]


There are a few other mentions of "former Grimsby Town captains" which gives you names but no specific dates:

25/8/28 Hull Daily Mail: "Jimmy Carmichael the old Grimsby Town captain judged the tug o' war"

28/4/32 Leeds Mercury: "C. Wrack, the former Grimsby Town captain and centre-half"

16/11/31 Leeds Mercury: "Trotter often found Wrack in the way, but the old Grimsby Town captain was not a vigorous intervener, and his mission was more the direction of looking after his own forwards."

Wow, thats great work mike502, I'll add them in a min.

Quoted from mike502

16/11/31 Leeds Mercury: "Trotter often found Wrack in the way, but the old Grimsby Town captain was not a vigorous intervener, and his mission was more the direction of looking after his own forwards."

This one interests me abit, Darren Wracks dad Tony was also a footballer I think for Louth United, I wonder if this is Darrens grandfather?  It would coincide with the age ranges as Tony is 70ish. I'll have to ask the family h'mm.

...I've also realised that my work gives me access to other newspaper archives but I'm not sure I can plough through everything there!  But here's a couple more:

27/11/1882 Sheffield Independent: GRIMSBY TOWN: [...] Rev. J. Flowers ( captain )

26/3/1909 Daily Mail: Grimsby's captain, Davidson, was carried off, but he resumed early on in the second half

I think Lou Chatterley took over after Dave Worthington left for 73-74, Wortho was still captain 72-73 and 69-70 I think, then it may have Stuart Gray or Frank Barton after Lou...

Pretty sure Whittle was captain in the 2004/05 when he arrived.

[quote=25854]You was right!

He was the captain when I started going to the Park so I remember him,

There might have been one before him but D ick was the one that stuck in my mind/

Another one for you (then I really should stop trawling through old newspapers...)

Daily Mail 30/9/1927: "Cherrett... will make his first appearance in the Bristol City team, Martin standing down, and Neesam and Smailes will give way to Paul and Pugsley. Pugsley was the Grimsby Town captain last season and will be playing for his new club for the first time."

The Times of 19/4/2003 has a photo from 16/4/1949 of Billy Cairns shaking hands with the Tottenham captain before a game - it doesn't explicitly state that he was Town's captain but it seems a reasonable assumption doesn't it?

And one from a game I daresay people remember...

Times, 16/10/1992 "Jim Dobbin, the Grimsby Town captain, scored at St James' Park to end Newcastle United's 100 per cent league record on Saturday"

I'd like to know more about the Rev Flowers if anyone can help.

Quoted from Reverendmariner

I'd like to know more about the Rev Flowers if anyone can help.

A quick bit of googling (albeit assuming there was only one Rev JF Flowers in Lincolnshire in the late 19th century) suggests that he was the Reverend John French Flowers. He was born in 1856 - which would have made him 25-27 in the years he was captain - and was at some point the vicar of Great Carlton.

At least two of his sons were killed in WW1:

https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rollofhonour/People/Details/14605
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12518922/humphrey-french-flowers

Kicking myself now In 'The Grimsby Town Story 1878-2008' book, Page 162 onwards "Season Match Statistics and Team Groups: 1888-2008, for each season page in tiny writing it lists the Captains in the top left hand corner, some are missing though, but not many lol.

Adding more now.

All that effort for nothing...

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

Kicking myself now In 'The Grimsby Town Story 1878-2008' book, Page 162 onwards "Season Match Statistics and Team Groups: 1888-2008, for each season page in tiny writing it lists the Captains in the top left hand corner, some are missing though, but not many lol.

Adding more now.

Quoted from mike502

All that effort for nothing...

There's still some missing and those are really good sources you give, because they are proof from the actual time of events.  I can use them when adding a list of Captains table on Grimsby Towns wikipedia page.  Otherwise the administrators for wiki will delete it without good sources to prove it lol.

This is what it will look like, example of Liverpool Football Club, but I'll add a box titled 'ref' next to each player with the sources listed that you have posted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_F.C.#Club_captains

1908–1909 Andy Davidson >> (added via mike502 - 26/3/1909 Daily Mail) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 24)

H'mm, this is a mystery. On the statistics in the book it lists 'Chopper' Lee as the Captain on Pg 186, but your article you found in the 'National Archives' gives Andy Davidson and so does my book on Pg 24 when going through the paragraphs of what happend that season lol.

1946–1947 Harry Clifton >> (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 236)
1947–1948 Billy Cairns or Harry Clifton >> (1947–1948 team photo states him as Captain) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 237 for Harry Clifton)

H'mm, I wonder if it's any relation to the current Harry Clifton

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

1908–1909 Andy Davidson >> (added via mike502 - 26/3/1909 Daily Mail) (Book - The GTFC Story: 1878–2008, Pg 24)

H'mm, this is a mystery. On the statistics in the book it lists 'Chopper' Lee as the Captain on Pg 186, but your article you found in the 'National Archives' gives Andy Davidson and so does my book on Pg 24 when going through the paragraphs of what happend that season lol.

Andrew Davidson has a Wikipedia page that also suggests he was Town captain - the source cited is "the complete who's who of Southampton FC". Given that he joined us in May 1908 and joined Southampton in July 1909 (before coming back after 5 games!) it does suggest that he was captain in that 08-09 season.
[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Davidson_(footballer)[/url]

Quoted from mike502

A quick bit of googling (albeit assuming there was only one Rev JF Flowers in Lincolnshire in the late 19th century) suggests that he was the Reverend John French Flowers. He was born in 1856 - which would have made him 25-27 in the years he was captain - and was at some point the vicar of Great Carlton.

At least two of his sons were killed in WW1:

https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rollofhonour/People/Details/14605
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12518922/humphrey-french-flowers

A bit more digging:
His father was Vicar of Ulceby and his brother Richmond was headmaster of Brigg Grammar School
He received an MA from Lincoln College, Oxford in 1881
He was ordained in Lincoln Cathedral on 18th December 1881
He was appointed Rector of Bonby, Barton-on-Humber in 1884
Became Vicar of Corringham, Gainsborough, in 1893

but I can find nothing about his football career!

Still plodding away with this. Finding some good info on real names here where I know only the nicknames of players from around 100 years ago: The English National Football Archive >>  [url=http://www.enfa.co.uk/]http://www.enfa.co.uk/[/url]

Found out that 'Chopper' Lee his real first name is Alfred.  Tempted to pay for a few days subscription to find more info.

EDIT: Now found his wiki page >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alf_Lee

Quoted Text

EDIT: Now found his wiki page >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alf_Lee

Not sure I believe the figures on that page... an 11 year career with only 45 appearances? And he was GTFC captain for 2 or more seasons despite only playing 15 games?

Quoted from mike502

Not sure I believe the figures on that page... an 11 year career with only 45 appearances? And he was GTFC captain for 2 or more seasons despite only playing 15 games?

I think I've sussed it.

Quoted from The Grimsby Town Story 1878–2008, Page 26

1911–12 Season
Grimsby Town entered the 1911/12 season with a great deal of optimism.  Only 'Chopper' Lee (New Brompton), amateur Chris Young (Gainsborough Trinity) and Hobson departed in the Summer.

Must be this chap, but the dates don't work out with Wikipedia >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Lee

Going by the Grimsby Town 2010–11 season team photo he's definitely in the picture, same person in previous season pic.  I think Wikipedia is incorrect, because it has him signing for New Brompton (Now known as Gillingham Football Club) in 2009.

EDIT: I've sent an e-mail through wiki to the guy who wrote the article, he is a Gillingham fan and has some books on Gillingham F.C.