Grimsby Town Football Club entered the 2010–11 season as a member of the Conference National, having been relegated from the Football League for the first time in 100 years, and only the second time in the club's history. The club would also be debutants in the FA Trophy and Conference League Cup. The club is managed by Neil Woods who was appointed in October of last season.
Contents
Season review
Grimsby's life outside the Football League began with a major re-think of the club's playing squad. Woods began by bringing in a fresh batch of players, with a lot of last season's squad departing.
Team kit
The club continued to use Errea as the kit supplier for a third consecutive season, with Young's Bluecrest moving into their seventh season of sponsorship of Grimsby Town.
Friendlies
Grimsby opened the 2010–11 pre-season campaign with a 1–0 victory over Brigg Town at The Hawthorns. A solitary goal from Michael Coulson proved decisive as Town comfortably contained a liveley Brigg team. The following Tuesday, The Mariners comfortably beat Frickley Athletic 3–0 away from home courtesy of a goal from Josh Fuller and several own goals. On the Friday 15 July Woods rested 16 first team players and sent out a mixture of youth team players, trialists and transfer listed players against Boston United. United won the match 1–0. In the first truly competitive match the following day Town defeated a full strength Sheffield Wednesday side 2–1 at Blundell Park courtesy of goals from Alan Connell and Peter Bore. On 20 July Grimsby travelled to Scotland to play Stirling Albion. 21 players were taken for the trip to Stirlingshire and a mixed team went down 2–0. On 24 July Town boss Neil Woods chose to field an entire youth team line up against Winterton Rangers with the exception of four teenage first team fringe players. A hatrick from youth striker Sam Mulready secured a 3–0 win. On 27 July a mixed side drew Gainsborough Trinity. In the first round of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup another mixed Town side beat a strong Lincoln City 4–2 before exiting in the final on a penalty shootout too Scunthorpe United following a 1–1 draw. Grimsby's youth side swiftly brushed aside Barton Town on 4 August, before three days later beating FC Halifax Town in the club's final friendly fixture of the summer.
Throughout pre-season due to the fixtures that Grimsby played they used the first-team players as well as youth team players in the matches as well as trailists. After a virtual rebuild of the team with all but a few of the Grimsby team from last season still at the club. A new defence has been brought in as well as new midfielder and strikers as well as a new goalkeeper. There were good signs in the pre-season for the forthcoming season with the manager playing down the display after some poor performances as well.
Conference League Cup
Competition Abandoned
Squad overview
GOALKEEPERS': Kenny Arthur was signed from Rochdale as Grimsby's new number one keeper. Nick Colgan was dropped as the club's number one keeper and despite activating a clause in his two-year contract in the summer which allowed him to leave the club he would stay on at Grimsby until January 2011, where he was released following a loan spell with Huddersfield Town. Also used were Sheffield Wednesday's Richard O'Donnell who spent two months on loan deputising for Arthur from August untit October. Goalkeeping coach and former player Steve Croudson was also drafted in as emergency cover and youth team keeper Rob Peet appeared on several team sheets as an unused substitute.
DEFENDERS: Player of the Season for 09-10 Peter Bore continues as the Grimsby's first choice right back, the club also bolstered this position with the addition of 19-year-old Dwayne Samuels who had been released by Premier League team West Bromwich Albion. Veteran Robbie Stockdale was also given a squad number despite being given the youth team manager's job. Lee Ridley was signed in as Town's new left back, and centre half's Darran Kempson, Steven Watt and Scott Garner were signed in the summer. Rob Atkinson, Bradley Wood and Mark Gray were retained from the previous season.
MIDFIELDERS:On the right side of midfield manager Neil Woods brought in former MK Dons player Lewis Gobern who was eventually released for serious misconduct in January, and previous season loanee Michael Coulson with youngster Josh Fuller being retained. In the centre of midfield Micky Cummins was brought in to bolster the ranks already occupied by Mark Hudson and Michael Leary. Trialist Robert Eagle became the club's new left sided midfielder in the summer and youth team graduate Andi Thanoj was promoted to the first team. Adrian Forbes, Nick Hegarty and Drew Rhoades were released very early on int to the season. Town opted to bring in loanee Andrew Wright for a two-month spell before re-signing Dean Sinclair for a third time in December. A month later Town acquired the services of Serge Makofo.
FORWARDS:Lee Peacock continued as club captain and the club brought in Alan Connell and Charles Ademeno. Welsh striker Chris Jones was released early on into the season. Bury's Danny Carlton spent a one-month loan in September and also retained for the new season was youngster Nathan Dixon whilst Tom Corner was promoted from the club's youth team squad.