Football Season Guide

Grimsby Town will be looking forward to the new 2016/17 season with plenty of optimism after being promoted back to the Football League via the play-offs. The Mariners were relegated back in 2010 and have endured a frustrating six years since, finishing in the play-off places in each of the last four years. Three of them ended in the heartbreak of defeat, including a penalty-shoot out defeat to Bristol Rovers at Wembley in 2015. They finished the regular season in 4th place in the National League and beat Braintree Town in a two-legged play-off semi-final to face Forest Green Rovers at Wembley. A brace from striker Omar Bogle helped them to a 3-1 win in the final to seal a long-overdue promotion under manager Paul Hurst after three years in charge. In stark contrast to Champions Cheltenham Town and many other clubs which have returned to the Football League in the past, the Mariners have seen a host of their more influential players opt to leave for pastures new over the summer. The most notable departure is that of striker and leading goalscorer Padraig Amond, who has signed for Hartlepool United. Defender Toto Nsiala has also joined Pools whilst full-back Richard Tait has signed for Motherwell. Midfield playmaker Jon Nolan has signed for Chesterfield whilst winger Nathan Arnold has rejected an offer of a new contract. Hurst will be pleased to have retained the services of goalkeeper James McKeown and has busy strengthening his squad with some impressive signings including full-back Ben Davies from Portsmouth, midfielders Dominic Vose on a season-long loan from Scunthorpe United, midfielder Luke Summerfield from York City and highy-rated winger Tom Bolarinwa from Sutton United. He will still be looking for another striker to replace the departed Amond but they can be cautiously optimistic about their return to the Football League.