Football Season Guide

Grimsby will have another go at promotion this season after going to the play-offs in the last campaign but being found out there by eventual winners Newport County. Lessons have been learned by the Mariners bosses and there is strong belief around the club that they might go all the way this season if they maintain their quality and show more consistency. Grimsby were doing very well until March last season but collapsed both physically and mentally after that and arrived into the play-offs short of steam and momentum. Rob Scott and Paul Hurst have shown progress though and will believe that the team will be a stronger and more complete one. Moreover, they will have Liam Hearn back and fully fit after he missed almost the whole of last season. He is an unstoppable strike when he is on fire and will surely be a threat for opposing defences in tandem with Andy Cook. The midfield was boosted with Scott Kerr and Paddy McLaughlin who have won promotion with York only two seasons ago and will add steel and energy into midfield. Chris Doig is another former York player who gives an option in defence at the place of the departed Ian Miller. No major players have left the club while Scott Neilson is back on permanent basis after a very good loan stint last year. Grimsby definitely have the look of a capable and determined team that is full of character and not short of talent. They can go all the way and it will be up to the players to make the difference when it really counts at the end of the season. At the moment, though, Grimsby should be considered as a strong promotion candidate and a very serious challenger for the top spot.