Town will be looking to continue their unbeaten reign to the League Two season, following last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Morecambe, as they look to make it nine games without defeat against Grimsby Town today.
Grimsby Town have had a change in form in recent times with a strong start to the season, but the Mariners have dropped points following a 3-2 defeat against Crawley Town last time out in the league.
Currently sitting in fifth place position with 16 points received so far and six points ahead of the visitors, Swindon Town will be looking to continue their great form at County Ground.
Grimsby Town Football Club was founded in 1878 and is one of the oldest and most storied football clubs in England, boasts a rich and colourful history that spans well over a century.
The club's early years were marked by humble beginnings, with matches played on local pitches in and around Grimsby. It wasn't until 1890 that Grimsby Town became a member of the Football League, competing in the Second Division. The late 19th century saw the club gradually establish itself, but it was in the 1930s that Grimsby Town enjoyed its first major success.
Under the stewardship of manager Billy King, the Mariners secured promotion to the First Division in 1934, marking a historic moment for the club. They remained in the top tier for a decade.
The 1950s and 1960s brought about a period of fluctuating fortunes for Grimsby Town, with relegations and promotions, but the club maintained its presence in the Football League. The 1970s saw another high point when the Mariners achieved a famous victory in the 1972 Anglo-Italian Cup, defeating Bologna in the final. The 1980s, however, ushered in a challenging era as financial difficulties and on-field struggles led to relegations.
In the 1990s, Grimsby Town experienced a renaissance, with successful spells in the lower divisions. The club enjoyed memorable FA Cup runs and playoff triumphs, including promotion to the First Division (now the Championship) in 1998. Legendary players like Clive Mendonca became heroes among Grimsby Town supporters during this period.
The early 2000s marked another high point when the Mariners reached the final of the Football League Trophy in 2008 and secured promotion to League One. However, financial instability and managerial changes plagued the club in subsequent years, leading to a series of relegations.
In recent years, Grimsby Town has returned to its previous League status with promotion via the play-offs in 2021-22 with a 2-1 victory after extra time and continues to be a competitive team in England’s fourth tier of English football.
Last time out
Town’s record against the Mariners is impressive. Four wins and one draw going into this weekend’s game means Swindon will take even more confidence with a lot of success over the last few years,
The last time out between the sides have been played at The County Ground, with a 5-0 victory, as well as the last time at Blundell Park playing out as a 2-1 victory, with a Ronan Darcy goal securing all three points.
Head-to-head
18/19: Grimsby Town 2-1 Swindon Town
18/19: Swindon Town 1-1 Grimsby Town
19/20: Grimsby Town 0-3 Swindon Town
19/20: Swindon Town 3-1 Grimsby Town
21/22: Grimsby Town 1-2 Swindon Town
22/23: Swindon Town 5-0 Grimsby Town
The manager: Paul Hurst
Paul Hurst is an English football manager and former player who played professionally for two clubs, including Rotherham United and Burton Albion, where he made over 400 league appearances during his playing career and has managed over seven clubs.
Hurst became manager for Ileston Town in 2009, winning promotion to the Conference North via the play-offs following a 2-1 victory over Nantwich Town in the final. He joined Boston United as a joint manager until 2011 before getting appointed to Grimsby Town the following year, where Grimsby went on to reach the final of the FA Trophy but were defeated on a penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 with Wrexham at Wembley Stadium.
He went on managerial duties at Shrewsbury Towm, Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United before making his return at Grimsby Town. He was awarded the National League Manager of the month award as well Grimsby being promoted back to the football league and became the first club in the competition’s history to knock out five teams from a higher division this year.
One to watch: Abo Eisa
The 27-year-old winger will be a key threat to the Swindon Town defense this weekend, who joined the club this year from League Two side Bradford City.
Abo joined the Mariners this summer with this becoming the third time manager Paul Hurst has brought Eisa to clubs he was in charge of.The first was when he recruited him to join Shrewsbury Town in 2018 before doing the same when at the helm of Scunthorpe United in 2019.
Sudan-born, Eisa’s first taste of English football came in the youth ages with St Albans City before beginning his senior career in non-league football with Uxbridge in 2015. Two seasons with them preceded a move to Wealdstone in 2017 and those spells sufficiently impressed Hurst when he gave him his break in professional football when he signed him in January 2018 for the Shrews.
A year later, he joined Colchester United on loan and made a goalscoring debut for the Essex club. He went onto make fourteen appearances in the second half of that campaign before joining Hurst again at Scunthorpe the following summer.
Two seasons at Glanford Park saw him make sixty-seven league appearances, scoring fourteen goals, before being released at the end of the 2020-21 season.
It was announced in June 2021 that Eisa had signed a two-year deal with Bradford City in Sky Bet League Two but an injury-hit spell with the Bantams saw him limited to eighteen league appearances for the West Yorkshiremen.
After being released at the end of last season, Eisa was reunited once again with Hurst and signed a one-year deal in June this year.
The biggest goal threat in recent weeks for Grimsby, Eisa has scored five goals in eight games so far in League Two, with an assist to accompany his performances that earned him a League Two Player of the Month nomination for August, which of course, was won by Swindon’s Jake Young.
