1997–98 Grimsby Town F.C. season

The 1997–98 season saw the return of Alan Buckley as manager, after an unsuccessful period at West Bromwich Albion, for Grimsby's most successful post-war season. In the summer of 1997, Buckley succeeded in bringing in players to the club who were to be instrumental in the club's upcoming season. Former skipper Paul Groves was re-signed from West Bromwich Albion, and Kevin Donovan and David Smith also joined the club from Albion. The mid-season capture of Huddersfield Town midfielder Wayne Burnett proved to be a great bit of business for Buckley. After a seemingly poor start to the League campaign, performances improved, which propelled the club into a promotion battle with Watford, Bristol City and an expensively assembled Fulham (at the time the only club at this level to have spent seven-figure sums on players). A good run in the League Cup saw The Mariners knock holders Leicester City and fellow Premier League side Sheffield Wednesday out of the competition before finally losing out to Liverpool. A decent run of form had ignited the careers of such younger players as Daryl Clare, Danny Butterfield and Jack Lester who were becoming an integral part of the Blundell Park set-up. The Mariners went on to dump Burnley out of the Football League Trophy Northern section area final, which would see the club book its first trip to Wembley Stadium.[1] The club were drawn against Southern section champions AFC Bournemouth and in a tight game, an equaliser from substitute Kingsley Black took the game into extra time, and in the 112th minute Grimsby secured the game courtesy of a golden goal from Wayne Burnett.[1] This was the first major trophy awarded to the club following its first appearance at Wembley. It took only four weeks for Grimsby to return to the stadium though, this time to face Northampton Town in the Division Two Play Off Final.[1] Town won the game 1–0 thanks to a first half Kevin Donovan goal which gave the club a historic Wembley double and The Mariners promotion back to Division One.[1]

Grimsby Town's score comes first[3]

[4]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Second Division		Play-offs		FA Cup		FL Cup		FL Trophy
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
-	GK	NIR	Aidan Davison	63	0	42+0	0	3+0	0	6+0	0	5+0	0	7+0	0
-	GK	ENG	Jason Pearcey	5	0	4+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
-	DF	SCO	Peter Handyside	64	0	40+2	0	1+0	0	6+0	0	6+0	0	8+1	0
-	DF	ENG	John McDermott	62	2	40+1	1	3+0	0	6+0	1	5+0	0	7+0	0
-	DF	ENG	Mark Lever	54	0	37+1	0	3+0	0	1+1	0	5+0	0	6+0	0
-	DF	ENG	Tony Gallimore	56	2	34+1	2	3+0	0	6+0	0	5+0	0	7+0	0
-	DF	ENG	Kevin Jobling	44	3	17+13	1	0+1	0	5+0	1	1+3	1	2+2	0
-	DF	ENG	Graham Rodger	19	1	10+1	0	0+0	0	5+0	1	1+1	0	1+0	0
-	DF	ENG	Danny Butterfield	11	1	4+3	0	0+0	0	0+1	0	1+0	0	1+1	1
-	DF	ENG	Matthew Bloomer	1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
-	DF	ENG	Ben Chapman	1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
-	DF	ENG	Ashley Fickling	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
-	MF	ENG	Paul Groves	68	12	46+0	7	3+0	0	6+0	1	6+0	2	7+0	2
-	MF	ENG	Kevin Donovan	67	21	46+0	16	3+0	2	6+0	1	6+0	1	6+0	1
-	MF	NIR	Kingsley Black	55	2	24+15	2	0+3	0	4+0	0	5+0	0	2+2	0
-	MF	ENG	Wayne Burnett	29	4	20+1	1	3+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	5+0	3
-	MF	ENG	David Smith	25	2	17+0	1	3+0	1	1+0	0	0+0	0	4+0	0
-	MF	ENG	Tommy Widdrington	30	3	15+6	3	0+0	0	2+0	0	5+1	0	1+0	0
-	MF	ENG	Dave Gilbert	6	0	5+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
-	MF	ENG	Nicky Southall	9	1	4+1	0	0+0	0	1+1	1	1+1	0	0+0	0
-	MF	ENG	Paul Holsgrove	10	0	3+7	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
-	MF	SCO	Jim Dobbin	2	0	1+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
-	MF	ENG	Darren Wrack	2	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
-	MF	ENG	Gary Childs	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
-	FW	WAL	Lee Nogan	54	13	33+3	8	3+0	0	4+0	2	6+0	1	5+0	2
-	FW	ENG	Steve Livingstone	59	9	28+13	5	0+2	0	2+3	0	3+3	4	4+1	0
-	FW	ENG	Jack Lester	57	9	27+13	4	3+0	0	4+0	2	3+2	3	1+4	0
-	FW	EIR	Daryl Clare	33	3	8+14	3	0+1	0	1+4	0	0+0	0	4+1	0
-	FW	ENG	Neil Woods	14	1	1+9	0	0+0	0	0+1	1	0+2	0	1+0	0