# 2005–06 Grimsby Town F.C. season

The 2005–06 season is Grimsby Town's 128th season in their existence. They competed in Football League Two, alongside competing in the FA Cup, Football League Cup and the Football League Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006.

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 25 May 2005 | FW | Jermaine Palmer | Stoke City | Free Transfer |
| 8 June 2005 | MF | Terry Barwick | Scunthorpe United | Free Transfer |
| 9 June 2005 | GK | John Lukic Jr. | Nottingham Forest | Free Transfer |
| 22 June 2005 | GK | Steve Mildenhall | Oldham Athletic | Free Transfer |
| 23 June 2005 | MF | Paul Bolland | Notts County | Free Transfer |
| 27 June 2005 | DF | Tom Newey | Cambridge United | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2005 | MF | Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala | OGC Nice | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2005 | FW | Gary Jones | Tranmere Rovers | Free Transfer |
| 5 August 2005 | DF | Gary Croft | Cardiff City | Free Transfer |
| 5 August 2005 | MF | Tom Taylor | Viking FK | Free Transfer |
| 18 August 2005 | FW | Ciaran Toner | Lincoln City | Free Transfer |
| 18 October 2005 | FW | Steve Slade | Vikingur Reykjavik | Free Transfer |
| 12 January 2006 | DF | Ben Futcher | Boston United | Free Transfer |
| 27 January 2006 | MF | Curtis Woodhouse | Hull City | Free Transfer |
| 31 January 2006 | FW | Marc Goodfellow | Bristol City | Free Transfer |
| 31 January 2006 | FW | Gary Cohen | Gretna | Free Transfer |

### Loans in

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Date Until |
| 29 June 2005 | FW | Gary Cohen | Gretna | 30 January 2006 |
| 1 August 2005 | FW | Calvin Andrew | Luton Town | 4 November 2005 |
| 27 September 2005 | DF | Simon Francis | Sheffield United | 23 October 2005 |
| 1 January 2006 | DF | Matthew Bloomer | Lincoln City | 31 January 2006 |
| 17 January 2006 | FW | Junior Mendes | Northampton Town | 17 May 2006 |

### Transfers out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred To | Fee |
| 26 May 2005 | DF | Terrell Forbes | Oldham Athletic | Free Transfer |
| 29 May 2005 | DF | Jason Crowe | NorthamptonTown | Free Transfer |
| 29 May 2005 | MF | Graham Hockless | North Ferriby United | Released |
| 29 May 2005 | FW | David Soames | Armthorpe Welfare | Released |
| 9 June 2005 | GK | Anthony Williams | Carlisle United | Released |
| 1 July 2005 | MF | Stacy Coldicott | Hereford United | Released |
| 6 July 2005 | MF | Terry Fleming | Kidderminster Harriers | Released |
| 7 July 2005 | MF | Ronnie Bull | New Zealand Knights | Released |
| 20 October 2005 | FW | Steve Slade | Worthing | Released |
| 1 January 2006 | DF | Tony Crane | Worksop Town | Free Transfer |
| 30 January 2006 | FW | Martin Gritton | Lincoln City | Undisclosed Fee |
| 31 January 2006 | DF | Simon Ramsden | Rochdale | Free Transfer |
| 31 January 2006 | MF | Tom Taylor | Buxton | Released |
| 30 March 2006 | GK | John Lukic Jr. | Barnsley | Released |

### Loans out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred To | Date Until |
| 3 August 2005 | FW | Jermaine Palmer | Scarborough | 3 September 2005 |
| 16 September 2005 | FW | Jermaine Palmer | York City | 16 October 2005 |
| 15 October 2005 | DF | Tony Crane | Worksop Town | 31 December 2005 |
| 24 November 2005 | MF | Terry Barwick | York City | 1 January 2006 |
| 27 November 2005 | MF | Nick Hegarty | Whitby Town | 27 December 2005 |
| 16 January 2006 | MF | Nick Hegarty | Willenhall Town | 16 March 2006 |
| 17 January 2006 | FW | Jermaine Palmer | Alfreton Town | 17 March 2006 |

## Fixtures and results

Grimsby Town's score shown first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Pre-season matches
#### Friendlies

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers |
| 18 July 2005 | Sheffield Wednesday | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–2 | Hegarty |
| 22 July 2005 | Rotherham United | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–1 | Gritton |
| 26 July 2005 | Leeds United | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–1 | Reddy |
| 31 July 2005 | Lincoln City | Sincil Bank, Lincoln | 1–0 | Parkinson |
| 2 August 2005 | Blackburn Rovers | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–2 | R.Jones |

#### Lincolnshire Cup

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 14 July 2005 | Scunthorpe United | Glanford Park, Scunthorpe | 0–0 | | |

### Football League Two

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers |
| 6 August 2005 | Oxford United | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–1 | Crane |
| 9 August 2005 | Bristol Rovers | Memorial Ground, Bristol | 2–1 | Gritton, R.Jones |
| 20 August 2005 | Darlington | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 0–1 | – |
| 27 August 2005 | Barnet | Underhill Stadium, Barnet, London | 1–0 | Andrew |
| 29 August 2005 | Rushden And Diamonds | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 2–0 | McDermott, Kalala |
| 2 September 2005 | Stockport County | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–3 | G.Jones |
| 6 September 2005 | Chester City | Deva Stadium, Chester | 2–1 | Kalala, Reddy |
| 10 September 2005 | Peterborough United | London Road, Peterborough | 1–0 | G.Jones |
| 17 September 2005 | Torquay United | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 3–0 | R.Jones, Reddy (2) |
| 24 September 2005 | Boston United | York Street, Boston | 1–1 | Kalala |
| 27 September 2005 | Notts County | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 4–0 | R.Jones, Gritton, Kalala, Cohen |
| 1 October 2005 | Shrewsbury Town | Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury | 0–0 | – |
| 7 October 2005 | Wycombe Wanderers | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 0–1 | – |
| 14 October 2005 | Cheltenham Town | Whaddon Road, Cheltenham | 3–0 | Bolland, Reddy, Cohen |
| 22 October 2005 | Leyton Orient | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 0–1 | – |
| 29 October 2005 | Northampton Town | Sixfields Stadium, Northampton | 0–0 | |
| 11 November 2005 | Macclesfield Town | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 3–1 | G.Jones, Newey, Cohen |
| 19 November 2005 | Wycombe Wanderers | Adams Park, Wycombe | 1–3 | Reddy |
| 26 November 2005 | Oxford United | Kassam Stadium, Oxford | 3–2 | Parkinson, Bolland, Cohen |
| 6 December 2005 | Rochdale | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 4–1 | G.Jones, Cohen, R.Jones, Reddy |
| 10 December 2005 | Bristol Rovers | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 0–1 | – |
| 26 December 2005 | Bury | Gigg Lane, Bury | 2–1 | G.Jones, Cohen |
| 28 December 2005 | Lincoln City | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 3–0 | Toner, Reddy, Parkinson |
| 31 December 2005 | Wrexham | The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 2–1 | Reddy, Downey |
| 2 January 2006 | Carlisle United | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–2 | Toner |
| 14 January 2006 | Mansfield Town | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 2–1 | Reddy, Parkinson |
| 17 January 2006 | Darlington | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 0–0 | – |
| 21 January 2006 | Torquay United | Plainmoor, Torquay | 2–2 | Parkinson, Futcher |
| 24 January 2006 | Stockport County | Edgeley Park, Stockport | 1–2 | Reddy |
| 28 January 2006 | Peterborough United | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–2 | Reddy |
| 4 February 2006 | Notts County | Meadow Lane, Nottingham | 1–0 | Reddy |
| 11 February 2006 | Boston United | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–0 | Reddy |
| 14 February 2006 | Mansfield Town | Field Mill, Mansfield | 1–2 | Woodhouse |
| 25 February 2006 | Chester City | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–0 | G.Jones |
| 3 March 2006 | Rushden And Diamonds | Nene Park, Irthlingborough | 1–1 | Futcher |
| 11 March 2006 | Barnet | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 3–0 | G.Jones (2), Bolland |
| 18 March 2006 | Bury | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 2–1 | G.Jones (2) |
| 21 March 2006 | Rochdale | Spotland, Rochdale | 2–2 | Toner, Bolland |
| 25 March 2006 | Lincoln City | Sincil Bank, Lincoln | 0–5 | – |
| 1 April 2006 | Wrexham | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 2–0 | G.Jones, Reddy |
| 8 April 2006 | Carlisle United | Brunton Park, Carlisle | 0–1 | – |
| 15 April 2006 | Shrewsbury Town | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–1 | Goodfellow |
| 17 April 2006 | Leyton Orient | Brisbane Road, Leyton, London | 0–0 | – |
| 21 April 2006 | Cheltenham Town | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–0 | G.Jones |
| 29 April 2006 | Macclesfield Town | Moss Rose, Macclesfield | 1–1 | G.Jones |
| 6 May 2006 | Northampton Town | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–1 | Kalala |

#### Playoffs

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers |
| 13 May 2006 | Lincoln City | Sincil Bank, Lincoln | 1–0 | G.Jones |
| 16 May 2006 | Lincoln City | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 2–1 | Futcher, G.Jones |
| 28 May 2006 | Cheltenham Town | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 0–1 | – |

### FA Cup

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 5 November 2006 | Bristol Rovers | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–2 | | G.Jones |

### League Cup

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers |
| 28 August 2005 | Derby County | Pride Park Stadium, Derby | 1–0 | G.Jones |
| 20 September 2005 | Tottenham Hotspur | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–0 | Kalala |
| 26 October 2005 | Newcastle United | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 0–1 | – |

### Football League Trophy

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 18 October 2005 | Morecambe | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes | 1–1 | – | Ashton |

## League table

Carlisle United were another side who earned a second successive promotion, only two years after a relegation from the League that some predicted would see the end of the club. Northampton Town joined them, making up for two seasons of play-off disappointment, and Leyton Orient ended a decade in the bottom division by earning promotion on nearly the last minute of the season. Wycombe started the season with a 21-game unbeaten run that saw 5 of their players named in the PFA LG2 team of the year. Two tragic off the fields events however saw them fall away in the second part of the season before losing to Cheltenham Town in the playoff semi-finals. Grimsby Town lost 1–0 to Cheltenham in the final at the Millennium Stadium.
Rushden and Diamonds failed to improve on the previous season, and paid the price with relegation to the Conference. Oxford United joined them, despite the return of manager Jim Smith, and became the first former winners of a major trophy to be relegated to the Conference.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 2 | Northampton Town (P) | 46 | 22 | 17 | 7 | 63 | 37 | +26 | 83 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 3 | Leyton Orient (P) | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 81 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 4 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 64 | 44 | +20 | 78 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town (O, P) | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 72 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 72 | 56 | +16 | 71 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |

## Coaching staff

| Role | Name |
| First-Team Manager | Russell Slade |
| First-Team Assistant Manager | Graham Rodger |
| Reserve Team Manager | Graham Rodger |
| Head of Youth | Neil Woods |
| Youth Team Manager | Neil Woods |
| Physiotherapist | David Moore |
| Community Sport Coach | Gary Childs |

## Squad overview

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Steve Mildenhall |
| 2 | DF | ENG | John McDermott |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Tom Newey |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Simon Ramsden (Departed in January 2006) |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Tony Crane (Departed in January 2006) |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Ben Futcher |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Justin Whittle |
| 7 | MF | COD | Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Paul Bolland |
| 9 | FW | IRL | Michael Reddy |
| 10 | MF | SCO | Martin Gritton (Departed in January 2006) |
| 10 | MF | ENG | Marc Goodfellow |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Andy Parkinson |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Rob Jones |
| 13 | GK | ENG | John Lukic (Departed in March 2006) |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Terry Barwick |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Gary Cohen |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Jermaine Palmer |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Glen Downey |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Ciaran Toner |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Gary Jones |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Gary Croft |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Alan Lamb |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Calvin Andrew (on loan from Luton Town) |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Andy Taylor |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Nick Hegarty |
| 24 | FW | ENG | Danny North |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Paul Ashton |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Tommy Taylor (Departed in November 2005) |
| 26 | GK | ENG | Robert Murray |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Simon Francis (on loan from Sheffield United) |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Matthew Bloomer (on loan from Lincoln City) |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Miles Chamberlain |
| 30 | MF | ENG | Ben Higgins |
| 31 | FW | ENG | Steve Slade (Departed in October 2005) |
| 31 | FW | MSR | Junior Mendes (on loan from Huddersfield Town) |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Curtis Woodhouse |

## First Team Squad
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League Two | League Two | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | FA Cup | FA Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Steve Mildenhall | 54 | 0 | 49 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | John McDermott | 37 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Tom Newey | 43 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Simon Ramsden | 15 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Tony Crane | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Ben Futcher | 18 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Justin Whittle | 41 | 1 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | COD | Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala | 25 | 6 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Paul Bolland | 51 | 4 | 47 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | IRL | Michael Reddy | 51 | 14 | 47 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | SCO | Martin Gritton | 30 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | ENG | Marc Goodfellow | 11 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Andy Parkinson | 47 | 4 | 43 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Rob Jones | 46 | 4 | 42 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ENG | John Lukic jnr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Terry Barwick | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Gary Cohen | 48 | 6 | 43 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Jermaine Palmer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Glen Downey | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Ciaran Toner | 34 | 3 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Gary Jones | 47 | 17 | 43 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Gary Croft | 37 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Alan Lamb | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Calvin Andrew (on loan from Luton Town) | 9 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Andy Taylor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Nick Hegarty | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | ENG | Danny North | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Paul Ashton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Tommy Taylor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | ENG | Robert Murray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Simon Francis (on loan from Sheffield United) | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Matthew Bloomer (on loan from Lincoln City) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Miles Chamberlain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Ben Higgins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | FW | ENG | Steve Slade | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | MSR | Junior Mendes (on loan from Huddersfield Town) | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Curtis Woodhouse | 19 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |