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It's a very big night tomorrow for Grimsby - top of League two after their sixth league win of the season - and especially for their veteran right back and Club Captain John McDermott who (if selected!) will play his 700th League and Cup match for The "Mariners". McDermott recently reached the milestone of 600 League appearances on 10th September, when they beat Peterborough away from home. On that day Grimsby won their 6th consecutive away game - a club record - so they really are on top of their world.
John McDermott was born on 3rd February, 1969 at Middlesbrough, and is a member of a VERY rare breed - a one-club footballer. He made his club debut on February 7th 1987 - over 18 years ago! - at Bradford City, in a 2-4 defeat. McDermott went on to make 11 other appearances that season, and has been a fixture in every season, and has played in every Division - apart from the top level - in that time. McDermott scored his 10th League goal this season, and is due a second Testimonial match from the club. McDermott has played Spurs before, in the 1991 League Cup tie!
One of Grimsby's reserve goalkeepers is John Lukic, son of the ex-Arsenal and Leeds keeper.
Spurs have not played a League Fixture against Grimsby since the 1949-50 season. Having beaten "The Mariners" on their ground in November 1949 (3-2), the home match was played on 22nd April, 1950, by which time promotion, and indeed the Division Two Title was assured. Thus, Grimsby beat us 2-1.
The two clubs have only ever met once in Cup competition and that was in the 1991-2 Rumbelow's Cup competition (League Cup), when Spurs won at Blundell Park by 3-0, with goals from Howells, Durie and Lineker. The teams that day (29.10.91)were:-
Grimsby:- Sherwood; McDermott, Jobling (sub Smith), Futcher (sub Watson), Lever, Cunnington, Childs, Rees, Cockerill, Gilbert and Woods.
Spurs:- Thorstvedt; Edinburgh, Van Den Hauwe, Howells (sub Bergsson), Sedgley, Mabbutt, Stewart, Durie, Samways, Lineker, and Allen (sub Walsh)
The match was watched by 17,017 - although Tuesday's crowd will be around 8,000, with a 2,000 Spurs section. Spurs were of course the FA Cup holders in 1991. Grimsby were playing in the old Division Two (now the Championship), and whilst they were not far out of the relegation zone at the end of that season, they can say they were above Newcastle at the end of term! To reach the Third Round, Grimsby had beaten Rotherham, and had pulled off a shock by knocking out Aston Villa on away goals with a 1-1 draw at Villa Park against a side that included the likes of Spink, Staunton, McGrath, Yorke and Atkinson! Spurs went on to the semi-final of the League Cup but were beaten by Mottingham Forest. Funnily enough, we were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by Aston Villa!
Grimsby have nose-dived in the last couple of years, and now play in Coca Cola League Two. One claim to fame they have is the name of Bill Shankly as a former manager between 1951-3, before he went on to greater fame at Huddersfield then Liverpool.
Currently managed by Russel Slade, our hosts have a couple of players on their books with whom Spurs fans will have a degree of familiarity. Midfielder Ciaron Toner was signed in the summer from Lincoln, having played at Leyton Orient, and Bristol Rovers since leaving Spurs Reserves behind in 2001-2. Toner has never had too much football at these clubs, but he does have a pile-driver of a shot, given an opportunity. He can say he scored in the same game as Sergei Rebrov, in a match where I described him as man of the match (Match Report). His last game in Spurs colours was against Arsenal Reserves in March 2002. Toner has been unavailable recently due to injury, but came on as substitute on Saturday.
Andy Parkinson played in the midfield for Tranmere in the League Cup against us on 9th October 2001. Whilst Spurs won that match 4-0, spookily enough, Grimsby were just across the Mersey beating the League Cup Holders, Liverpool 2-1! None of that side is in the current Grimsby squad. That man McDermott must have been injured!
Grimsby pulled off a shock in the First Round by beating Derby at Pride Park (1-0)with an 11th minute goal by Gary Jones. Another Jones - Rob - scored one of Grimsby's three goals on Saturday in their 3-0 win over Torquay. Michael Reddy scored the other two. Unlike Spurs, Grimsby have been scoring goals from midfield, and their defenders have also chipped in.
Spurs are likely to send a "League Cup Team" to Blundell Park, but they will know that they must not take this tie lightly. Grzegorz Rasiak is cup - tied as he was a second half substitute in that match against tomorrow's opponents! Does that mean that both Defoe and Keane will start, or will Martin Jol find height up front in the shape of reserve striker Lee Barnard? Whatever his choice, I fancy that Keane will start this game.
Radek Cerny may get a start, and perhaps Stephen Kelly and Tom Huddlestone will get an opportunity at the back. (We learnt today that Anthony gardner will be out for a least two months with a torn hip muscle) Edgar Davids will surely sit this one out, and Michael Brown, Pedro Mendes and Sean Davis will be looking for a chance to play. Wayne Routledge was in the squad for the Villa game, and will be looking for a run out, no doubt, but Martin Jol knows that too much change may give too much of the initiative to an eager home side and veteran right back!
I'll predict 3-0 to Spurs.
Please note that the Spurs Odyssey report will be published on Wednesday evening.
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