Mariners Memories: When Grimsby Town were fourth best side in the land

This week, Graham Precious from the Mariners Trust recounts Grimsby Town's halcyon days of the 1930s – and the day they hit their highest ever league position.

MANY of today's supporters may not be aware just how good the Mighty Mariners once were.

On October 27, 1934, Town rose to fourth spot in Division One – a Champions League position in today's game!

After previous stints in the top-flight – between 1901-1903, and 1929-1932 – the club returned to the 'big league' in 1934 and remained there until 1948.

I've picked a game from Town's first season in that run in Division One.

Town's side to face Leeds featured some of the Mariners' all-time heroes.

In goal was probably their finest ever 'keeper, George Tweedy, who would two years later be capped for England as a Town player – in a 6-2 win over Hungary at Highbury.

The full-backs were Jim Kelly and Hughie Jacobson, who held the distinction of being Town's only player to appear in all three promotion sides between the two wars.

Half-backs were the legendary Alec 'Ginger' Hall, Harry Betmead (who later played for England) and Teddy Buck – Town's greatest 'midfield' in many a fan's eyes.

The forward line included Jimmy Dyson and Jackie Bestall – a future Northern Ireland international and considered by many to be the greatest ever Mariner.

They were joined by Pat Glover – Town's record goalscorer with 180 goals, most goals in a season by a Mariners player with 42, Welsh international and Town's greatest ever centre-forward – along with Charlie Craven and Ben Burley.

Town kicked-off with a strong wind behind them and conditions got worse within five minutes when heavy rain began to fall. Leeds were pushing hard for the opener and Tweedy saved well twice to deny them.

On 27 minutes, however, Town broke the deadlock following a free-kick in midfield taken by Betmead. Charlie Craven went round three defenders before unleashing a cracking shot which Savage in the Leeds goal could only parry. Glover was in the right place to knock in the rebound.

That spurred Town on and three minutes later they should have increased their lead when Hart brought down Bestall for a penalty.

There was some delay whist Bestall received attention from the trainer, which may have accounted for Glover not converting the spot-kick.

He placed the ball well, just a foot inside the post, but the 'keeper guessed right and got down to save.

In the last minute of the half, Leeds equalised when Hydes turned Mahon's cross into the net, aided by a cruel deflection off a Town defender.

It took just four minutes of the second half for Town to regain their lead.

Again it was from a free-kick taken by Betmead. He found an unmarked Dyson, who fed the ball to Craven, and the inside-left drilled in a cross-shot.

The wind was still playing a strong part when, in the 57th minute, Milburn took a free-kick from his own half and floated it into the Mariners goal-mouth.

Hydes flicked the ball into the net with his head. There was a voiciferous protest from the Town players, urging the referee to consult the linesman as they were sure he was offside, but he refused to oblige and let the goal stand.

Town struggled after the blow of the contentious goal, but in the 68th minute came the match-winner.

The Saturday Telegraph reported: "A capital right-wing manoeuvre led to this goal, Dyson dribbling in from the right and placing the ball to Glover's right foot for the centre-forward to score with a shot that entered the goal a foot inside the post."

Town clung on in a game that became more and more physical, not helped by the wind and rain which again fell heavily towards the end.

At the final whistle, Town moved up to fourth place in the table – the highest position they would ever enjoy in their history – before eventually finishing the season in fifth.

Grimsby Town 3 Leeds United 2

Division One

Saturday October 27, 1934