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Journey back to the glory days when Grimsby played the likes of Manchester United off the park, and discover why the Mariners’ demise as a top-flight club was all the fault of the Germans (I knew it was wrong to start liking them just because of the World Cup). Written by Terry Spillane, this article is taken from Sing When We’re Fishing issue no. 15, first published in 1991.
At last Saturday afternoon arrived. All week I had been as jumpy as a cricket as the big day approached. Excitement reached fever pitch as the milling crowd was joined in the approach to Millwall football ground through the aptly named Cold Blow Lane on this bleak January day.
The year was 1939, and the event was Second Division Millwall taking on First Division Grimsby Town in a fourth round tie of the FA Cup. This was to be my introduction to big-time football.
With a thirty thousand plus crowd, the atmosphere was electric, and growing in intensity as Millwall gained a two-goal lead. Ten minutes remained when Grimsby reduced the deficit to 2-1, and then spoiled the day by equalising shortly after. The return match at Blundell Park was won by Grimsby who went to the semi-final stage of the competition that season. They probably would have reached the final if the curse of an eight-year old had not been cast upon them.
Ironic, is it not, as time moves forwards to 1949 that National Service should bring me in contact with Grimsby Town FC again. Being stationed at RAF Manby, it was convenient that they became my adopted team. Visits to Blundell Park became a regular feature during my period of National Service.
Probably my support began at the wrong time, Town having been relegated from Division One the previous season. Second Division fare was now on offer, but even that was an improvement because by now Millwall were in the Third Division (S).
It must be said that the team of 1949 did not compare favourably with the fast and skilful team who rarely put a pass astray in 1939. They were now a workmanlike team with a brilliant goalkeeper and two outstanding outfield players.
Acting upon the advice of Pat Glover, a Grimsby great of the Thirties, Tommy Briggs had been signed from Plymouth Argyle on a free transfer. How Plymouth let him go on a free remains a mystery. Perhaps Pat Glover had a better eye for spotting potential than the Plymouth management of that time. True, Briggs did appear to be awkward and slow, but his power of shot was such it has been said you could hear the ball whistle before it thudded into the net. For those on the terrace behind the goal there was danger from the shots which missed the target.
His goals endeared him to the hearts of Grimsby supporters. His name was frequently mentioned as a candidate for international honours, but there was little likelihood of a Second Division centre forward replacing Tommy Lawton in the England team. Eyebrows were raised when Tom transferred from Grimsby to Coventry City, another Second Division club in January 1951. £20,000, a huge sum in those days, was the transfer fee. He made only 11 appearances for the Sky Blues, scoring seven goals, before travelling across the Midlands to Birmingham City. Describing it as the “unhappiest time of my career” Tom never settled with Birmingham City, though he did score 22 goals in 50 games.
After fifteen months he moved on to Blackburn Rovers and assisted Rovers in regaining their First Division status. His 140 goals are to this day the highest aggregate of League goals scored for them.
Upon their promotion, Tom was released to his beloved Cleethorpes in March 1958. At 35 years old, Tom was past his best, but nine goals in nineteen appearances was a good performance in a struggling Grimsby team. Thus ended the football career of Tommy Briggs. It was with a sense of personal loss that I heard the news of his death in 1984.
Other players readily called to mind from the period of my support include goalkeeper George Tweedy, fullback Ken Moody and winger George Hair.
36-year old Tweedy, who gained an England cap versus Hungary in a match played at Highbury as long ago as 1936, retained his sharpness between the sticks. Moody, a Grimsby-born lad, was unfortunate in that the cancellation of first class football during the war had retarded his natural progression in the game. Nevertheless, he fulfilled his potential even if it was a little late. Bill Cairns formed a lethal partnership with Tommy Briggs and, as a scorer of goals in his own right, had been a surprising signing, when at the age of 34, he joined Grimsby from Gateshead in 1946. Age was no barrier, as 119 goals in 221 appearances will uphold.
A surfeit of left-sided players at Newcastle United, which included Bobby Mitchell and Tommy Pearson, led to the arrival of George Hair at Blundell Park in 1949. That Newcastle were able to dispose of such a gifted player as surplus to requirements was to the advantage of Grimsby. With scintillating runs down the left, George opened wide many a defence, only to find that his colleagues had not kept pace. However, his pinpoint crossing of the ball laid on many of the goals scored by Briggs and Cairns.
The Second World War brought about the demise of Grimsby Town as a First Division team. Age took its toll on the players involved in the sparkling team of 1939, and call-up meant the loss of young players. Failure to regain First Division status can be attributed to the abolition of the maximum wage. With a set maximum wage, a player would choose the club at which he would be happiest. After the abolition it was the clubs who paid large salaries who held centre stage. Grimsby could no longer compete with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool or Leeds. Strange to say, but Town had been a better footballing team than any of those three clubs mentioned in pre-war days.
Fact and reality have to take preference over myth, but if the result of that FA Cup replay had been different… |
