TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Match details: Torquay United vs Grimsby Town

Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay

Date: Saturday 11th September 2021

Kick-off: 3pm

Grimsby fact file:

Year founded: 1878

Nickname: The Mariners

Last season’s league finish: 24^th League Two

Notable honours:

Division Two/Division One/Championship:

Winners: 1900-01, 1933-34

Division Three/Division Two/League One:

Winners: 1979-80

Division Three North:

Winners: 1925-26, 1955-56

Division Four/Division Three/League Two:

Winners: 1971-72

Football League Trophy:

Winners: 1997-98

Head-to-Head:

Torquay: 8 Draw: 7 Grimsby: 11

Top scorer:

Torquay: Armani Little (2) Grimsby: John McAtee (3)

League Position and Recent Form:

Torquay: 17th – L,D,L,W Grimsby: 5th – W,D,W

Manager: Paul Hurst

After leading the Mariners to promotion to the Football League in the 2015-16 season, Paul Hurst is aiming to repeat the feat in his second spell in charge at Blundell Park following their relegation from League Two at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Hurst guided Grimsby to promotion via the Play-offs against Forest Green Rovers in 2016, 12 months after they lost on penalties to Bristol Rovers at the same stage. He then went to take charge of Shrewsbury Town, Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United. He returned to Blundell Park in December 2020, but was unable to prevent the Mariners from being relegated from League Two.

Player to watch: John McAtee

Position: Striker

Date of Birth: July 23rd, 1999 – 22 Years Old

Birthplace: Manchester

Height: 1.80m

Former Clubs: Burnley, Shrewsbury, Halesowen, Telford United, Ashton United, Curzon Ashton, Scunthorpe United.

International: English.

National League Stats 21-22: Played 3, Goals 3.

Having previously appeared under manager Paul Hurst at both Shrewsbury Town and Scunthorpe United, John McAtee turned down a new contract at Glanford Park to be reunited with the Mariners boss in the close season. After netting on his debut on the opening day of the campaign, he followed up this feat by converting two penalties in Grimsby’s recent 4-3 win over Barnet.

Old boys:

Torquay: None

Grimsby: Michee Efete

Last meeting: Torquay United 1-1 Grimsby Town – 17th October 2015

GOALS: TUFC – Marsh (38), GTFC (79).

TEAMS:

Torquay United: Speiss, Berry, MacDonald, Smith, Nicholson, Hurst (Murombedzi), Richards, Heslop, Butler, Marsh, Fisher (Yeoman).

Grimsby Town: McKeown, Tait, Pearson, Clay, Townsend, Nsiala, Arnold, Disley, Marshall (Mackreth), Bogle, Amond (Pittman).

A second half penalty from Omar Bogle helped to extend the Mariners’ unbeaten run to 11 matches against Torquay United, who were denied their first win at home since the opening day of the campaign.

Tyrone Marsh had headed the Gulls in front in the 38^th minute with his fourth of the season before Bogle scored from the spot on 79 minutes after he had been felled by Torquay keeper Fabien Spiess, to secure a share of the spoils for the Mariners.