Ten former Mariners on the move in this window
PLENTY OF EX-GRIMSBY TOWN PLAYERS HAVE SWITCHED CLUBS OVER LAST FEW MONTHS
IT’S been a busy summer in the transfer window across the EFL so far, and with just under two weeks remaining, there’s still plenty of business to be done. Among those making moves over the past few months have been plenty of faces who will be familiar to Grimsby Town fans. We’ve taken a look at 10 former Mariners, and where they’ve ended up this summer...
Liam Gibson
Gibson spent the first half of last season at Blundell Park on loan from Newcastle United, making 24 appearances across all competitions.
Having returned to St James’ Park in January, the left-back was named in the Magpies’ first team squad for the Premier League clash at Everton, but later that summer was released by the club. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old signed for Morecambe, where he joins another couple of former Mariners in Harry Davis and Ben Pringle.
Sam Jones
Since leaving the Mariners in 2018, things haven’t quite gone according to plan for Jones.
The former Gateshead man seemed destined for bigger and better things when he made the move up to League One with Shrewsbury, but since then the only way has been down for the forward.
Spells with Cheltenham, Harrogate, Solihull Moors and York City have failed to kick-start Jones’ career, and last week he made the move to National League North side Kettering Town.
Gavin Gunning
Dubbed ‘Mad Gav’ during his time with Town, the Irishman certainly left a lasting impression during his short spell at
Blundell Park.
Having been released by the Mariners in 2017, he stayed in League Two over the next couple of seasons with spells at Port Vale and Forest Green Rovers, with his time at the New Lawn ending with him being sent off in the play-off semi-finals against Tranmere.
He joined Billericay Town in the summer of 2019, but was soon on the move again as he signed for Solihull Moors before being released in January. Gunning now plies his trade with National League North side Gloucester City, having signed for the club back in March.
Moses Ogbu
The Nigerian’s stay at Blundell Park was a short one, although there are plenty of fans who would have perhaps liked to have seen more of him.
Having been brought to Town by former manager Michael Jolley, Ogbu would play just the one game under Ian Holloway before being released by the club.
The 29-year-old went without a club for a couple of months before eventually signing for Mjallby AIF back in Sweden, and has so far made 16 appearances in the
Allsvenskan season.
JJ Hooper
Things never quite got going for Hooper at Town, and it didn’t come as an especially big shock when he was released last year. He made the move to Wales as he joined up with former Mariner Shaun Pearson at Wrexham, where injuries limited his chances, while boss Dean Keates had to deny reports that the striker was refusing to play.
After the National League season was curtailed, Hooper left Wrexham after Keates opted not to extend his stay, and earlier this month he joined Barnet.
Reece Hall-Johnson
A dependable presence in defence during his time with the Mariners, Hall-Johnson was perhaps a surprise inclusion among the players released by Town in 2019.
He stayed in League Two though, signing for Northampton Town, who of course won promotion to League One via the play-offs earlier this year.
Hall-Johnson though managed just seven appearances during his time at Sixfields before being released, and last month
made the move to the National League with Wrexham.
Ethan Robson
Robson’s final few months at Sunderland were confusing to say the least. Having spent the first half of last season on loan with Town, Holloway was eager to secure his services for the rest of the campaign, but the Black Cats elected to keep hold of him.
Robson though wouldn’t get any game time before the season was brought to an end, and was subsequently released by his boyhood club during the summer. He has since joined Blackpool, and has started all four of the Seasiders’ games so far this season.
Kristian Dennis
The addition of Dennis on loan last year promised so much, but ultimately proved to be something of a disappointment. His goal in his second appearance against Yeovil would prove to be his only strike during his time with the Mariners before he returned to Notts County.
He struck 15 goals in 35 appearances during his final season at Meadow Lane before making the move north of the
border with St Mirren in August.
Luke Summerfield
Another former Mariner who made the move to Wrexham, Summerfield spent two years in North Wales after leaving Town in n 2018.
He became a regular for the Dragons, making 63 league appearances but, like Hooper, was released by the club earlier r this year.
The 32-year-old has managed to remain n in the National League though, having g signed for FC Halifax Town last month.
Zak Mills
Another player whose departure from m Blundell Park perhaps came as a surprise, Mills has found himself coming up against t the Mariners plenty of times over the past t couple of years.
Having signed for Morecambe after leaving Town, the defender would then go on to sign for Oldham the following year, but was released by the Latics earlier this year. He was soon snapped up by Port Vale though, and Town fans will no doubt take great delight in the fact that he scored on n his debut for his new club against t Scunthorpe United.