Grimsby survive a penalty shootout at Stafford and will host Oldham in the FA Cup second round
Wednesday 11 November 2026 · By Edmond Cawood
Grimsby Town reached the FA Cup second round the hard way on Sunday, then fielded a very young side in midweek. They drew 3–3 after extra time at eighth-tier Stafford Rangers and won 3–2 on penalties, in a 12 noon tie shown live on TNT Sports, before losing 0–3 at home to Nottingham Forest Under-21s in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday.
Stafford led 2–0 at half-time. Darrhyl Mason scored on three minutes and Jack Birch added a second just before the break, according to Grimsby’s club report, Stafford’s official report and Grimsby Live. Harvey Rodgers and Maldini Kacurri headed Grimsby level on 74 and 76 minutes from Iwan Morgan free-kicks. Mason scored again in the third minute of extra time, and Geza Turi made it 3–3 in the second minute of added time at the end of the first period of extra time. In the shootout, Harvey Cartwright saved three penalties, from Birch, Harvey Washington and Luca Navarro, and Jamie Walker hit the bar.
David Artell did not hide his disappointment with the performance. “The performance was not very good. The result’s great. It’s cup football. It’s about being in the hat for the next round,” he told the club’s post-match press conference.
He added: “We showed great character. We didn’t show really good skill.” And: “We said to them, ‘Don’t play the badge… Play our standards.’ And some of them played their badge for sure, thinking that it was going to be easy. And it definitely, definitely wasn’t.” He praised the two set-piece headers and the character shown to keep coming back.
On Monday, Grimsby were drawn at home to Oldham Athletic in the second round, a tie scheduled for the weekend starting Friday 4 December, with the date and kick-off still to be announced.
Tuesday’s Trophy game came a little over 48 hours after the shootout. Forest scored three times in the first half, through Harvey Andrews on 16 minutes, Jamie Newton on 21 and Matthew Orr on 44. The club named 12 academy players, with seven starting.
There have been no League Two games since Tuesday 3 November, so the table is unchanged. Grimsby are sixth on 20 points from 14 games, in the play-off places, level on points with York City in seventh and Gillingham in eighth. Grimsby have the best goal difference of the three, plus six. Their last six league games read lost, lost, lost, drawn, won, won.
Jayden Sweeney came on at Stafford, according to the club’s line-up. No fresh medical dates were given for the players Artell had spoken about positively before the tie.
BBC Sport lists Grimsby at Swindon Town on Saturday 14 November at 3pm. They are then listed at home to Rotherham United on Saturday 21 November at 3pm.
The result was what mattered on Sunday. Grimsby are in the hat, they have a home tie against Oldham, and now the league run that took them into the top seven needs to continue at Swindon.
Blundell Park sits tight among the streets of Cleethorpes, a short walk from the Humber and the sea air that visiting supporters mention every winter. Grimsby Town have played here since 1899. The ground holds a little over 9,000 in an all-seater, no-smoking stadium. It is compact, slightly awkward in places, and full of character. If you are coming for the first time, allow extra time: the streets are residential, parking is tight, and the stands do not wrap the pitch in a neat bowl.
Away fans are housed in the Osmond Stand, the east end, opposite the Pontoon. Built in 1939, it can take up to about 1,880 supporters when the whole end is given over. For many League games the allocation is smaller and you will sit in the covered corner rather than fully behind the goal. Pillars and a low roof spoil some sightlines, so if you have a choice of seat, ask your club which blocks are clearer. Larger followings are placed behind the goal itself. Stewards’ directions override the number printed on the ticket if sections are re-cut on the day.
The Pontoon Stand faces you across the pitch. That is the home end: black-and-white seats, drums, flags, and the noise. The Main Stand runs along the north touchline on Harrington Street. Parts of it date from 1901. The tunnel, changing rooms and most wheelchair bays sit in that stand. Opposite, on the south side, is the two-tier stand now sponsored by Ramsden’s Home Interiors, still widely called the Young’s or Findus Stand. It does not run the full length of the pitch. The upper tier is the place for a view of the estuary as well as the match.
By car, sat-nav DN35 7PY. Follow the M180 onto the A180, which runs close to the ground. Coach drop-off is usually arranged around Harrington Street / Tiverton Street. Street parking fills early and some roads have match-day restrictions, so arrive with time to walk. New Clee station is the nearest rail stop, a short walk; Cleethorpes station is further but useful if you are combining the game with the promenade. Away turnstiles are signed toward the Osmond / Grimsby Road side. After full time, departure from the away end can be held for a few minutes.
There is a dedicated away bar inside the Osmond — often called Scotties — plus Mariners Trust bars elsewhere in the ground. Alcohol availability depends on which slice of the Osmond you have been given. Food is the usual football fare; prices are generally kinder than at bigger clubs. Programmes are sold inside and outside. The club shop and ticket office sit with the two-tier stand off Constitutional Avenue, by McDonald’s, and open before and after kick-off.
Dress for the coast. Even in August the wind off the Humber can cut through the Osmond. In January it is properly cold. The stadium is all-seater; standing in gangways will get you moved on. Disabled supporters: wheelchair bays exist in the Main Stand for home and away use, with further provision in the Osmond for visiting fans on request through your club. Accessible toilets are limited because of the age of the buildings — check with Grimsby in advance if you need one in the away end.
Blundell Park will not dazzle you with hospitality suites. What it offers is a proper old Football League ground, a noisy home end in front of one goal, and an away end in front of the other. Get in early, find a seat without a post in your eyeline, and wrap up. That is half the job done.