Mariners Memories: When Grimsby Town put seven past Scunthorpe United in 1966

In the next part of his series of memorable Grimsby Town matches from the past, the Mariners Trust's Graham Precious recalls the night he was in seventh heaven as The Iron were put to the sword.

I REMEMBER this game well – it was 1966 and England had won the World Cup a couple of months earlier!

I was a programme seller at Blundell Park and did the half-time scores on Saturdays, so I went to all the home games.

It was a Wednesday night and I was one of the 8,255 fortunate to be in attendance, totally unprepared for what was to come.

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Town had started the season in Division Three with a win at home and two defeats away.

In goal for Town was the dependable, but still young, Harry Wainman. Graham Taylor was captain, and Keith Jobling was in defence, counting up to his record number of appearances for the Mariners.

Matt Tees was still in his first spell as a Town forward, with Rod Green at his side and Brian Hill on the left wing.

Dave Worthington was early into his Town career, while Ron Cockerill (John's father) was a wing-half, as midfield hadn't been invented then.

The side also included Billy Rudd, Jimmy Thompson and Bobby Ross.

In goal for Scunthorpe was a young keeper by the name of Ray Clemence – for whom the trauma of the evening would not do lasting damage. He went on to serve Liverpool and Spurs as well as becoming England number one.

In front of him was Scunthorpe's youngest-ever side, which included four teenagers.

Things started badly for The Iron as early as the eighth minute when Taylor broke up a Scunthorpe attack to feed Hill on the left wing, whose cross was blasted past Clemence by Tees.

Four minutes later, the other full-back, Thompson, crossed and Clemence was slow to react allowing Green to head home a second.

On 24 minutes, Hill picked up a loose ball and fed Green for his second and Town's third.

Not only was Hill the provider, but by half-time he had netted a brace too.

For his first, he beat three defenders before cutting into the box and firing into the top corner.

A couple of minutes before half-time, he took a free-kick which was cleared back to him and he netted his second and Town's fifth.

It took only 15 minutes of the second half for the two players to bag their respective hat-tricks.

Hill's corner was met by the head of Green for Town's sixth, and Hill eluded the diving Clemence to poke Town's seventh into an empty net.

The points were safe and Town coasted along for the remaining 30 minutes of the game, only spoiling the result by allowing Scunthorpe a consolation goal when Bedford scored with six minutes to go.

It was a memorable night and was to be the highlight of a mediocre season as Town finished the campaign in 17th position, only one point and one place above The Iron, in 18th.

If any Grimsby Town fans have a game they would like to see featured in Mariners Memories or want more information on joining the Mariners Trust, please contact Graham Precious by emailing grahamprecious@marinerstrust.co.uk