However, the Blundell Park supporters still remember the final moments of the 2005–06 League Two season as a “sliding doors” occasion.
Grimsby Town supporters have generally had a terrible 20 years. The numerous relegation scraps—some of which were successful, some not—have surpassed the successful campaigns. The events that transpired at the end of the 2005–06 League Two season, however, continue to be remembered by the Blundell Park supporters as a “sliding doors” moment. Although other circumstances contributed to the events, Michael Reddy’s early injury in the 2006 play-off final ultimately proved to be crucial.
For the most part, the Mariners had a successful season in 2005–06. Manager Russell Slade’s team was in the promotion picture the entire season after experiencing back-to-back relegations from the second to the fourth tier in 2003 and 2004. They also famously eliminated Premier League team Tottenham from the EFL Cup, only for fellow top-flight team Newcastle United to defeat Grimsby in the next round thanks to a goal from Alan Shearer.
The Mariners’ season came to an agonising end, though, when they were twice passed over for promotion to League One at the very last hurdle. Grimsby and Leyton Orient were fighting for the final automatic promotion berth going into the regular season finale. Grimsby appeared destined to join the Cobblers in the third division when Congolese player Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala’s penalty kick gave Slade’s team a lead against Northampton Town, who had already been promoted. It was not to be, though.
Grimsby had to battle to advance with the O’s via the play-offs after Northampton midfielder Ryan Gilligan’s injury-time equaliser and Leyton Orient’s later victory at Oxford United saw the O’s overtake the Mariners. Following a valiant 3-1 (on aggregate) victory over nearby rivals Lincoln City in the semi-finals, Slade’s team advanced to the play-off final, where they would face Cheltenham Town at Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium.
The Mariners arrived in a confident mindset as they wanted to take that one more step, having defeated the Robins in the league that season. That failed to materialise, though, as Grimsby lost 1-0 despite a clumsy display, largely due to an early injury sustained by Irish attacker Michael Reddy.
Reddy was released by Sunderland in 2004 and then signed with Grimsby. The striker proved to be one of the finest in the fourth division in the 2005–06 season, even though it took him a year to adjust and get fully fit on the East Coast. It’s possible that he performed below his true potential.
His skills, which included real pace both with and without the ball, quick feet, strength, and poise, were crucial to the way Slade set up his team that season. The Mariners frequently used a counterattack, taking use of Reddy’s quickness, strength, and direct running to overwhelm opponents who had overcommitted, leaving them vulnerable. In order to encourage Reddy to attack and move his team up the pitch territorially, Slade’s team would frequently place long balls over the backlines of the opposition.
The forward was the focal point of the Mariners’ attack and strategy, so when he was forced to leave the game early due to injury during the Cardiff showpiece, Grimsby lost their composure and played a remarkably disorganised game, losing 1-0 as Cheltenham advanced where the Blundell Park side couldn’t.
Midway through the first half in Wales, Reddy and Craig Armstrong of Cheltenham were substituted due to head injuries sustained after an aerial challenge. The forward was replaced by the highly good Gary Cohen, but the move up front put the very ineffective Junior Mendes with Gary Jones in the Mariners’ assault.
Mendes, who was unable to reach the net in Blundell Park, lacked Reddy’s strength, pace, presence, and conviction. Reddy’s partnership with Jones, the previously mentioned astute, experienced foil, was virtually telepathic and was essential to Grimsby’s strategy and chances of success.
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