The Mariners are back at Blundell Park this Saturday afternoon as Town welcome Shrewsbury Town to North East Lincolnshire in a Sky Bet League Two clash.
David Artell’s side will be looking to continue their impressive start to the League Two campaign, while the Shrews will be aiming to pick up a positive result on their visit to Blundell Park.
The Opposition
Shrewsbury Town currently sit 18th in Sky Bet League Two, having collected eight points from their opening eight league fixtures.
The Shrews began the campaign with a 2-0 defeat away at Tranmere Rovers before suffering another loss at home to Barnet, with the visitors running out 3-1 winners. Shrewsbury then picked up their first victory of the season with a 1-0 win over Salford City, before suffering consecutive defeats against Rochdale and Fleetwood Town.
The Shrews responded with a 2-0 victory at home against Northampton Town before drawing 1-1 with Crewe Alexandra, followed by another draw to Colchester United.
They have therefore recorded two victories, two draws and four defeats from their opening eight league matches, scoring seven goals and conceding 13.
Shrewsbury are now under the guidance of Gavin Cowan, who returned to the club in January having previously made 30 appearances and scored once for the Shrews between March 2005 and January 2007. Cowan joined Shrewsbury after a successful spell in charge of Brackley Town, where he guided the club to the 2024/25 National League North title after previously suffering defeat in consecutive play-off finals. He had also spent more than three years as manager of AFC Telford United, taking charge between May 2018 and October 2021.
Cowan’s playing career began in 2001 and was predominantly spent in non-league football, with spells at Braintree Town, Canvey Island, AFC Telford United and three separate spells at Nuneaton Borough. His final spell at Nuneaton came during the 2014/15 season, when he faced the Mariners twice. The first meeting at Blundell Park ended goalless before Town secured a 2-0 victory in the return fixture, with Jon-Paul Pittman and Ross Hannah finding the net.
Now back at the club where he spent part of his playing career, Cowan returns to Blundell Park looking to lead Shrewsbury to a positive result against his former side.
Mariners’ Start
Town had made an unbeaten start to the Sky Bet League Two campaign before their trip to Newport County last Saturday, where they fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat in South Wales.
David Artell’s side have produced a series of impressive performances during the opening weeks of the campaign, with Blundell Park proving particularly fruitful for the Mariners – having lost just one of their last 17 home league matches.
That sole defeat came against Harrogate Town in April, with the Mariners having recorded 11 victories and five draws across their other 16 matches during that period.
Since Boxing Day 2025, only Bristol Rovers have collected more home points in League Two than Town, with the Mariners picking up 38 points at Blundell Park during that period. The Mariners will now look to continue that strong home form when Shrewsbury visit Cleethorpes on Saturday.
Head-to-Head
Saturday’s fixture will be the 59th competitive meeting between the two clubs.
Town hold the historical advantage, recording 25 victories to Shrewsbury’s 17, while the remaining 16 meetings have ended in draws. The first meeting between the two sides came on 28th November 1959, when the Mariners recorded a 2-1 victory. Shrewsbury responded in emphatic fashion in the return fixture, however, running out 5-2 winners.
More recently, Town have enjoyed a strong record against the Shrews. The Mariners have lost just one of their last 12 League Two meetings with Shrewsbury, recording four victories and seven draws during that period. That sole defeat came in September 2007, when Shrewsbury recorded a 2-1 victory.
Shrewsbury are also winless in their last six League Two visits to Blundell Park, drawing twice and losing four times. The Shrews have lost each of their last three league visits to Cleethorpes.
Last Time We Met
The most recent meeting between the two sides came at Blundell Park on Monday 29th December 2025, when Town secured a 1-0 victory.
Justin Amaluzor scored the only goal of the game in the 83rd minute to secure three points for the Mariners.
Amaluzor had also found the net against Shrewsbury earlier in the season, scoring in Town’s 3-1 Carabao Cup first-round victory at Blundell Park. The Mariners took four points from the two league meetings with Shrewsbury last season.
Town secured a 1-0 victory at Blundell Park before the sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Croud Meadow. Charles Vernam gave the Mariners the lead from the penalty spot before John Marquis levelled for the hosts.
Town have also kept four clean sheets across the last six meetings between the sides at Blundell Park in all competitions. The last time Shrewsbury came to Cleethorpes and left with all three points was on 12th February 2005, when Jake Sedgemore scored the only goal of the game.
Ones to Watch
Luca Hoole
Luca Hoole has established himself as a key member of the Shrewsbury side since joining the club in July 2024.
Comfortable operating at either full-back or centre-back, Hoole arrived at the Croud Meadow after leaving Bristol Rovers, where he made 102 appearances and scored four goals between 2019 and 2024. The defender made his professional debut for the Pirates in a 1-1 draw against Plymouth Argyle in September 2019, having progressed through Bristol Rovers’ Academy after joining the club in 2014.
His performances last season saw him collect both the Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards, while his form also attracted interest from clubs higher up the EFL pyramid. Shrewsbury moved quickly to secure his future, handing Hoole a new contract in June.
The 23-year-old has also represented Wales at youth level, earning his first Under-19 cap in November 2019 before progressing through the Under-20 and Under-21 age groups. Hoole has now won 12 caps for Wales Under-21s, scoring his first international goal against the Czech Republic in October 2024.
Isaac Fletcher
Shrewsbury also possess a threat in the final third in the form of Isaac Fletcher.
The tall and powerful forward is known for his willingness to make runs into the penalty area and his eye for goal. Fletcher began his footballing journey with Middlesbrough at Under-10 level before progressing through the club’s Academy and signing his first professional contract in November 2020.
He made one senior appearance for the Teesside club while also gaining experience during loan spells with Hartlepool United and Scunthorpe United. Fletcher moved into non-league football with Spennymoor Town in 2023, following in the footsteps of his father Andy, who also played for the club during the 1990s.
He made 37 appearances and scored 13 goals across his two seasons at Spennymoor before joining Barrow in January 2025. His performances at both Spennymoor and Barrow caught the attention of Gavin Cowan, who was keen to bring the forward to Shrewsbury.
Fletcher will now be looking to repay that faith by continuing to work tirelessly for the team and make his presence felt in front of goal.
The Numbers
- Saturday’s fixture will be the 59th competitive meeting between Grimsby Town and Shrewsbury Town.
- Town have won 25 of the previous 58 meetings, with Shrewsbury winning 17 and 16 ending in draws.
- Grimsby have lost just one of their last 12 League Two matches against Shrewsbury, recording four wins and seven draws.
- That defeat came in September 2007, when Shrewsbury won 2-1.
- Shrewsbury are winless in their last six League Two visits to Blundell Park, drawing two and losing four.
- Shrewsbury have lost each of their last three league visits to Blundell Park.
- The last time Shrewsbury won at Blundell Park was on 12th February 2005, when Jake Sedgemore scored the only goal.
- Town have kept four clean sheets across the last six meetings between the sides at Blundell Park in all competitions.
- The Mariners took four points from the two league meetings with Shrewsbury last season.
- Town won 1-0 at Blundell Park before drawing 1-1 at the Croud Meadow.
- Justin Amaluzor scored the winner when the sides last met at Blundell Park on 29th December 2025.
- Town have lost just one of their last 17 home league matches, recording 11 wins and five draws during that period.
- Since Boxing Day 2025, Town have collected 38 home League Two points, with only Bristol Rovers collecting more during that period.
- Shrewsbury have collected eight points from their opening eight League Two fixtures, recording two wins, two draws and four defeats.
- Shrewsbury have scored seven and conceded 13 across their opening eight league matches.
- Tom Sang has created 27 chances in League Two this season, more than any other player in the division.
- Sang has created 16 chances from set plays this season, also the highest total in League Two.
Match Officials
Matt Corlett will take charge of Saturday’s fixture, with Stephen Wade and Matthew Sowerby appointed as assistant referees and Wayne Grunnill named as fourth official.
Corlett has taken charge of three matches during the 2026/27 campaign, issuing 10 yellow cards and no red cards. Two of his three matches this season have come in Sky Bet League Two, with the other fixture taking place in League One. He has awarded two penalties so far this season.
During the 2025/26 campaign, Corlett officiated 36 matches across a number of competitions, issuing 152 yellow cards, three second yellow cards, three red cards and three penalties.
His most recent involvement with the Mariners came during last season’s League Two play-offs, when he took charge of the semi final first leg fixture against Salford City.
The Mariners will now look to continue their excellent home record when Shrewsbury Town visit Blundell Park on Saturday. Get behind the Town and make some noise as the Mariners look to pick up another positive result in front of the Blundell Park faithful!
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