Few players capture the imagination of supporters quite like a goalscorer. The ability to turn a game with a single touch, send a packed Blundell Park into raptures and create memories that last a lifetime is a rare gift. For Grimsby Town supporters of the 1990s, that player was Clive Mendonca.
More than two decades after his final appearance in black and white, “Super Clive” remains one of the most cherished figures in the club’s modern history. A striker blessed with pace, composure and an instinctive eye for goal, Mendonca’s exploits for the Mariners earned him cult hero status and ensured his name would forever be etched into Town folklore.
A Striker Arrives
Born in Islington on 9th September 1968, Mendonca began his professional career with Sheffield United before spells with Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United. His journey to Blundell Park began in 1992 when he initially joined the Mariners on loan from Sheffield United. It quickly became clear that Town had found something special.
What followed was five unforgettable years in black and white. Across 166 appearances, Mendonca scored 60 goals for the Mariners, becoming the focal point of a side that competed admirably in the second tier of English football during one of the club’s most memorable modern eras.
Alongside fan favourites including Shaun Cunnington, Keith Alexander, Mark Lever, Dave Gilbert, Steve Livingstone, Paul Futcher and Paul Groves, Mendonca helped establish Grimsby as a respected force in Division One during the early 1990s. His goals thrilled supporters and his clinical finishing made him one of the most feared forwards outside the Premier League.
A Hero for a Generation
For many Town supporters, Clive Mendonca wasn’t just a striker – he was the striker. His pace in behind defenders, intelligent movement and calmness in front of goal made him a constant threat, while his connection with the Blundell Park faithful only grew stronger with every goal.
Whether it was a poacher’s finish from close range or a composed one-on-one opportunity, supporters always felt that if Mendonca had a chance, there was every possibility the net would bulge.
Even as the club battled through difficult moments, including relegation from Division One in 1997, Mendonca continued to produce. His goals kept Town fighting and his performances cemented his place among the club’s greatest modern forwards. To this day, many supporters still regard him as one of the finest strikers ever to wear the famous black and white stripes.
The Charlton Chapter
In the summer of 1997, Mendonca’s remarkable spell with the Mariners came to an end when Charlton Athletic paid a club-record fee of £700,000 to take him to The Valley. If Grimsby supporters already knew how special he was, the rest of the football world was about to find out.
During the 1997/98 season, Mendonca scored 28 goals as Charlton pushed for promotion to the Premier League. Then came one of the most iconic matches in English football history. The 1998 Division One Play-Off Final between Charlton Athletic and Sunderland remains one of Wembley Stadium’s greatest ever contests.
After a thrilling 4-4 draw, Mendonca had scored a sensational hat-trick for Charlton before confidently converting his penalty in the shootout as the Addicks secured promotion. His treble remains the last hat-trick scored by an English league player at the original Wembley Stadium and ensured his place in football history.
For Charlton supporters, he became a legend. For Grimsby supporters, he already was one.
An End Forced Too Soon
Sadly, injury would cut short a career that still had much to offer. In 2002, at just 33 years of age, Mendonca was forced to retire from professional football after medical advice warned that surgery on a hip problem could leave him disabled.
It brought an end to a career spanning almost 16 years and more than 400 professional appearances. Speaking at the time, Mendonca described his years at Charlton as the highlight of his career, but supporters at both Charlton Athletic and Grimsby Town knew the impact he had made. Wherever he played, he left lasting memories.
Returning To Blundell Park
This month, supporters will have the opportunity to hear those memories first-hand as Clive returns to Blundell Park for a special evening at McMenemy’s.
Hosted in partnership with Nor Lait on Friday 12th June, the event will see the Mariners legend share stories from his playing career, reflect on his time at Town and answer questions from supporters during a live Q&A session.
Guests can also look forward to memorabilia auctions, raffles and an evening celebrating one of the club’s most beloved modern-day heroes. For many supporters, it will be an opportunity to relive memories of a player who defined an era.
For younger fans, it will be a chance to hear why the name “Super Clive” still carries such affection around Blundell Park. More than 20 years after hanging up his boots, the admiration remains as strong as ever. Because while great players score goals, true club legends create memories, and few created more memories for Grimsby Town supporters than Clive Mendonca.
Tickets:
Tickets are now available via www.nor-lait.com.
We look forward to welcoming supporters for what promises to be a brilliant evening in the company of a true Mariners favourite.
UTM
