The Mariners are back at Blundell Park tomorrow afternoon as Town welcome Crawley Town for a Sky Bet League Two clash at the home of the Mariners.
David Artell’s side will be looking to build on last weekend’s impressive 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers, while Crawley Town arrive on the Lincolnshire coast looking to improve their start to the campaign.
The Opposition
Crawley Town currently sit 23rd in Sky Bet League Two, having collected four points from their opening six league fixtures.
The Red Devils began the season with a 1-0 defeat against Crewe Alexandra before securing their only victory of the campaign so far away at Rochdale, where they recorded a 2-1 success.
Colin Kazim-Richards’ side then lost to Bristol Rovers, before recording a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town. They have since suffered two consecutive defeats against Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham Town.
Their most recent outing saw Crawley beaten 3-1 at home by Cheltenham, leaving them with one victory, one draw and four defeats from their opening six league matches.
Crawley finished 22nd in League Two last season and are now under the guidance of Kazim-Richards, who was appointed Head Coach on 24th March following a spell working with Arsenal’s youth setup.
The former Turkey international enjoyed a playing career spanning more than two decades, representing clubs across Europe and South America including Sheffield United, Fenerbahçe, Feyenoord, Coritiba, Celtic and Veracruz.
Kazim-Richards also earned 37 caps for Turkey, scoring twice at international level, and played in eight different countries during his career.
He will now be hoping to establish himself in management as Crawley look to build on their recent years in the EFL.
Mariners’ Start
Town have made an unbeaten start to the Sky Bet League Two campaign, with two victories and four draws from their opening six matches.
The Mariners began the season with a 1-0 victory over Exeter City at Blundell Park before drawing 0-0 away at Walsall.
Back-to-back 2-2 draws against Fleetwood Town and Accrington Stanley followed, before another 2-2 draw away at Cheltenham Town.
Last weekend, Town produced one of their best performances of the campaign so far as they defeated then-league leaders Bristol Rovers 2-0 at Blundell Park.
Kieran Green opened the scoring before Géza Dávid Turi doubled the advantage with a spectacular strike from distance, while David Artell’s side limited the visitors to just 0.09 xG.
The result leaves Town sixth in League Two with 10 points from their opening six fixtures, with the Mariners now looking to maintain their unbeaten start against Crawley.
Head-to-Head
Tomorrow’s fixture will be the 19th competitive meeting between Grimsby Town and Crawley Town, with the Mariners holding a narrow advantage in the overall record.
Town have recorded seven victories to Crawley’s six, while the remaining five meetings have ended in draws.
The first encounter between the two sides came on 14th August 2010, when the Mariners recorded a 1-0 victory at the Broadfield Stadium.
Lee Peacock settled the contest from the penalty spot after Crawley goalkeeper Michel Kuipers was dismissed for handling outside his area.
The return fixture at Blundell Park in January 2011 ended goalless.
The Mariners enjoyed a perfect record against the Red Devils last season, recording a 3-0 victory at Blundell Park before following it up with a 2-0 success away from home.
Crawley had previously taken maximum points in both meetings during the 2023/24 campaign, including a memorable comeback at Blundell Park in September 2023.
Town appeared to be cruising after Gavan Holohan and Abo Eisa put the Mariners 2-0 ahead, but Liam Kelly and Ronan Darcy brought Crawley level before former Mariner Danilo Orsi completed a dramatic turnaround with an injury-time winner.
Crawley also claimed a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture later that season, with Orsi again finding the net alongside Klaidi Lolos.
Last Time We Met
The most recent meeting between the two sides came on 6th April 2026 at the Broadfield Stadium.
Town secured a comfortable 2-0 victory away from home, with Jaze Kabia and Harvey Rodgers putting the Mariners in control before the hosts were reduced to 10 men early in the second half.
The result completed a league double over the Red Devils, following Town’s 3-0 victory at Blundell Park earlier in the 2025/26 campaign.
One to Watch
Danilo Orsi
A familiar face to the Mariners faithful, Danilo Orsi will need little introduction when he returns to Blundell Park with Crawley Town.
Orsi began his youth career in the United States with Chivas USA and Fort Lauderdale Strikers before returning to England for a spell with Cockfosters. He later headed back across the Atlantic, enjoying two productive years with EFSC Titans, where he scored 34 goals in 32 appearances.
After spells in non-league football, Orsi earned his first taste of League Two with Harrogate Town in 2021/22 before joining Grimsby Town the following summer.
He was part of the Mariners side that enjoyed an unforgettable run to the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2022/23.
Following his departure from Blundell Park, Orsi joined Crawley and proved a particular nuisance for Town during the 2023/24 campaign, scoring in both meetings between the sides. He also found the net in Crawley’s 2-0 League Two play-off final victory over Crewe Alexandra.
Before returning to Crawley in January, Orsi had brief spells with Burton Albion, MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon, and will now be hoping to make another impact against his former club.
Jude Arthurs
Another important figure in Crawley’s squad is Jude Arthurs, who joined the Red Devils in the summer after a lengthy spell with Bromley.
Arthurs made more than 250 appearances for the Ravens, playing a key role as the club climbed from the National League to League One.
During his time at Hayes Lane, he also helped Bromley lift the FA Trophy in 2021/22, with a 1-0 victory over Wrexham secured by Michael Cheek’s goal.
The midfielder began his career in the Gillingham Academy before being released by the club, subsequently gaining experience with loan spells at Deal Town, Ramsgate and Lewes.
He established himself in Bromley’s first team and signed his first professional contract at the end of the 2020/21 season.
A leader within the Bromley squad, Arthurs captained the side on several occasions during his six years with the club before making the move to Crawley, where he will look to bring his experience and leadership to the Red Devils.
The Numbers
- Town have won five of their last eight Football League meetings with Crawley Town, drawing one and losing two.
- The Mariners completed a league double over Crawley last season, winning 3-0 at Blundell Park before recording a 2-0 victory away from home.
- Crawley have won just one of their eight Football League away games against Town, drawing three and losing four.
- Crawley’s only away victory over the Mariners in the Football League came in September 2023, when they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
- Town are unbeaten across their last 10 league matches, recording five victories and five draws.
- The Mariners have scored nine goals in their opening six League Two fixtures, while Crawley have found the net six times.
- Crawley have won just one of their last 11 league matches, drawing four and losing six.
- Crawley’s only league victory this season came on matchday two, when they defeated Rochdale 2-1 away from home.
- Town currently sit sixth in League Two with 10 points, while Crawley are 23rd with four points.
Match Officials
Emily Heaslip will take charge of tomorrow’s fixture, with Graeme Fyvie and Conor Ledgeway appointed as assistant referees and Gareth Thomas named as fourth official.
Heaslip has taken charge of three League Two matches so far during the 2026/27 campaign, issuing 12 yellow cards.
During the 2025/26 season, Heaslip officiated 19 matches across a number of competitions, issuing 84 yellow cards, one second yellow, five red cards and nine penalties.
She has never previously refereed a Grimsby Town fixture.
Tomorrow’s meeting sees an unbeaten Mariners side welcome Crawley Town to Blundell Park, with Town looking to build on last weekend’s victory and continue their positive start to the campaign.
Get behind the Town and make some noise at Blundell Park!
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