Cod Almighty | Article
by Pat Bell
9 February 2026
Grimsby fans took miniature watering cans to the 1939 FA Cup semi-final against Wolves. They were airing a grievance from a previous cup meeting, as Pat shows in an extract from his forthcoming book, Cinderellas of the Football League.
In the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1937, Grimsby were drawn to host Wolves...
When the local authority in Wolverhampton refused to permit coach operators to run services to Grimsby for the match, the local MP raised the matter in the House of Commons, claiming that 10,000 Wolves fans wanted to watch their team win. The transport minister refused to intervene. Instead, supporters had to make the difficult journey by rail; on matchday, 20 February, fresh trainloads arrived every few minutes and spilled out onto the platform at New Clee station.
Inside the ground, the old gold of the visitors was prominent as the terraces rapidly filled, the spectators entertained while they waited for the teams to emerge by the mascots: a gentleman sporting a gold and black bowler hat and umbrella; a fisherman in sou’wester; and a pierrot dressed in black and white. And still the crowd built, the late arrivals somehow squeezing themselves into the throng. The attendance of 31,651 and the gate receipts of £2,772 10s 9d easily broke all previous Blundell Park records.
The match was dictated by nerves and by a strong wind blowing towards the Cleethorpes end of the ground. With that wind behind them, Town’s passes carried too far, and there were frequent stoppages for fouls by both sides.
Three minutes into the second half, Craven raced onto a lob, touched the ball past one man and leapt over the outstretched foot of another before driving a cross-shot into the net
It was from a free-kick that Wolves took the lead. When they crossed into the box, a Town defender hindered George Tweedy as he came out to claim it, allowing a free header into the empty net. Grimsby almost hit back immediately but after Cyril Lewis ran in on goal he shot straight at the goalkeeper. At half time Wolves led 1-0.
Charlie Craven sparked Town’s recovery. Three minutes into the second half he raced onto a lob, touched the ball past one man and leapt over the outstretched foot of another before driving a cross-shot into the net. Amid a scrappy match, this was a moment of thrilling quality.
It lifted the atmosphere. From a 30-yard free kick, Glover drew one outstanding save, and a second moments later with a shot towards the foot of the post. Briefly it looked as though Town would surge to victory until Wolves regained their composure. They had a long shot crash from the crossbar but they also found that the wind was difficult to harness. The tension rose when they won free kicks near goal but Town snuffed out the danger.
The match might have been lost by a slip or won with a flash of inspiration. Glover bore down on a rebound, but any yelps of excitement were cut short as the goalkeeper recovered. And then with three minutes remaining Glover, who had pulled so many games round for Grimsby, raced out to the wing, claimed possession, swept past the full back and into space where he picked out James Dyson, in front of goal. However, Wolves had defenders back and they crowded him out. The match ended in deadlock.
Glover and the Wolves centre half Stan Cullis were doubts for the replay, to be played four days later, but Glover was declared fit and Town were able to field their strongest side. It was their one piece of luck. Because of a trade fair, all the hotels in Birmingham and Wolverhampton were booked up so they travelled to the game from Derby; a souvenir seller, working the train carriages, had no takers when he tried to sell them Wolves rosettes. Then Town arrived at Molineux to discover that the pitch was a quagmire.
There had been some light drizzle over lunch but the Grimsby press found it hard to credit that enough rain had fallen to reduce it to such a state. On Saturday, the Blundell Park playing surface had been soft, but the Wolves manager, Major Frank Buckley, described it as dry and to the disadvantage of his players who were young and athletic, equipped to play an open game chasing balls lofted to the wings. A muddy pitch suited them well.
Among the directors the usual sporting civilites were upheld but the suspicion lingered that Wolves had watered the pitch to the point where Town's passing game was impossible
Before the match, Wolves presented Town chairman George Pearce with a box which he did not have a chance to open, for directors and managers from all over the country had come to Molineux for the mid-week match, and the boardroom was abuzz; he discovered only later that the box contained favours in Grimsby’s colours. Among the directors, the usual sporting civilities were upheld and Pearce would be gracious in defeat, but in Lincolnshire the suspicion lingered that Buckley had ordered the pitch to be watered to the point where Town’s passing game was impossible.
Despite conceding an early goal, they competed valiantly at first. When Bestall dribbled across the field, drew the defence and cut the ball back for Lewis to equalise, the big crowd was reduced to silence. But Bestall was later forced to take up a position on the wing simply to find firm ground for his footcraft. The Mariners tired as they floundered in the mud, while Wolves maintained their astonishing speed; 2-1 up at half-time, they went on to win 6-2. Grimsby’s FA Cup hopes were over for another year.
Cinderellas of the Football League: Grimsby Town 1919-1939 is planned for publication this autumn. Follow @30s20s on X for further news.