We didn’t have the same success as Grimsby with Drinkell though. The 80s and 90s must have been glory days, as a regular in the second tier for Grimsby fans. That just wouldn’t happen now for Grimsby, unless they get bought out and get a new stadium, at least.
The days of Grimsby, Shrewsbury, Port Vale, Crewe, Stockport, Gillingham, Walsall, Bury, Tranmere, Doncaster and Wimbledon having prolonged stints in the higher divisions don’t seem possible now with the money involved. Clubs like Rotherham, Wigan, Barnsley and Peterborough struggle to be anything but yo-yo teams between the Championship and League One, and the other teams vying for promotion in League One have been ailing giants like Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton, Ipswich, Derby and Sunderland. The years when smaller clubs could have a hope of glory are fading, alas.