Grimsby join select group of fourth-tier heroes with fairytale FA Cup run

T he Harry the Haddock mascots were out in force at St Mary’s earlier this month as Grimsby beat Southampton to progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals. The away fans held aloft a sea of inflatable fish in the stands as their team pulled off one of the biggest shocks in recent years. Grimsby became the first side in the 151 years of the FA Cup to beat opponents from higher divisions in five rounds, having already taken care of three League One clubs – Plymouth Argyle, Cambridge United and Burton Albion – and Luton Town from the Championship.

Grimsby, who are 16th in League Two and only regained their league status last year by winning the National League playoffs, have reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1939, when they were a First Division side and eventually lost 5-0 to Wolves in the semi-finals. Their stunning 2-1 victory at Southampton makes them just the fifth club from the fourth tier to reach the quarter-finals since the division was founded in the late 1950s.

Oxford United were the first to do it, beating Blackburn in the fifth round in 1964 when Ron Atkinson was their captain. “I remember it vividly, it was a wonderful occasion,” he reflected later. “At the time it was a record gate and, for so many people to come and watch, it gave us all a big lift. Blackburn were right at the top of Division One and we were a little Division Four club. Only a month or so earlier they had won 8-2 away to West Ham, and that was a West Ham team with Bobby Moore and all the England World Cup stars in it, so they were a very good side.”

Seven years later, Colchester United became the second club from the Fourth Division to reach the quarter-finals. They pulled off an almighty shock to reach the last eight, beating