From The Dock Tower To The Twin Towers: Preview

Hello and welcome to this exclusive preview of my next written project 'From The Dock Tower To The Twin Towers: Grimsby Town In The 1990s'. Here we have an interview with ex-Mariners defender Mark Lever who kindly gave up some time to answer a few questions for the book. 

For more about the project and how you can get involved, drop me a follow on Twitter @DanBarkerGray. 

They Wore A Black And White Shirt: Mark Lever

Central defender Mark Lever joined Grimsby Town in 1986 as a schoolboy and turned professional two years later. During a twelve year spell at Blundell Park, Lever achieved three promotions with the club and was named man-of-the-match in the 1998 Division Two Play-Off final against Northampton Town. After winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award in 1989 and 1991, Mark won the coveted Player of the Year award in 2000 at the end of his tenure with Grimsby Town. 

By the time the 1990s started, you were beginning to become firmly established as one of Town’s first choice central defenders, did this come with any pressure or expectation? 

Oh yes, I have always heaped a load of pressure on myself anyway and when you are playing for a proud football club like Grimsby Town expectation is always there. 

After the disappointments of the relegations of the late 1980s, was it important to start the decade in a successful manner? 

Yes, I was a YTS in 1987/88 when we were relegated to the fourth tier. On a personal level it gave me an opportunity I may not have had if we had stayed up but yes it was imperative that we attacked the 90s. 

The promotion in 1990 saw Town back in the Third Division, was there a belief in the squad that promotion was achievable for a second year in a row? 

The belief and togetherness in that squad was unbelievable. A good mixture of youth and experience along with some sensible human beings and the odd daft lad but almost anything is achievable if you have the right mix in the changing room. 

Many people have referred to the final game of the 1990-91 season against Exeter as one of Blundell Park’s greatest ever days, what are your memories of the game? 

Big games like that one against Exeter are always a blur really but I remember Blundell Park being packed to the rafters with a deafening atmosphere. Cockers (John Cockerill) obviously scored the two goals to put us in control but Exeter were a very good side, kept going and pulled one back. The last five minutes seemed like an eternity but we hung on with the fans in the Ponny blowing the ball away from our net. The pitch invasion was immense and the staff and players celebrated with the fans in the Main Stand. Magic day and night. 

Following the promotion in 1991, Town were a Second Division outfit for the first time since the mid-1980s and there was a number of big clubs in the second tier at the time. Was there any teams you were relished playing against or anyone you saw as daunting opposition? 

I was living the dream but was never really daunted by playing against anyone, it was just surreal playing at stadiums I had only ever seen on Match Of The Day! 

The 1992-93 season saw Town defy all expectation and be firmly in the race for the play-offs towards the end of the campaign, what are your memories of that season? Did anyone allow themselves to have half a thought about playing in the Premier League the following year? 

It was an extremely tough season as I remember but being little old Grimsby I don’t think any of us were arrogant enough to believe we would be playing in the PL. 

Moving things forward a couple of years, was there any excitement among the players (especially those who were there for his first spell) when Alan Buckley returned to Blundell Park? 

A bit of a mixture really, we were all shocked when AB left for pastures new but a few cracks had started to show with certain members of the squad, myself included. Lawsy (Brian Laws) had treated me very well, as had Cockers in his caretaker spell so personally I was a bit undecided. 

Prior to the AWS final against Bournemouth, what was the atmosphere like amongst the squad? 

To be honest we were confident but petrified at the same time. 

Did winning the final help the mood among the players ahead of the Play-Off final against Northampton Town? Did your previous visit help the team focus?

Absolutely, against Bournemouth, especially in the first half, the majority of the squad myself included allowed the occasion to get to us although as history will tell you, we improved a bit in the second half. When we returned five weeks later, the men were more than ready. 

You celebrated your testimonial year in 1998, how did it feel to be rewarded by the supporters for your service to the club, especially with your testimonial fixture against Nottingham Forest? 

It was a massive honour to be rewarded with a testimonial by the club, I always felt the supporters and myself had a decent relationship. The majority of football supporters like players to give their all so I will always cherish that bond. 

Finally, due to the promotions and their exploits in the domestic cups, Town played against some high-profile opponents during the 1990s. Who was the best player you came up against? 

Definitely Mark Hughes when we played Chelsea in the replay at Stamford Bridge. He was past his best but still immense with his back to goal and was as strong as an ox.