TODAY has not been kind to the Mariners, who are still waiting for their first 17th August win in 45 years of playing on this day.
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The Mariners’ promising start to the 1968/69 season continued as they again kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw at Darlington but of course that result was a false dawn for Town, who had to seek re-election at the end of the season.
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Kicking off the 1974/75 season with a home clash against Blackburn Rovers, Jack Lewis on the scoresheet for the Mariners but it wasn’t enough as the Lancastrians won the game 2-1.
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A marathon trip to Brighton started the 1985/86 season on this day with Gary Lund and Gordon Hobson striking to earn the Mariners’ a 2-2 draw.
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One of the most memorable opening day fixtures of the last 25 years came on 17 August 1991 as Cambridge United visited Blundell Park.
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Despite a brace from Tony Rees and Tommy Watson’s strike, the Mariners were undone by an aerial bombardment from the U’s, for whom Dion Dublin and Lee Philpott were a constant threat – the visitors winning a pulsating contest 4-3.
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There was more opening day woe for Town in 1996 as Steve Bull helped himself to a hat trick in a 3-1 win for Wolves in Cleethorpes.
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Darren Barnard’s spectacular 40-yard lob wasn’t enough to earn the Mariners any points in a televised clash against Derby in 2002 as Adam Bolder’s brace earned the win for the Rams.
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The game is most notable for a sickening head injury to Town striker Steve Livingstone, who received over 20 minutes’ worth of attention on the field for a fractured skull after a clash of heads with Danny Higginbotham.
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Thankfully Livingstone recovered and was astonishingly back scoring goals for the Mariners within six weeks!
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Blundell Park’s first Conference game came on this day three years ago as the Mariners and York played out a 0-0 draw – Michael Leary coming closest to breaking the deadlock for the hosts.