Gainsborough on the Cusp

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 08/05/2012 (Last updated: 09/05/2012)

GAINSBOROUGH Trinity are one match away from becoming the third Lincolnshire team to field a side in the Football Conference next season. Trinity face Nuneaton at home on Sunday with the winner set to dine at non-league football's top table next season.

It's an impressive achievement for a town with a population of just 20,000 people and an average gate of around 500 to finish fourth in the Blue Square North, never mind to play at a higher level. Trinity beat former league side Halifax over two legs last week, while fifth placed Nuneaton were knocking out favourites Guiseley from the play-offs.

Ironically Gainsborough have an impressive pedigree in the pioneering days of English football. They were regular opponents for Grimsby in the early days of the Football League, when the Mariners and Trinity were both participants in the first few seasons of the new Second Division (Town were founder members, Trinity joined later when it was expanded).

Town last played Trinity in an official game in 1912. They were then voted out of the second division and replaced by nearby Lincoln City, who they could face next season as equals for the first time ever if they get promoted.

Town have played Gainsborough many times since in pre-season at Lincs Cup games, but next season would be their first chance to gain revenge for the 3-2 defeat by Grimsby exactly 100 years ago in 1912.

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