For Grimsby Town it will be a quick return to the Football League after just one season back in The National League and for Solihull Moors it will be promotion to League Two for the first time in their history. The club were formed in 2007 when Solihull Borough who had just finished in 14th place of the Southern League Division One (Midlands) merged with Moor Green who had ended the 06/07 season midtable of the National North Division.
The Moors play at Damson Park (known as ARMCO Arena for sponsorship reasons) which is the former home of Solihull Moors with Moor Green's old ground "The Moorlands" now a housing estate. The ground had been unusable since an arson attack in 2005 with Moor Green ground-sharing with Solihull Borough for two two seasons prior to the merger. There is around 7 miles between Hall Green where The Moors were based and Solihull.
THE MANAGERS
The Mariners brought in Paul Hurst with Chris Doig as his assistant last December to replace Ian Holloway who had resigned - Hurst had been in charge at Blundell Park before from March 2011 to October 2016 where he took the club back to the football league in a play-off final victory versus Forest Green Rovers in the 15/16 season. During his first spell he was initially joint boss with Rob Scott who had left in 2013 with Doig coming in as Hurst's assistant in 2014. Hurst's playing career was spent almost entirely with Rotherham United where he made over 400 appearances with a short spell at Burton Albion in 2008. He has also manager Ilkeston Town and Boston United with Scott as joint boss along with Shrewsbury Town, Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United.
Neil Ardley was appointed Solihull Moor's manager last June after he was sacked by Notts County in April where he had been boss since November 2018. He has also been boss of AFC Wimbledon from 2012 to 2018 whom he helped to promotion to League One via winning the 15/16 League Two play-offs.
SEASONS
The Moors finished in 3rd place winning 25, drawing 12 and losing 7 of their 44 matches finishing on 87 points with Grimsby Town in 6th place on 23 wins, 8 draws and 13 defeats on 77 points.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Solihull Moors 2-0 Grimsby Town (1,772) - Tuesday 23rd November
(Adam Rooney & Joe Sbarra)
Grimsby Town 1-2 Solihull Moors (4,498) - Tuesday 22nd March
(Harry Clifton) (Kyle Hudlin 2)
RECENT FORM
The Moors are in great form winning their last six games in a row including Sunday's Semi-Final against Chesterfield 3-1. Grimsby Town have lost at home to Maidenhead United, drawn at Barnet and Eastleigh and beaten Boreham Wood along with memorable wins over Notts County and Wrexham in the play-offs. Both winners in the play-off games coming in the final minutes of extra-time!
Grimsby Town have let in 14 goals in their last 6 games with Solihull's defence being breached 5 times. At the other end The Mariners have scored 15 to Solihull's 18.
KEY PLAYERS
Emmannuel Dieseruvwe joined Grimsby Town on loan from Tranmere Rovers in March - He joined Rovers last summer following a four year spell with Salford City. He scored a hat-trick in their final regular league game against Eastleigh and the winning goal in the play-off quarter-final as well as the fourth in the semi-final. He scored for Salford in the 2019 National League play-off final and also netted The Ammie's first ever goal in the football league.
Centre-Back Luke Waterfall has played 44 times for Grimsby Town and scored the winner in the last minute of extra-time against his former club Wrexham in the play-off semi-final.
Joe Sbarra joined Solihull Moors in 2020 from Burton Albion. The midfielder has scored 18 goals in 45 league and cup games this season.
Andrew Dallas signed for Solihull Moors from Cambridge United last summer after spending part of the 20/21 campaign with Weymouth - The Scottish born striker who came through the Ranger's academy ranks has scored 20 goals in 44 league and cup games.
THE ODDS
90 minutes
Grimsby Town 2/1
Draw 9/4
Solihull Moors 7/5
courtesy of bet365.com
To be promoted
Solihull Moors 3/4
Grimsby Town 1/1
The big game kicks off at 3pm on Sunday at The London Stadium.
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