Thanks: Bob Cumming

Robert “Bobby” Cumming played 365 times for Grimsby in a long and distinguished career and is one of only a handful of players who is as well received at one end of the A46 as the other.

He joined us in 1987 immediately after relegation to the GMVC directly from the Cods. He was 32-years old, still able to hack it on the pitch and still every bit as hard as he always was. He was an integral part of our Conference winning team, displaying not just that ferocious tackling but a calm influence in the centre of the park. It was a highly provocative season where opponents wanted us beaten in any way possible, but though both style and aggression, Cumming led us through those dark days, although Trevor Matthewson was the on-field captain, Cumming’s influence was very father-like towards the players.

Matthewson lifted the GMVC trophy, the fans rewarded Bobby Cumming by voting him as the player of the season. He spent the summer in upstate New York playing for Albany Capitals before returning to make his Football League debut for us in our return game against Hartlepool.

He went on to enjoy another two seasons with the Imps in the Football League, making 40 appearances and scoring five goals. His Imps career ended when he collected an ankle injury in an FA Cup tie in November 1989.

In 2007, he was recently voted 23rd in the top 100 Lincoln City league legends. Not bad for a former Grimsby icon who would probably be just as revered in their poll. He emigrated to America in 1990, settling in Kendallville, Indiana and playing when his injury allowed for the local side.