Grimsby Town are enduring a particularly hard season this term.

After finishing mid-table last season the hope was that they would be able to consolidate their place again this time around, but unfortunately for supporters that hasn't happened.

The Mariners are currently fighting to retain their place in the EFL with a spot in the National League looking like a distinct possibility.

If they're going to stay up then Paul Hurst is going to need every scrap of experience available to him within his first team squad.

Grimsby have had some great experience in their ranks during recent seasons, so with that in mind we took to Transfermarkt to find the top 10 oldest players to ever feature for Grimsby Town.

After coming through the youth ranks with Everton the former striker made his first team breakthrough with Huddersfield Town.

Five years with the Terriers were followed with spells at Mansfield Town, Gillingham, Swindon Town and then Gillingham again.

After a brief spell with Sheffield United Onuora moved to Grimsby Town in 2003, however his spell was cut short after falling out of favour with supporters.

His final appearance came on Jan 20, 2004 in a 3-1 home defeat to Wrexham - a match that he played aged 36 years 05 months 23 days.

Since then Onuora has gone on to enjoy a career in coaching and currently works as part of Aidy Boothroyd's coaching team with England under-21s.

The goalkeeper enjoyed a good career in which he picked up nine international caps for the Republic Of Ireland.

Colgan started his career in Ireland before moving to Chelsea where he spent six years as a player with a number of loans thrown in to gain match action.

Between 1999 and 2008 was when he was most prominent with five years spent at Hibernian and four years spent in Yorkshire with Barnsley.

After brief spells with Ipswich Town and Sunderland the stopper moved to Grimsby Town where he played between 2009 and 2011.

His final appearance came on May 8, 2010 in a 3-0 away to defeat to Burton Albion - a match that he played at the age of 36 years 07 months 19 days.

The full-back started his career with Stoke City before going on to enjoy a long career in England.

Lengthy spells with Chester City, Shrewsbury Town and Notts County followed before he made a move to Derby County in 2011.

Spells with Sheffield United and Portsmouth followed before Davies moved to Grimsby Town in 2016 where he stayed for two years.

Davies' final appearances for the Mariners came on May 5, 2018 in a 3-0 away win over Forest Green Rovers - a match that he played aged 36 years 11 months 08 days.

But that wasn't the last that fans would see of him with Davies coming back as a player-coach in 2020.

After starting his career with Celtic the defender joined Stoke City in 1994 where he spent four years.

In 1998 he went on to join Hull City where he had six more years before completing a move to Grimsby Town in 2004.

While he went on to enjoy spells with Harrogate Town and North Ferriby, Whittle's final appearance for the Mariners came on Mar 15, 2008 in a 3-2 defeat to Darlington.

The centre-back was aged 36 years 11 months 26 days at the time which puts him at number seven in our list.

The defender's longest spell of his career was with Grimsby Town, but actually got his major breakthrough with Leicester City in 1988.

Two years later he joined Blackpool where he spent another two years before making the move to Blundell Park.

That came in 1992 where Groves went on to spend four years, before heading off to join West Bromwich Albion in 1996.

But just a year later he returned to the Mariners where he spent another seven years.

That spell included his final appearance on Feb 8, 2004 in a 6-0 defeat to Oldham Athletic - a match that he played at the age of 37 years 11 months 11 days.

At number five we have the definition of a one-club man.

McDermott joined the club in 1985 and made his break into the Grimsby Town first team in 1987.

The utility player spent a staggering 20 years as a player for the Mariners, in which time he picked up the player of the year award on three occasions.

McDermott retired at the end of the 2006-07 season with his final appearance coming on May 5, 2007 in a 2-2 away draw with Shrewsbury Town - a match that he played at the age of 38 years 03 months 02 days.

The only member of our top 10 who still plays for the club.

Russell came through Middlesbrough's youth set-up but went on to join Darlington in 2004 where he stayed for three years before joining Rochdale and Wrexham.

Another spell with Darlington was followed by time with Forest Green Rovers and Gateshead before joining up with Grimsby Town in 2018.

The goalkeeper is still with the club at the age of 38 and could still add to his appearances, but at the time of writing his final appearance was on Jan 2, 2021 in a 2-1 home defeat to Cambridge United which he played at the age of 38 years 02 months 29 days.

The defender comes in at number three on the list of oldest players to play for the club.

Collins started his career with Chester City but got his big break with Sunderland after moving to the North East in 2004.

After five years at the Stadium of Light the centre-back moved to Stoke City where he spent another three years, including loan seals with Ipswich Town and West Ham United.

He then spent the next four years with Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United before joining Grimsby Town in 2016.

Collins spent three years with the club with his final appearance coming at the age of 38 years 08 months 28 days in a match against Crewe Alexandra on May 4, 2019.

The Yorkshire born goalkeeper came through the youth set-up before joining Doncaster Rovers in 1999.

After eight years with Doncaster he briefly joined Bury before moving on to Rotherham United in 2007 - a club where he spent six years.

Warrington left the Millers for Buxton in 2013 and then moved on to Grimsby Town in 2015.

The goalkeeper spent three years with the Mariners as a player/goalkeeping coach with his final appearance for the club coming on Nov 9, 2016 in a 4-2 defeat to Sheffield United.

He played that match at the age of 40 years 04 months 30 days.

The oldest player to ever feature for Grimsby Town.

Beagrie started his career with Middlesbrough in 1983 before going on to join Sheffield United, Stoke City and Everton where he spent five years as a player.

The winger then had three years with Manchester City before having four years with Bradford City.

Five years with Scunthorpe United followed before he went on to join Grimsby Town for a brief spell in 2006.

His final match for the club came on September 26th 2006 in a 4-1 defeat to Hartlepool United - a match that he played at the impressive age of 40 years 09 months 29 days.