The 2005-06 campaign was a season of high ambition and ultimate heartbreak for Grimsby Town, as The Mariners finished 4th in League Two, narrowly missing automatic promotion on the final day. Under manager Russell Slade, they secured a dramatic play-off semi-final victory over rivals Lincoln City before facing Cheltenham Town in the final. Spearheading the attack was the prolific partnership of Gary Jones (15 league goals) and Michael Reddy, whose 14 league goals proved vital. However, the season ended in disappointment with a narrow 1-0 defeat in the final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, leaving the campaign a memorable yet painful chapter of 'Play-Off Runners Up' in the club's history.