GOALSCORING ACES IN THE BRIGG AREA 1959-2022: FROM GEOFF SELLS TO SCOTT PHILLIPS

Consistent goalscorers have always been highly prized by football clubs in Brigg and district.
Brigg Town striker Scott Phillips has just finished top scorer in Toolstation Northern Counties East Division One with 37 league goals and a further seven in cup-ties for the Zebras during their 2021/22 campaign.
Garry 'Gig' Smith topped 60 in a season for Scunthorpe & District Leaguers Brigg Amateurs in the 1960s.
Geoff Hutchinson's goals for Brigg Town culminated in Scunthorpe United signing him for the 1971/72 season when the Iron gained promotion from Division Four under manager Ron Ashman.
Peter Wainwright took the eye at Brigg Grammar School in the 1970s. Having played for various local teams, he had some seasons as a professional with Grimsby Town.
In the 1980s, Simon Lawtey banged in the goals for Saturday and Sunday teams at Brigg Recreation Ground, and also at Hibaldstow.
Barnetby United official and club historian, Lee Fielden, has just contacted Brigg Blog with details of another consistent goal ace, Geoff Sells, who played for the village club and also for Brigg Town FC.
Did the former Brigg Grammar School pupil's purple patch of 26 goals in five successive league games establish a record for football in our area?


1959-60: Geoff Sells and his remarkable 5-match scoring streak

In the 1959-60 season The Railwaymen were re-grouping in the 2nd division of the Grimsby amd District League. In need of a centre forward, wing half Geoff Sells was pushed up top and embarked on a remarkable scoring spree, writes Lee Fielden.
In 5 consecutive league games he notched 5-5-5-7-4 to score 26 goals.
His goalscoring had propelled Barnetby to the top of the 2nd division of the Grimsby League but had also attracted the interest of near neighbours Brigg Town FC.
Geoff had previously played in The Lincolnshire League for Lincoln City A and his move to The Zebras would see Barnetby’s challenge falter and they drifted to a mid-table finish.
He did return to Barnetby when not getting a game for Brigg and scored a brace in the 1964 Humber Cup Final when Barnetby defeated Winterton Rangers 3-2 after extra time.
He played his last game for the Railwaymen in the 1968-69 season, having scored over 70 goals for the club.
His total of 7 goals in a game for the club was a record until September 2009 when Eddie Reeve scored 8 away at Epworth.
The two men met at the club's 80th anniversary.

N.F. ADDS: Lee has dipped into his extensive archive to provide some pictures, seen below, featuring Geoff after his playing days were over, together with some newspaper cuttings reporting his remarkable 5-5-5-7-4 scoring streak. The articles were written by Blundell - the pen-name of long-serving Grimsby Evening Telegraph sports editor Roy Line, who covered hundreds of Grimsby Town matches in the Football League.

PICTURE MONTAGE ABOVE: Brigg Amateurs lifting a trophy at the Rec Ground in the 1960s with top scorer 'Gig' Smith the second player from the left, and Brigg Town in action at the Hawthorns in the early 1970s.