John McDermott (English footballer)  John McDermott (born 3 February 1969) is an English former professional footballer and former manager of Alfreton Town. As a player, he was a right-back from 1987 to 2007, spending his entire 20-year playing career at Grimsby Town, and holds the club's all-time appearance record, having played 647 league games, 754 games overall for the Mariners. He is one of only 17 players in the history of English football to play more than 600 Football League matches for a single club. Upon retirement McDermott moved into coaching at the Grimsby Institute before he was appointed assistant manager at Harrogate Town in 2010. McDermott was appointed as manager of Alfreton Town in May 2017. He mutually agreed to part company in 2018. He was released at apprentice level. However, when the apprenticeship scheme was revamped he was re-signed as a trainee at Grimsby Town and after 13 appearances in the Second Division he signed professional terms. At the start of McDermott's career he was a utility player but then established himself as a regular right-back for the Mariners. He won Grimsby Town's 'Player of the Year' award a record three times. In 1994, McDermott suffered an injury and was injured for nine months. He regained his place in the team in 1996 and was linked with moves to Sunderland AFC and Ipswich Town, but he did not leave Grimsby Town. A quote from him in 2005 on the situation of present-day footballers is:  ""If someone would rather sit in the reserves at a big club and drive around in a Ferrari rather than going out on-loan and playing, then I think it's a sad day."" There was a time where he was expected to move to fierce rivals Hull, but the deal never materialised. He was appointed captain by player/manager Paul Groves, and won BBC Radio Humberside 'Sports personality of the year' award. Other highlights in his career included the win over Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup. Further highlights followed in the 2005–06 season as he had his second testimonial against local rivals Hull City and was included in "Four Four Two" magazine's list of the top 50 players outside the Premier League. Throughout his 20-year career, McDermott has experienced promotion or relegation nine times. He considers his Man of The Match award in the Auto Windscreens Shield victory in 1998 to be the highlight of his career. McDermott was described by one Grimsby Town fanzine as a defender who 'defends without tackling'; meant as a compliment to his ability to shackle opposition strikers without committing fouls.