Corkman Harrington to join Grimsby in emergency goalkeeper loan deal

Harrington is set to start his first game of the season on Saturday against Cheltenham Town.

Republic of Ireland goalkeepers David Harrington and Mark Travers, left. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026 - 17:29

John Fallon

Former Cork City goalkeeper David Harrington is to join Grimsby Town from Bolton Wanderers in an emergency loan deal to cure their custodian crisis.

First-choice Christy Pym was taken off injured at half-time in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against Accrington Stanley, replaced for the second half by 19-year-old Seb Auton.

A request by the club to the EFL for extenuating circumstances is believed to have been granted.

Harrington, son of City great Phil, is set to start his first game of the season on Saturday against Cheltenham Town.

The 26-year-old will be relieved to get gametime after the arrival of Ireland international Gavin Bazunu before Tuesday’s deadline pushed him down the pecking order at Wanderers.

The Championship newcomers already have an Irishman in goal, Jack Bonham, but competition from the ex-Manchester City and Southampton stopper relegates Harrington further to the margins.

He joined Bolton last January on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Fleetwood Town but has yet to make a first-team appearance.

Capped at U21 level for Ireland, despite being promoted to the senior squad once, he switched allegiance to his father’s homeland of Wales in 2024.