The Southern League`s Outstanding Teams – Aylesbury United 1987/88

A review of a thrilling season for the Ducks.

Trevor Gould was appointed as manager of then-Southern League Midland Division club Aylesbury United at the start of the 1983/84 season.

Brother of former Wimbledon boss and centre-forward of many clubs, Bobby, Trevor made 140 Football League appearances for Coventry City and Northampton Town, followed by a successful spell as player-manager of Bedford Town before joining Rushden Town and then Aylesbury.

In his first season in charge of the Ducks, Gould led the side to fifth place and then won promotion to the Premier Division the following campaign by virtue of finishing second behind Dudley Town.

Gould`s first season in the Premier Division saw a solid eighth-placed finish before 1986/87 saw an exciting finale see Fisher Athletic take top spot, three points in front of runners-up Bromsgrove Rovers, who finished in front of Aylesbury by virtue of possessing a one-goal advantage!

Gould built an experienced side at Buckingham Road, with a few former pros like ex-Watford and Northampton Town defender Paul Saunders and one-time England semi-professional international and Peterborough United and Mansfield Town midfielder Brendan Phillips – later to make a name for himself in non-League management.

But the bulk of his squad was made up of solid, well-established non-League players such as record goalscorer Cliff Hercules, strike partner Cliff Campbell and lads who had played for the manager before at Bedford or Rushden, such as Kevin James, Dave Botterill and Peter Robinson.

His one major close-season capture in July 1987 saw highly-rated goalkeeper Tim Garner join from Corby Town.

He went on to make well over 200 appearances for the club, having formerly been with Northampton Town, Nuneaton Borough, AP Leamington and Kidderminster Harriers.

A good pre-season, which included a 2-1 win over a near full-strength Northampton side and a 9-0 walloping of village side Oving, sent the Ducks into their opening game of the 1987/88 season at home to Corby Town in confident mood.

And a decent crowd of 718 saw a Cliff Campbell hat-trick seal a 3-1 win.

Campbell, who scored goals for Leamington, Banbury United, Nuneaton Borough and Bedford before signing for Aylesbury in 1984, netted a second successive hat-trick as Ashford Town were beaten 4-1 at their borrowed Cheriton Road, Folkestone ground – ex-Kettering Town and Nuneaton midfielder Derek Duggan bagging the other.

Peter McBean, a bustling forward signed just prior to the season from Bedworth United, scored twice on his full debut as a crowd of 813 saw the Ducks beat Dartford, who were to prove to be their biggest title rivals, 3-1 with Campbell making it 7 goals in three games with the other.

Brendan Phillips scored his first goal of the season along with another from McBean as Willenhall Town were beaten 2-1 at Noose Lane, but Nuneaton Borough held Gould`s side to a 0-0 draw two days later at Manor Park.

Next up for the Ducks was a tough FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie at home against Conference side Wycombe Wanderers.

This was Wycombe pre-Martin O`Neill though and they were struggling rather in the league but, in front of 1,530 at Buckingham Road, it was still an upset with goals from Campbell and Duggan in Aylesbury`s 2-0 success.

The following weekend saw Gould`s side make the lengthy trip to Gosport Borough, although Phillips and Campbell made it a happy journey home after a 2-0 win.

Eastern Counties League side Sudbury Town away in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup was next on the agenda for Aylesbury

The club`s record goalscorer, Cliff Hercules, had yet to find the net in 87/88, but it was his goal that earned a replay the following Tuesday which, courtesy of a brace from Dave Botterill – his first goals of the campaign to date – sealed a place in the next round and a 2-1 win, although they did have to come back from being an 11th minute Marty Thorpe goal behind to go through.

So, it was an unbeaten August and September and October began well with a 3-0 success on the south coast at Fareham Town, thanks to Paul Hackett`s first goal of the season and two more for Hercules.

However, a first defeat followed three days later as neighbours Buckingham Town beat the Ducks. But it was a League Cup (then known as Westgate Insurance Cup) tie in which squad players like local lad Steve Lambert, former Congleton Town forward Albert Altenor and midfielder John Davie, who had returned for a second spell from Witney Town, were given game time.

Isthmian League Division Two North side Hertford Town proved to be comfortable FA Cup Third Qualifying Round opposition as two from Campbell and one apiece for Botterill and Hercules saw the Ducks through.

Peter Hutter scored his first goal of the season on October 17th as Burton Albion held the Ducks to an exciting 3-3 draw at Eton Park, with Hercules now having found his touch with two more.

The draw for the Fourth Qualifying Round of the cup gave Gould`s side a very tough task away at Conference outfit Enfield.

Eddie McClusky`s side may have been on the wane a little by then, but they were still a formidable outfit.

Nicky Francis scored for the E`s but Paul Hackett and Dave Botterill saw the Ducks through to Monday`s First Round Proper draw.

And that gave them an away day at Third Division Bristol City`s Ashton Gate.

Before that though there were important games to play, and after two indifferent performances against Dunstable Town in the Westgate Insurance Cup which saw a draw and a 4-0 defeat, Aylesbury`s unbeaten run in the league came to an end on October 31st as Bromsgrove Rovers won 1-0 at the Victoria Ground.

Three days later it was a new venture for Aylesbury as they took part in the GMAC Cup, introduced a year or so earlier and involving top sides in the Southern, Northern Premier, Isthmian and Conference and one in which the Ducks had battled through to reach the semi-finals in 86/87.

After receiving a bye past the qualifying stage where the three feeder leagues played against teams from their own divisions to reach the first round, Aylesbury were paired with a strong Ted Hardy-managed Leytonstone & Ilford side.

This time though, the Ducks interest in the fledgling competition lasted just one match as, despite another Hercules brace, the East London outfit won by the odd goal in five.

Aylesbury`s blip in form continued as Alvechurch came to Buckingham Road and held their hosts to a goalless draw, which wasn`t ideal preparation for the big cup tie against Bristol City four days later.

A crowd of 8,263 saw a goal from Tony Caldwell on 62 minutes prove enough for the Robins to defeat the Ducks.

Three days later, a Gary Harthill effort sealed an unspectacular 1-0 home win over Shepshed Charterhouse, and November ended with a 2-1 win at league rivals Ashford Town in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy – Gould`s side gaining exemption until then after reaching the Third Round the previous season.

Worcester City were beaten 1-0 at St George`s Lane in their next league game, thanks to a Cliff Hercules goal, but three days later, Dartford inflicted a second league defeat on the Ducks at Watling Street, despite Brendan Phillips` reply.

Strike pair Cliff Campbell and Hercules returned Aylesbury to winning ways in the league at Buckingham Road against Ashford and a week later it was Trophy time again, with high-flying Conference side Kettering Town visiting the Ducks.

A crowd of 1,222 saw Campbell for the hosts and Mark Smith for the Poppies battle out a 1-1 draw.

The replay at Rockingham Road the following Tuesday was a bad night for Gould`s side as a hat-trick from Frankie Murphy and a brace for midfielder Paul Richardson produced a 5-1 success for Peter Morris` side, with Campbell netting the visitors` consolation.

The disappointment continued on the Saturday, which was Boxing Day, when Aylesbury could only manage a 1-1 draw at Marriott`s Close against bottom side Witney Town – Campbell again the scorer.

However, two days later a Hercules brace returned the Ducks to winning ways against Cambridge City at home.

Cliff Hercules` brace sealed a 2-1 win in front of 1,120.

And New Year`s Day saw another home game as Chelmsford City travelled to Buckingham Road and left beaten 3-1 with two for Cliff Campbell and one for Hercules.

United's second game in the space of 24 hours saw them take their unbeaten league run to four games as they kept up their title challenge with a 2-1 win at the Rockingham Triangle against Corby Town.

Dave Botterill put the Ducks ahead with his sixth goal of the season in the 26th minute to give them a half time lead before the visitors' second goal in the 72nd minute from Hercules completed an unbeaten league Christmas for Gould's side.

However, January 9th saw Bromsgrove Rovers seal a 2-1 win at Aylesbury, whose goal came from the opposition.

And the week after, it was a visit to Crawley Town on what was a dreadful Town Mead pitch.

A David Myers penalty and a Cliff Cant volley saw the Sussex side lead 2-0 at half-time.

In the 61st minute, both sides were reduced to ten-men when Aylesbury`s Paul Hackett and Crawley`s Trevor Timms were sent-off - the seventh time a Ducks player had been dismissed to date.

Gary Harthill gave the Ducks hope of a late comeback but Crawley held on for a 2-1 win.

It was imperative Gould`s side got back on track quickly, and they had a quick chance three days later as Dorchester Town came to Buckingham Road

New signing Bob Coy, a former Wolves, Chester City and Northampton Town defender, made an impressive debut at right-back as the Ducks enjoyed a comfortable 5-1 win with goals from Dave Botterill with two, Peter Hutter, Campbell and Harthill.

January ended with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Gosport, courtesy of a 20th minute Hercules header.

Three days later Second Division Reading arrived at Aylesbury for a Berks & Bucks Senior Cup tie, and Paul Saunders grabbed an extra-time winner.

A tough trip to Shepshed trip was overcome, thanks to Cliff Campbell`s only goal of the game and next came three important home games in seven days against teams near the bottom end of the table in VS Rugby, Nuneaton Borough and Redditch United.

Gary Harthill and Campbell sealed a 2-0 win against Rugby, but Nuneaton battled to a 1-1 draw, with Botterill scoring the Ducks goal, and then Redditch, managed at the time by former Aston Villa skipper Dennis Mortimer, were seen off 2-1 with a Hercules brace.

A probably less than disappointing exit from the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup followed against Wokingham Town was followed four days later by a much more important league win at Dorchester – Botterill and Harthill goals sealing a league `double` over the Magpies.

March came in with a second draw against Burton Albion, this time a 2-2 outcome at home, with Hercules bagging a brace, and a 3-0 triumph at the Oval against Bedworth United, thanks to Campbell, Hercules and an own goal.

What proved to be a crucial month for the Ducks, the next four matches were all at home.

A second successive 3-0 win against Willenhall Town with a Hercules double and one from Harthill, was followed three days later by a surprise 2-0 home defeat to Leicester United.

The crowd the next time against Fareham Town was down a hundred or so after that defeat but they missed the Ducks` biggest win of the season as a hat-trick from Hercules and singles from Derek Duggan, Peter Hutter and Harthill secured a 6-0 win.

And March was seen out with a quickfire `double` over Bedworth, 3-1 with two more for Hercules and another for Duggan.

April began with a best-of-five win at New Writtle Street against Chelmsford City, with Campbell, Hercules and Harthill and then successive home games against Witney and Crawley saw 1-0 and 3-2 wins respectively.

A 2-0 win at The Valley Stadium against Redditch United in which Campbell and one of the few new signings brought in by Gould during the season, Paul Thomas from Bedworth United, was followed by a crucial 1-0 win at Buckingham Road against Worcester City where a Gary Harthill goal proved decisive in front of the biggest crowd of the season, 2,400.

Aylesbury travelled to Alvechurch on April 23rd knowing that victory would all but seal promotion to the Conference.

Despite the best efforts of the travelling supporters Aylesbury were very nervous and crashed to a 1-0 defeat.

And it began to get even more twitchy when Leicester United did the `double` over the Ducks with a 1-0 win at United Park.

Dartford, managed by former England boss Peter Taylor, refused to give up the fight and apparent `lost cause` when being so many points behind.

May 2nd saw a Gary Harthill effort earn a 1-1 draw at Milton Road against Cambridge City and goals from Derek Duggan and Cliff Hercules sealed a 2-2 draw at Butlin Road against VS Rugby in front of a large contingent of celebrating Ducks fans in the 1,541 crowd.

Dartford won eleven of their last thirteen fixtures only to lose the title on goal difference – and only then by 4 goals.

Cliff Hercules ended top of the scorers` charts with 26, his partner Cliff Campbell, who left that summer, chipped in with 20 and Gary Harthill 12.

Aylesbury then hit the headlines again, becoming the only non-League side ever to take on the full England team, as a crowd of 6,031 packed into Buckingham Road to see the Ducks take on the Three Lions.

A Peter Beardsley hat-trick was the highlight of a 7-0 win for Bobby Robson`s men.

Unfortunately, Aylesbury's brush with the non-League elite only lasted one season, after which the club were relegated, but this time to the Isthmian League.

But 1987/88 will be a season long recalled by Aylesbury supporters