Looking Back at….Season 1988/89

A fantastic season for the Martyrs and Lambs.

Having been promoted from the Southern League Midland Division in 1987/88, great things were expected of the free-scoring Merthyr Tydfil side in the Premier Division as the 1988/89 season kicked-off.

However, with only one victory in their first five games, the club appeared to be more relegation material than promotion candidates.

With FA Cup ties and replays, Welsh Cup and FA Trophy matches, the Martyrs fell well behind in their league fixtures, lying third-from-bottom at the end of November.

Good FA Cup results were achieved with away victories over then-Western Leaguers Tiverton Town, Southern Midland side Gloucester City and Southern Premier rivals Crawley Town after a replay before falling 3-2 to Conference outfit Yeovil Town at Huish Park in front of over 4,000 spectators.

An early Welsh Cup exit followed, losing 3-0 at Penydarren Park the following week to Swansea City.

But the team were now acclimatising themselves to the higher standards of the Southern Premier Division, and matches were being won on a regular basis.

Turning into the New Year, Lyn Jones` side were still on the fringe of the relegation candidates, lying 17th out of the 22 clubs, but a run of ten unbeaten league games lifted the club to seventh position by Easter.

With FA Trophy victories over then-Isthmian League Premier Division sides Wokingham Town after a replay and Aylesbury United, the side were beginning to play the style of football that supporters had come to expect in recent seasons.

They eventually bowed out of the Trophy with a creditable 2-0 defeat at Conference side Wycombe Wanderers in front of 3,432 at Loakes Park.

This defeat left the Martyrs with only a respectable league position to play for.

And with only two defeats in their last nineteen games, Merthyr found themselves having to beat Crawley in their last game to clinch the Premier Division championship.

In front of 3,341 vociferous fans – Merthyr`s final three games were all at home attracting a total of 8,870 spectators – Crawley took an early lead and news filtered through that Dartford, who needed to win their last game with Merthyr losing, were winning 2-0.

An uneasy quiet descended over Penydarren Park before two flying headers from two of the shortest players on the field – Dai Webley and Paul Giles – lifted both the players and the crowd to a second half onslaught of the Crawley goal.

A third goal – his 52nd of the season – was scored by top scorer Webley and the home fans celebrated promotion for the second season running.

Unlucky Dartford finished as runners-up for the second successive season and Peter Taylor`s side had to console themselves with winning the Southern League (Westgate Insurance) Cup by beating Burton Albion 3-1 on aggregate.

Gloucester City, relegated from the Premier Division four years earlier, returned as champions of the Midland Division under Brian Godfrey, along with Atherstone United.

Another `sleeping giant` awoke in 88/89, Chelmsford City did not dwell too long in the shock of being relegated to the Southern Division and regained their Premier Division status at the first attempt.

And the Clarets did so in some style as well, looking certainties for promotion all season and notching a massive 106 goals to take the Merit Cup, edging out the winners of the previous two season, Merthyr, who just missed a hat-trick with 104 goals.

Going up with Chelmsford were another big club in Gravesend & Northfleet.

After fierce competition from Poole Town, Bury Town and Burnham, Fleet were four points ahead of their nearest rivals and regain the Premier Division status they lost at the end of the 1085/86 season.

The Southern League also had a Wembley winner after Tamworth became the first finalists since Dartford`s appearance in the FA Trophy Final back in 1974.

Tamworth were relegated from the Midland Division at the end of the 1983/84 season with crowds of little more than 200.

Taking full advantage of the Pyramid football outside the Football League, the Lambs re-established themselves in the West Midlands (Regional) League and won promotion at the end of the 1987/88 season.

Crowds at The Lamb in 88/89 averaged well over 1,000 and one of the league`s most partisan crowds saw their favourites miss promotion to the Premier Division by only goal difference.

Tamworth were exempt from the First Round of the FA Vase and so started at Southern Midland rivals Bridgnorth Town in Round Two as one of the favourites to make it all the way to the Twin Towers.

Yet it was the hosts who scored first and once again, it looked as if the dream was over as quickly as it had started.

But an inspired comeback, due in no small part to the efforts of Danny McCormack, brought goals from Mark Stanton and Russell Gordon and a 2-1 win.

Gordon was on target again at Gresley Rovers in the Third Round with two extra-time goals to take the side to Ilkeston Town for a Fourth Round game which was won 2-1.

At Eastwood Hanley in the Fifth Round, Martin Myers missed a penalty and was sent-off but sub Gordon, who didn`t start due to a niggling injury, came on and scored the winner.

Wisbech Town headed to The Lamb for the Quarter-Final tie which proved to be a tough test before Bobby Atkins eventually snatched the only goal 3 minutes from time in front of a crowd of 2,362.

Around 200 more packed into The Lamb when North Ferriby United arrived for the first leg of the Semi-Final.

But it looked as though the run was over as Tamworth fell by the odd goal in three, with Carl Rathbone`s effort being their only consolation.

Against the odds though, sub Mark Stanton`s brace and one from former Stoke and Spurs striker Ian Moores saw Tamworth defy the odds and survive Gordon Staniforth`s reply to see the Southern League side through 4-3 on aggregate.

The game at Wembley saw a record gate for a Vase Final of 26,487 against Eastern Counties League champions Sudbury Town.

The Suffolk side dominated the early stages of the final and the Lambs found themselves a Dave Hubbick header down by the 6th minute.

Three minutes after half-time, Tamworth pulled level when Martin Devaney fired past Dean Garnham from close range.

Both sides really went for it in the time remaining and in extra-time, with Sudbury down to ten-men after Mike Henry was dismissed for punching a Tamworth forward.

The replay was held at Peterborough United`s London Road four days later when, in front of 11,201, Tamworth survived an early Sudbury onslaught to take the lead after 13 minutes through Ian Moores.

Moores then missed a great chance to make it 2-0 when Stanton was brought down in the box, but the former First Division striker blazed the penalty wide.

It was then Sudbury`s turn to miss from 12 yards after Dave Hubbick had been felled in the area – Paul Smith replicating Moores by firing wide of Dale Belford`s goal.

Three minutes later, the Lambs doubled their lead with a Stanton header and the same player made it 3-0 with just 6 minutes remaining.

After the joy of lifting the Vase and going so close to winning promotion at the first attempt, it wasn`t until 1996/97 that Tamworth managed to win a place in the Southern Premier Division.