Looking Back at Season….1992/93 (Part Two)

Dipping back into the archives at another memorable Southern Football League season, this time with the Midland Division.

The 1992/93 was a superb campaign for Nuneaton Borough, culminating in the Midland Division championship and a return to the Premier Division.

Having vacated the Conference in controversial circumstances in 1987, it would take Boro another six seasons – including another two-year spell in the Midland Division – to return to the top of the non-League Pyramid.

Crowds returned to Manor Park in their droves in 92/93, proving once again that a traditionally well-supported club will always attract good attendances when they do well.

What was even more impressive was that Nuneaton overcame the loss of a manager midway through the campaign, something that often disrupts progress on the field.

However, following George Rooney`s departure, John Barton, previously the assistant manager, coped so well in his new role that the change hardly had an effect.

Barton would be quick to acknowledge the part played by his right-hand man, Peter Eastoe, and the former Everton team-mates formed a good partnership.

Nuneaton`s promotion owed a great deal to the goalscoring exploits of Paul Culpin, who netted 39 times on his return to the club.

But there were plenty of other successes in Barton`s squad, such as midfielder Darren Bullock, who would go on to enjoy a successful professional career with Huddersfield Town, Swindon Town and Bury.

Later in the season, the experienced Gary Bradder, signed from VS Rugby, defenders Matt Tarry and Dave Whetton and forwards John Symonds and Mark Rosegreen all contributed to Boro`s success.

Although in the end only four points separated runners-up Gresley Rovers from fourth-placed Barri, the Moatmen`s promotion to the Premier Division for the first time had almost an air of inevitability about it.

Manager Steve Dolby deserves great credit for taking village side Gresley into the Premier Division, only one season after coming up from the Midland Division.

He had the unenviable task of replacing the hugely successful Frank Northwood as manager at Moat Street, but he proved to be more than adequate for the task.

Dolby brought in players such as Tony Marsden and Dave Swainston from Grantham Town, striker Mark Hurst from Leicester United and Mike Taplin and Graham Rigg from local side Mickleover Royal British Legion.

Both Taplin and Rigg took to the Southern League with great relish, and Taplin`s 16 goals were vital.

Gresley went on to defy the odds to not only remain a Premier Division side, but actually win the title in 1996/97, although they were unable to go up to the Conference due to the ground being unsuitable.

The `new` Rushden & Diamonds club were hugely disappointed not to clinch second place, or even the title itself, as they were certainly in a position to do so.

With an ever-growing facility at Nene Park still in progress, manager Roger Ashby had a large, mostly experienced squad and spent money on the likes of defender John Coe from VS Rugby for £9,000 and striker Dale Watkins from Grantham for £10,000 as they began to `up the ante` in terms of non-League transfer fees.

Ashby`s side lost fewer matches than either Nuneaton or Gresley, but they drew too many which, in the end, proved to be the difference between a place in the Premier Division or another campaign in the Midland Division.

It wouldn`t take long though, as they won the title the following season by a six-point margin from VS Rugby and the rest, they say, is history – albeit ultimately a brief one.

Barri, as they were known for just the one season before reverting to the more known name of Barry Town, enjoyed an excellent 92/93 season.

Exiled to play `home` matches at Worcester due to their refusal then to join the League of Wales, they were in contention for second spot right to the death in what turned out to be a very exciting finale to the season.

However, at the end of the 1992/93 season, the club decided that they could no longer afford to let pride rule the inevitable, and they decided to return to the Principality and join the Welsh League with the hope that they would make it quickly up to the League of Wales.

They did just that by winning the Welsh League and just for good measure, added the Welsh Cup to their trophy cabinet for the second time in their history as well.

The other Welsh side in the Southern League – Merthyr Tydfil were members of the Conference at this time - Newport AFC, were also expected to be amongst the promotion runners in 92/93, but they never really threatened.

The other Welsh `exiles` who, despite having to play their `home` games at Gloucester City, maintained reasonable attendances and had a change of manager towards the end of the season when John Relish was replaced by Graham Rogers.

Possessing a mostly experienced squad, it must have been a serious strain on resources for Newport not being able to play at Somerton Park.

But, unlike Barry, they stuck to their guns and refused the many overtures and even threats to join the League of Wales and finally made it back to their homeland, returned to being called Newport County and won their place back to the Football League via the Conference in 2013.

Bedworth United enjoyed one of their best campaigns for several years, finishing sixth under former England semi-professional international midfielder Brendan Phillips.

However, his success cost the Greenbacks as he was lured away to manage Conference side Stafford Rangers at the end of the season.

Bedworth`s successful season was in no small way thanks to the goals of Martyn Twigger and Dave Draper and a solid defence.

They suffered a couple of years of struggle after Phillips` departure before finishing third in 1995/96.

Stourbridge were the surprise winners of the Southern League Cup (then known as the Barclays Commercial Services Cup) and must have been disappointed not to have been in contention for the title.

John Chambers, who led the Glassboys to the Midland League championship two years earlier, only to be denied promotion because their Amblecote ground was three-sided, resigned just before their cup final against Dover and ex-Luton Town and Aston Villa defender Neil Rioch – brother of Scottish international Bruce – was appointed in his place.

Bright light for Stourbridge was striker Evran Wright, who scored a new club record 46 goals in 92/93 – but almost inevitably, they lost him to Walsall the following summer.

Sutton Coldfield Town and Redditch United finished level on points with Stourbridge in eighth and ninth respectively.

Sutton Coldfield were yet another club to change managers more than once during the season.

They began with former Stafford Rangers boss Chris Wright in charge, then had Ian Cooper and finally handed Clive Perrins his first managerial position as player-boss.

Perrins is a vastly experienced player around the Midlands non-League scene with the likes of Hednesford Town, Willenhall Town, Alvechurch and West Bromwich Town.

Redditch manager Paul Hendrie would have been quite pleased with his charges` showing overall.

He introduced a number of young players into the first team and scouts came flocking to watch the likes of Jimmy Williams, who had been released by Walsall, Michael Warner and Lee Webb.

Due to Dartford`s demise and Barri`s decision to re-join the Welsh non-League Pyramid, there was a reprieve for King`s Lynn and Racing Club Warwick.

It was surprising to see King`s Lynn struggle so badly – finishing second-from-bottom with36 points from 42 games.

Another `big club` - look where they are today as members of the National League – the Linnets had fallen on hard times in the early 1990s and financial problems caused the club to cut the wage bill and they were forced to bring in local players.

But caretaker manager Dominic McCallum, who took over from John Musgrove in February 1993, did introduce former Ipswich Town forward John Linford and veteran ex-Kettering Town midfielder Freddie Easthall for his umpteenth spell at The Walks, which included a spell as player-manager from 1985 to 1987.

McCallum would not get the permanent post, however, as the club appointed former Aston Villa, Manchester United and England full-back John Gidman in the summer.

Racing Club Warwick endured what can only described as a thoroughly miserable campaign with just three wins and seven draws from their 42 matches.

They scored only 40 goals in total and all-in-all, was a period to forget for manager Andy Blair, the former Coventry City, Aston Villa and Scottish under-21 international midfielder, who departed at the end of the season.

Under new boss Martin Sockett, the Racers improved considerably in 1993/94 to finish in 13th place.