May 31st and I'm going back 30 years to 1991 and the League Division 4 Play-Off Final between Blackpool and Torquay United at the old Wembley.
Just in case you're wondering, today's choice of memorable match is a choice from the only match I've attended on this date and that's the first time that's been the case since the year started. Don't worry, things can only get worse during the dry desert that is summer football but fear not, there aren't too many dates on which I've yet to see a match and I have other plans for my articles on those dates! Actually I'm going to go to Wembley today to watch the League 2 Play-Off Final between Morecambe and Newport County, the equivalent of today's reminiscences. If you recall, Play-Offs had been introduced into English League football in 1987 and I took the opportunity to go to Wembley on a Friday night after work with my Welsh mate Les to see what the fuss was all about. This was my first Play-Off experience and I've been hooked on the drama ever since.
As you can see from the programme cover, there was one issue for all three of the divisional Play-Off Finals, a practice that was soon discontinued and one programme per match became the norm. It's a pity that the names of the teams involved failed to feature on the programme cover. I can only assume that the cover was printed in advance of the finalists becoming known as the content is dedicated to the six finalists, the other four being Bolton Wanderers v Tranmere Rovers (Division 3) and Brighton & Hove Albion v Notts County (Division 2).
In 1990/91 season there was a significant reorganisation going on in the Football League and, as a result the top four in Division 4 were automatically promoted with the clubs in fifty to eighth going into Play-Offs for the final promotion spot. Billy Ayre's Blackpool had finished fifth in the regular season missing out on automatic promotion by one point following a last day defeat to Walsall. Indeed they could have been champions on that final day had results gone their way. They had then seen off Scunthorpe United 3-2 over two legs in their Play-Off Semi-Final. Torquay United had finished two places and seven points further back and had overcome Burnley 2-1 on aggregate in their own Semi-Final.
Blackpool's side that day included future England player and (dreadful) Talksport Radio pundit Trevor Sinclair (an 18 year old substitute) plus Blackpool Hall of Famers Andy Garner and Dave Bamber. Torquay United's side included goalkeeper Gareth Howells (brother of Tottenham's David) and the allegedly light-fingered Wes Saunders (see previous blog entry).
For a Friday night and considering the travelling distance for the two sides involved, the attendance was a respectable 21,615. For Blackpool it was their first Wembley appearance since the FA Cup's famous "Matthews Final" of 1953 and it was made all the more poignant by the fact that they had won through to Wembley on the day of the passing of Stan Mortenson (RIP), hattrick scorer in that Final. With omens from the past such as these it was little surprise that, after 7 minutes, Blackpool seemed to seize their destiny and were in front thanks to a goal from future York City player Paul Groves. However, Torquay's captain Wes Saunders headed home an equaliser after 28 minutes and seven minutes later disaster struck Blackpool as they found themselves behind following a penalty awarded by referee George Courtney and scored by Dean Edwards following Dave Bamber's clear handball. The match commentator described it as controversial (see the video attached to my blog) but it would be given all day long these days.
Surely Blackpool were destined to get an equaliser? Come the 69th minute and David Eyre conjured up a bicycle kick. The ball thudded against the crossbar and then, to the huge (but rather hilarious) misfortune of Torquay defender Chris Curran, he swung and missed his clearance and watched as the ball rebounded off his standing leg and into the net with keeper Howells stranded. It was 2-2! Referee Courtney then missed the clearest of clear penalty shouts for Blackpool as Eyre was felled in the box right in front of him. It was the first time that a Play-Off Final would go into extra time and 30 minutes later we had the first Play-Off penalty shootout. Both sides missed their first penalty and then scored their next four. It was down to sudden death and surprisingly up stepped Torquay keeper Howells to take and score the Gulls' sixth penalty before facing Dave Bamber who missed the target. Blackpool were rocked as the cream of Devon rose to the top. Well Division 3 anyway.
CRB Match No. 724
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