Today I'm going back 33 years to 1989 and York City's visit to Edgar Street, home of Hereford United for an end of season Fourth Division fixture played in front of 1,819.
The Fourth Division's top goal scorer in 1988/89 was Hereford's Phil Stant who managed 28 goals in the Football League. Stant was another one of those "more clubs than Jack Nicklaus" journeymen professionals. He didn't even get his start in the Football League until the ripe old age of 24 when he was bought out of the army by Hereford United. Whilst serving in the forces, Stant saw action in the Falklands as well as serving with the SAS (which is based in Hereford) so the opportunity to earn a living playing football must have been a godsend after some of the scenes he witnessed in the South Atlantic. Somehow I can't imagine Stant pretending to be injured after an innocuous tackle! In his playing career Stant appeared in the Football League for Reading, Hereford United, Notts County, Mansfield Town, Cardiff City, Bury, Lincoln City and Brighton & Hove Albion as well as numerous other clubs on loan and in stints outside the Football League. Overall Stant made 585 appearances scoring 224 goals and finished his playing career at Ilkeston Town in 2004 where he was player manager.
In today's featured game, City took the lead in the first half with a goal from former Coventry City player Kevan Smith. York's second came after the break courtesy of former FA Cup finalist Gary Howlett. John Bird was now in charge at York following the dismissal of Bobby Saxton earlier in the season. Hereford's reply was scored by none other than Phil Stant of course! The win at Edgar Street was no mean feat for York as Hereford had lost only once in their previous 20 home games. The win was City's fifth away win in the last ten games and was their third double of the season.
Despite Stant's prolific marksmanship, Hereford, managed by Nottingham Forest legend Ian Bowyer, finished only 15th (of 24). York City finished a little higher up the table in 11th place but fell seven points short of the Play-Off positions. Champions that season were Rotherham United with Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra also automatically promoted. Sixth placed Leyton Orient gained promotion via the Play-Offs beating seventh placed Wrexham 2-1 on aggregate in the two-legged Play-Off Final (one-off Finals played at Wembley were introduced from the following season). Finishing bottom of the pile, 92nd out of 92 and relegated into non-League were Darlington FC. Finally, for those who think that football in this country begins and ends with the Premier League: current top flight club Burnley finished that season one place below Hereford United in 16th place in the Fourth Division.
CRB Match No. 613
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