Episode 8 – Trembly,Traumatic, and (thankfully) Triumphant
April 1987 (continued)

Saturday 18th
Kidderminster Harriers 0 Scarborough 1
1326 ..............................Walker
Barnet 3 Gateshead 1

With Ray McHale returning to the side, another three points were taken from the latest away fixture as Boro marched, it seemed, towards the Conference crown. Barnet’s win over the league’s wooden spoonists, Gateshead, meant the gap stayed the same, with three matches left to play.

GM Vauxhall Conference - Top at April 18th, 1987

1 BORO 39 25 10 4 59 30 85
2 Barnet 39 24 .9 6 84 37 81

Easter Monday brought Runcorn to the East Coast for Boro’s penultimate home game of the season. A bumper crowd was expected for a confrontation which fans knew could see the club claim the title – if Boro won and Barnet lost at Wealdstone. With victories in both their previous home fixtures, Neil Warnock’s team seemed to have got rid of whatever had been jinxing them since the New Year. Runcorn were a decent side, but, with no prospects of a late run on the title and free from any threat of relegation, the Linnets seemed to have little to play for. Boro, on the other hand, knew it could be ‘the big day’ and there was the little question of extending the record-breaking run. Even if the Conference could not be won that afternoon, the Boro team knew that another three points could make all the difference in the final reckoning. The biggest obstacle to be overcome was the tension of it all. When the first-half ended goalless, the atmosphere in and around the ground was nerve-wracking. Boro needed a goal to settle them. On 65 minutes this arrived and a sense of relief swept across the stadium. For 10 minutes, Boro led and had one hand reaching ever closer to the title. Then, Runcorn equalised and, in the 90th minute, hit a winner.

Monday 20th
Scarborough 1 Runcorn 2
Mell ...........3764
Wealdstone 0 Barnet 0

GM Vauxhall Conference - Top at April 18th, 1987

1 BORO 40 25 10 5 60 32 85
2 Barnet 40 24 10 6 84 37 82

Neil Warnock now faced the biggest challenge of his managerial career. His job was to lift his side and convince them that one slip-up did not mean the end. The title was still there to be won and the team’s fate lay in their own hands. Warnock was able to point out to his men that they had already won on the ground on their next opponents, Sutton United, back in January. The pressure, he reminded the Boro players, was still on Barnet. By beating Sutton the team would increase that pressure.

Saturday 25th
Sutton United 0 Scarborough 2
1430 ..............Mell, Cook

A sixteenth successive unbeaten match away from home lifted Boro to 88 points – 6 clear of Barnet, who had no game. While the Underhill club had a better goal difference, they had to win both their remaining matches and hope Boro lost the game at home to Weymouth on the final Saturday of the season.

The Bees had to wait until the following Wednesday to play the first of these games. Mid-table Stafford Rangers provided the opposition. Boro fans knew that Stafford were a much better side, on their day, than their League position suggested. Barnet should have known this too – and prepared accordingly. However, this is what happened :

Wednesday 29th
Barnet 1 Stafford Rangers 2



BORO WERE NOW CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS ! ! !


GM Vauxhall Conference - Top at April 18th, 1987

1 BORO 41 26 10 5 62 32 88
2 Barnet 41 24 10 7 85 39 82

As news filtered through to the North, celebrations began. Neil Warnock described it as “the happiest day of my football career”. Chairman Terry Wood commented, “This is the best day in the history of the club … it’s the greatest day of my life.”

It was Boro’s first title win for 24 years. It seemed like a dream come true. It was the best day the club had ever had in its 108 year history. Better still, there was a home game left to play on May 2nd. Fans would have their promotion party and the chance to celebrate with the team, management, and club officials.

May 1987

Saturday 2nd
Scarborough 2 Weymouth 1
Mell, Richards ...5640

And that's the story of the 1986-87 season!   

And if you'd like to know what was happening on today's date in various years from 1879 to 2007, the link below will take you to the "Today in Boro History" page.