"The Wembley Years"

It was great to be a Boro fan in the 1970s, winning the FA Trophy three times in the days when it was of far greater importance than it is nowadays.  The FA Trophy was the only competition in which non-league sides from North and South competed against each other, and it gave Boro fans a chance to go to Enfield, Bedford, Walthamstow Avenue and many more places.
 
The 1-0 home win against Wimbledon in the 1975 Quarter-Final was something really special, watched by a crowd of over 8,000 at the Athletic Ground.
 
But the FA Trophy finals at Wembley were fantastic occasions.  A fleet of coaches, special trains, hundreds of cars. fantastic memories.  Crowds of over 20,000 on each occasion.
 
Boro beat Wigan Athletic at Wembley in 1973, Stafford Rangers in 1976 and Dagenham in 1977.  There may have been one other Wembley appearance, but we've spent thirty years trying to forget it!  Read on, for reports of the FA Trophy Finals.
 
 
 

1973 - Boro v Wigan Athletic

The FA Trophy was in its fourth season, and Boro began the campaign with a home tie against the cup's first-ever winners, Macclesfield Town.  Boro won 3-1, with Jeff Barmby, Gerry Donoghue and Mally Wright on target.  Then it was a trip through snowstorms to Sandbach Ramblers for a 3-0 away win, Barmby scoring two more.  In the Third Round came a Yorkshire derby at Mexborough Town, with Boro easing through 3-1 thanks to two goals from Malcolm Leask.  Chelmsford City then travelled up to the Athletic Ground and were beaten 2-0 in front of a crowd of over 3,500.  So to the Semi-Final, played at Peterborough United's ground against Ashford Town from Kent.  A tense occasion settled by a late penalty from the dependable Colin Appleton.  Meanwhile in the other Semi-Final, Wigan Athletic beat Stafford Rangers.

Exactly 50 years after Wembley Stadium had been declared open and staged the 1923 "White Horse" FA Cup Final between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United, Boro and Wigan met in the 1973 FA Trophy Final.   Boro played in their normal all-red kit, against Wigan in blue shirts and white shorts.  Boro won the toss and went straight on to the attack, but Latics keeper Dennis Reeves was looking in good form.  However in the 12th minute Gerry Donoghue sent in a cross which caused indecision in the Wigan defence, and Malcolm Leask pounced on the loose ball to put Boro ahead. The game switched rapidly from end to end, with both forward lines looking lively and causing last-ditch tackles and interceptions from the hard-working defenders at both ends of the field.  In the second half Wigan enjoyed a lot of possession but high crosses into the penalty area were comfortably dealt with by Boro's giant goalkeeper Bert Garrow.

As heavy rain began to fall, Boro brought on their livewire substitute Jeff Barmby for goalscorer Malcolm Leask.  As Wigan pushed forward, Barmby exploited the space at the back but was thwarted twice by brave saves from Reeves.  Boro fans were singing and dancing in celebration as the game entered its final minute, but a scramble in the Boro goalmouth ended with Wigan's John Rogers smacking in a low volley to level the scores and send the game into extra time.

The thirty minutes additional time passed rather uneventfully as both teams' energy was sapped by the heavy conditions and it seemed certain the game would be going to a replay at Bramall Lane the following week.  But with four minutes left on the clock, Harry Dunn knocked a pass up front to Malcolm Thompson who took the ball down skilfully, evaded a defender and calmly placed the ball past Reeves and into the net behind which the Boro fans went wild.  Within minutes, Boro skipper Jimmy Shoulder was climbing the famous Wembley steps to take hold of the FA Trophy.

Boro:  Bert Garrow, Colin Appleton, Jimmy Shoulder, Harry Dunn, George Siddle, Bernie Fagan, Gerry Donoghue, Alan Franks, Malcolm Leask, Malcolm Thompson, Dick Hewitt.  sub: Jeff Barmby

1975 - Boro v Matlock Town

A comfortable 4-0 home win over Gateshead, with Bobby Todd scoring a couple, set Boro on the path to Wembley again in 1974-75.  Next came Boston United - a nervy 1-1 draw at York Street followed by a 1-0 victory in the replay at the Athletic Ground, Jeff Barmby netting in front of a midweek crowd of 3,463.  Then came North London visitors Enfield for an exciting game which Boro won 2-1 watched by a crowd of 3,803.  The draw for the Quarter-Finals pitched Boro against Southern League table-toppers Wimbledon who had been grabbing the headlines shortly beforehand by knocking top division Burnley out of the FA Cup and taking the mighty Leeds United to a replay which they were very unfortunate to lose.  So, Saturday 8th March saw a crowd of 8,105 at the Athletic Ground for a tense game which was settled by a solo breakaway goal from Boro's flying teenage winger Tony Aveyard.  The two-leg Semi-Final was comparatively straightforward, Boro beating Bedford Town 3-1 in both meetings.  And so Boro were back at Wembley.

More than thirty years later, this result remains possibly the biggest mystery in Boro's history.  How could one team out-play another so comprehensively - yet lose four-nil?  It didn't make sense then, and it doesn't make sense now.  Boro began the game on top, playing attractive possession football which barely allowed Matlock a touch of the ball.  But after 17 minutes confusion in the Boro defence allowed Colin Oxley a chance which he gratefully accepted to put the Derbyshire side in front.  Boro went straight back on the attack, with several efforts zipping narrowly wide of the Matlock goal and what looked like an obvious penalty ignored by the referee.

The second half continued in the same vein, with Boro pressing for what seemed an inevitable equaliser.  Yet as the game wore on with Boro incapable of finding the net they began to look a little frustrated - and with only around twenty minutes remaining, disaster struck.  Boro keeper Mike Williams lost concentration and dropped a Matlock corner, giving the team in blue an easy chance to make it 2-0.  After this, Boro went to pieces and a 30-yard free kick from Matlock skipper Tom Fenoughty hit the net with Williams seemingly unable to move - and in the final minutes the skipper's brother Nick Fenoughty headed  home for an unbelievable 4-0 win.

Boro: Mike Williams, Dick Hewitt, Ray Pettit, Harry Dunn, Sean Marshall, Bobby Todd, Ken Houghton, John Woodall, Ian Davidson, Jeff Barmby and Tony Aveyard.  sub: Charlie Fountain.

1976 - Boro v Stafford Rangers

Boro edged through the first round by the odd goal in five against Northern League side Willington, then a nervy draw at Goole Town was followed by a 3-1 replay victory.  The next three rounds saw Boro drawn at home each time, against top sides from the very powerful Isthmian League.  Firstly Dagenham who were to finish third in that league, then Tooting & Mitcham United who ended in seventh place, and then Enfield who were powering their way to the championship ahead of runners-up Wycombe Wanderers.  This was the beauty of the FA Trophy, with top Northern teams competing against the top Southerners.

Dagenham were dispatched 3-0 at the Athletic Ground in a game which was by no means as one-sided as the scoreline might suggest.  Harry A Dunn, Johnny Woodall and Derek Abbey got the goals as Boro were roared on by a crowd of 3,861.  Tooting were edged out 1-0 with Jeff Barmby making the vital breakthrough in front of a crowd of 4,032.  The first leg of the Semi-Final at the Athletic Ground was settled 1-0 in Boro's favour by that man Barmby again in front of an attendance of 4,185.  Boro survived 0-0 in the second leg at Enfield to seal another Wembley trip.

Boro's third Wembley appearance was once again an all-Northern Premier League affair, this time against Stafford Rangers who themselves were in the Trophy Final for the second time, having beaten Barnet 3-0 in 1972.  Boro manager Colin Appleton opted for a more defensive line-up than usual by bringing in Chris Dale to replace Tony Aveyard from the anticipated team.  Boro had two early goalscoring opportunities but found themselves behind after only 5 minuites after a tremendous goalmouth scramble with Stafford having one shot blocked, another coming back off the crossbar, and the third finding the net by way of a deflection.  The game continued with both sides committed to attack in a game which was thrilling to watch.  After 43 minutes Boro were level when John Woodall netted after Stafford failed to clear a corner.

The second half got off to an exciting start with Roger Jones putting Stafford back in the lead after 47 minutes, then Billy Ayre's header hitting the post, and Boro equalising with a firm Derek Abbey header.  Thrills came thick and fast, but the scoreline remained 2-2 and extra time was needed.  Ten minutes into extra time Dave Hilley was brought down for a Boro penalty, but Woodall's spot kick was superbly saved by Stafford keeper Jim Arnold. Derek Abbey then hit the crossbar, and Arnold pulled off a magnificent save from Woodall, but with only two minutes left on the clock Boro were awarded a second penalty when a defender handled a corner from Gerry Donoghue. Sean Marshall took on the responsibility of stepping up to the 12-yard mark and confidently side-footed the ball into the bottom corner to settle the game in Boro's favour.

Boro: Geoff Barnard, Peter Jackson, Sean Marshall, Harry Dunn, Billy Ayre, Harry A Dunn, Chris Dale, Jeff Barmby, Derek Abbey, John Woodall, Dave Hilley. sub: Gerry Donoghue

1977 - Boro v Dagenham

In January 1977 Boro entertained Frickley Athletic in the first game of what was to prove a marathon 13-game FA Trophy campaign. Harry A Dunn netted twice as Boro eased to a 3-1 win. Boro travelled down to London to take on Walthamstow Avenue in atrocious weather on an absolute mud-bath of a pitch and played with great endeavour to gain a 0-0 draw. John Woodall and Jeff Barmby scored the goals by which Boro won the replay 2-1. Boro then made another visit to an Isthmian League ground to take on Hitchin Town and again drew 0-0 before winning 3-1 in the replay.

Nuneaton Borough, one of the top sides in the Premier Division of the Southern League, then came to the Athletic Ground. Jeff Barmby and John Woodall had put Boro 2-0 ahead in the first period as torrential rain turned the pitch into a mass of puddles. Despite frantic efforts from ground staff and supporters at half time, the referee had no option but to call the match off and it was re-arranged for the following week. Another goal from Woodall was insufficient, however, and Nuneaton claimed a 1-1 draw. In the replay it was Barmby's turn to hit the net, and this was sufficient for Boro to win 1-0 and reach the Semi-Final.

And what a Semi-Final it was!  A crowd of 4,183 at the Athletic Ground saw Boro beat Altrincham 2-0 in the first leg with goals from Billy Ayre and Harry A Dunn. But Altrincham stormed back to win the second leg 2-0 at Moss Lane, with Boro hanging on through the extra 30 minutes. The game therefore went to a replay at a neutral venue, but the match at Belle Vue, Doncaster, finished 0-0 again despite extra time. The tie therefore went to a fourth meeting, this time at Millmoor, Rotherham, where Boro finally triumphed 2-1 with Ayre and Woodall getting the vital goals.

Wembley Stadium, 14th May 1977. Dagenham had won the toss to play in their normal red strip, so Boro appeared in all white. Dagenham soon got on top, despite chances at both ends, and the Southerners took the lead after 23 minutes from a brilliant diving header from Terry Harris. They looked to have extended their lead early in the second half, but the linesman had his flag up for offside as the ball entered the net. Boro gradually fought their way back into the game, and the introduction of substitute Jeff Barmby clearly inspired Boro. The white-clad team powered forwards at every opportunity, forcing a string of corners and some fine saves from Dagenham keeper Ian Huttley. Just when it seemed that time was running out, Barmby set up Derek Abbey whose shot was handled on the line by a defender. Harry A Dunn placed the ball into the bottom corner from the penalty spot and the game seemed set for extra time. But then a brilliant Barmby run took him to the byline where he cut the ball across, Tony Aveyard got a faint touch and the ball ended at the feet of Derek Abbey, two yards out, to score the winner in the dying seconds.

Boro: Dave Chapman, Dave Smith, Sean Marshall, Harry Dunn, Billy Ayre, Steve Deere, Tony Aveyard, Gerry Donoghue, John Woodall, Derek Abbey, Harry A Dunn. sub: Jeff Barmby