Part 3 of my look back at Darlington's 1990/91 season. Click here for August, and here for September.
Things were looking promising going into October, but our first away game was a frustrating one at Peterborough, a 1-0 defeat with Paul Emson missing enough chances to have a crimestoppers poster put in the fanzine Mission Impossible. "Have you seen this man? He is wanted for questioning and/or mutilation by Darlington fans after missing THREE absolute sitters against Peterborough United, which could have been scored by an inebriated duck with a wooden leg - or even Archie Stephens." That was the end of Emson's run as a regular starter, replaced in the next game against Hereford by Mark Burke, on loan from Middlesbrough, who scored on his debut, as did David Cork and Michael Trotter, in a 3-1 win, which unfortunately saw Les McJannett injured, he would miss the rest of the month, replaced by Steve Mardenborough.
Next up was Swindon for the second leg of our League cup tie, with a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first leg. I wasn't at the game and ended up watching teletext in horror as the goals kept on coming in, and we ended up losing 4-0 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate. The main thing I remember about the game was the next morning going to school, and one of my friends hanging out of a window to laugh at me as I walked in from the bus stop. A valuable lesson for any Darlo fan, even when things go well, it won't be long until they inevitably end up going bad.
We then played Blackpool again, in the league this time, and I was amongst the over 1,000 fans making the trip for the saturday afternoon game. Blackpool were doing well that year so it had a bit of a top of the table feel to it, and Darlo won 2-1, Gary Gill scoring late with what I think was a header from a corner right in front of the Darlo fans. An away trip to Maidstone followed, the team who were promoted, under slightly dubious circumstances the year that Darlington were relegated, which ended in a late come from behind 3-2 win, Toman, Borthwick and Cork with the goals. This was the first game missed by David Corner, replaced by promotion clinching hero Gary Coatsworth
Two home games finished off the month, a Tuesday night game against Northampton which saw our highest crowd of the season so far witness a 1-1 draw, Frank Gray with his third penalty of the year. A 0-0 draw with Scunthorpe ended the month, a game most notable for emotional chants of "we told you we'd be back" at the Scunthorpe fans who had seen us relegated back in 1989.
As always, feel free to add your own memories in the comments section to fill in any important details I've forgotten.
Coming up: November, lots of cup games against York, and the Monkey hangers come to town, as does Ryan Giggs (and guess who the second most famous player (with hindsight) was on the pitch that night).
Was at that Blackpool game, we were in that massive open terrace behind the goal they used to have. Worst toilets I ever came across at a football league ground. Remember the Vagabonds were there wearing massive foam sombreros.
ReplyDeleteThe Darlo Vagabonds. Not only did we have a bit of a 'firm' in those days, we also had a novelty crew - turning out in different fancy dress outfits at away matches. Whereabouts currently unknown. Blackpool was a great day out. Late Autumnal sunshine and a great away following - lots of whom had made a weekend of it. Oh and a comfortable victory too (Darlo had acquired a winning habit).
ReplyDeleteWorst toilets ever? I don't remember them, but they must be bad as there's got to be some pretty stiff competition.
ReplyDeleteI do remember the vagabonds, though more the chant than the actual group, but we had a firm? Maybe i was too young to notice that sort of thing, outside of an odd scuffle at Hartlepool, and the stuff at macclesfield (which led to alarmist "the hooligans are coming" headlines in Telford's local paper when we played there). I remember reading about the under 5's and seeing their graffiti, but were they still around at this time?
The Tuesday night at home to Northampton was my first Darlo match and my first experience of the Tin Shed atmosphere and humour - ahh, days we'll probably never experience again! I seem to remember a run of draws around that point as my Dad & his mates were considering banning me as a jinx.
ReplyDeleteI still blame that first season and it's great success for the next 20 years of mis-guided hope and belief that 'this year they'll do it!' One day I'll learn!!
Mark Burke was a poor player for us, I think he played at a higher level in the end and abroad but was not interested at Darlo. Trotter's goal against Hereford looked about 30 yards offside!
ReplyDeleteBobby Barnes unfortunately scored a superb individual effort in that draw with Northampton
Blackpool was a great win, the away end was indeed shocking but the best place to be when Gill headed in Gray's corner!!
Maidstone remains one of the best comebacks I've seen us complete. They played at Dartford's old ground in those days. I think we were 2 down at half time, Cork scored a belter but the winner was a great team goal. Gill carried the ball from our penalty area to theirs, rolled it out to Mardenborough to centre for Toman to steal the points
Blackpool and Maidstone were 2 of the best away games i've ever been to (still to this day) - never forget Stevie Mar'bro bombing down the right wing in front of the Darlo fans to cross for Toman in the 87th minute at Maidstone !
ReplyDeleteI recall the Darlo fans singning 'We're gonna score in a minute' at Blackpool before Gill nodded in - happy days.