This is the first of what will be an ongong series looking back at great teams/seasons from the past. I'm starting off with some self indulgent nostalgia, and the last time a team I follow actually won their league. So welcome to Darlington's division 4 season of 1990/91. Seriously? Yep. See the month by month series here or go here for the whole season in one article at the always excellent The Two Unfortunates
August
With memories of the promotion winning Conference season, Gary Coatsworth's looping header and "you can stick the vauxhall conference up your arse" on the pitch at Welling still fresh, Darlington fans were unnaturally full of confidence heading into the 90/91 season. The management team of Brian Little and Frank Gray was still around as was most of last years triumphant squad, the main addition to which was Mick Tait, a fearsome midfielder formerly of Portsmouth, slowly working his way back down the leagues, but still very much a formidable prescence.....
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September
After two goalless games in August, Darlo's first home league game was against Burnley, who brought a lot of fans with them and finally things clicked, a 3-1 win quelling dissent at the outrageous ticket price increase to 4 whole pounds. Full backs McJannet and Gray got goals as did Gary Gill, with what I remember as a fantastic volley over the keeper's head from outside the box.
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October
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."
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November
Darlo entered November riding high in the standings, and their first game was away at Rochdale, Mark Burke's loan was over, and with Steve Mardenborough still covering for Les McJannett, that meant a return to the lineup for Paul Emson, who didn't really do much, and an own goal meant we got a 1-1 draw, marred by an injury to Frank Gray.
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December
With Mission Impossible advertising a pantomime "Goldilocks and the Three Mares, featuring Frank Gray, John Borthwick, and Paul Emson", which I think was very harsh on Gray, Darlington started the month at fellow promotion contenders Stockport County. Injuries to Les McJannett, Gray and David Corner meant a makeshift defence including Gary Coatsworth, who scored our goal, as well as Steve Mardenborough and Paul Emson, with player/physio Drew Coverdale on the wing, all of which led to an inauspicious 3-1 defeat described in Mission Impossible as a performance of 88/89 standards.
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January
Coming off a disappointing game at Scarborough, Darlington started off 1991 with an impressive 4-1 win over Cardiff at home on new years day. The defence did most of the scoring, Les McJannett, Jimmy Willis and Mick Tait with goals, David Cork getting the other. The great start to the month continued with a 3-1 home win over Carlisle, Kevan Smith and Drew Coverdale with goals, as well as the first of the year for Phil Linacre who was making his first start of the season, replacing Cork.
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February
With Brian Little's spurning of Birmingham's advances providing welcome relief and renewed optimism after a 4 game winless streak, Darlington's first game in February was at York City, a chance for revenge after earlier losses in the FA Cup and Leyland Daf Trophy. Steve Mardenborough started in place of Drew Coverdale, John Borthwick got the winner, York's Nigel Pepper was sent off, his incredible 3rd red card against Darlo of the season, and we came away with a 1-0 win.
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March
Darlo came into March on a great run, undefeated and not scored against in all of February, and it was a very busy month, playing 8 games, a lot of them against other promotion chasing sides. They kept the winning run and clean sheet streak going with another win in their first game of the month against Stockport County, 6'7" Kevin Francis et al. This was quite possibly the best game Steve Mardenborough had for us, he played really well, had several chances, and ended up scoring the only goal of the game, topped off with a fabulous run/jump/dance celebration.
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April
Darlington kind of limped into April, winning only 1 of their last 6 games, and seeing their lead at the top of the table shrink slightly, but helped by other top teams like Burnley, Torquay and Northampton also struggling, they were still at the top.
April started with an Easter Monday trip to Chesterfield where I remember the Mansfield fanzine follow the yellow brick road selling copies to the away fans. It was an entertaining game and despite Darlo having to replace Gary Gill with Michael Trotter, they scored twice with goals from John Borthwick and David Cork, but that was only good enough for another draw.
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May
Last away game, penultimate game of the season, Scunthorpe away. The symmetry was perfect, two years after the exact same fixture had seen Darlington relegated to the Vauxhall Conference, we returned with the chance for the ultimate redemption of clinching promotion. The away end was now all seater and it was pretty much packed with Darlo fans. It didn't work out as they hoped, of course it didn't it was Scunthorpe away. Darlo went 1-0 down, pulled a goal back with a Frank Gray penalty, but ended up having a goal disallowed and losing 2-1, and with repeated pitch invasions causing problems as well.
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The Glorious Finale
With thanks to the Darlo Uncovered Forum, I just stumbled across this, highlights of the final game that clinched the title. The first goal wasn't exactly as I remembered, I think in my head that goal and the early chance where Cork hit the bar had got mixed up.
But just look at the crowd in the south stand, absolutely packed, and the celebratory pitch invasion? Gold.
