1988 Football League Third Division play-off final

Association football match June 2017 April 2021 1988 Football League Third Division play-off final Walsall 3 Bristol City 3 First leg 3 1 25 May 1988 Ashton Gate Bristol Joe Worrall 25,128 Second leg 0 2 28 May 1988 Fellows Park Walsall George Tyson 13,941 Walsall won 4–0 in a replay Replay 4 0 1988 5 30 yes Fellows Park Walsall George Courtney 13,007 1987 1989 The 1988 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match contested by Walsall and Bristol City over two legs on 25 and 28 May 1988, and then a replay on 30 May 1988, to determine which club would play the following season in the Second Division. Walsall had finished in third place in the Third Division while Bristol City finished fifth. They were joined in the play-offs by fourth-placed Notts County and Sheffield United, who had finished in 21st place in the division above. Walsall defeated Notts County in their semi-final while Bristol City beat Sheffield United in the other. The first leg of the final took place on 25 May 1988 at Ashton Gate in Bristol and was refereed by Joe Worrall. Alan Walsh scored directly from a free kick for Bristol City before Walsall equalised in the 62nd minute through Trevor Christie. David Kelly put Walsall ahead with ten minutes to go and scored again just before the final whistle to end the match 3–1. The second leg took place three days later at Fellows Park in Walsall, refereed by George Tyson. Rob Newman gave Bristol City the lead in the 31st minute and Carl Shutt made it 2–0 midway through the second half. The match ended with the aggregate score at 3–3 so a penalty shootout was used to determine the venue for a replay: Walsall won 4–2 so the deciding match took place at Fellows Park on 30 May 1988. A hat-trick from Kelly along with a header from Phil Hawker secured a 4–0 victory for Walsall and promotion to the Second Division. Walsall's manager Tommy Coakley was sacked in December 1988 after a losing streak of eleven games, culminating in a 5–1 Boxing Day defeat at home to Oxford United which sent Walsall to the bottom of the league. He was replaced the following January by John Barnwell, but Walsall ended their following season in last position in the Second Division and were relegated back to the Third Division. Bristol City's next season saw them finish in 11th position in the Third Division, five places and nine points outside the play-offs. Route to the final 1987–88 Football League main WDL Q right auto 21 Football League Second Division final table, relegation positions SHU Sheffield United REA Reading HUD Huddersfield Town 13 7 24 45 74 10 12 22 44 70 6 10 28 41 100 complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/1988/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 11 April 2021 League Division Two end of season table for 1987–88 season 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202812/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/1988/ live main WDL Q right auto 1 Football League Third Division final table, leading positions SUN Sunderland B&HA Brighton & Hove Albion WAL Walsall NTC Notts County BRC Bristol City 27 12 7 92 48 23 15 8 69 47 23 13 10 68 50 23 12 11 82 49 21 12 13 77 62 complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/1988/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 11 April 2021 League Division Three end of season table for 1987–88 season 30 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210330111010/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/1988/ live This was the second time the Football League play-offs had taken place. They were introduced in the previous season as part of the "Heathrow Agreement", a ten-point proposal to restructure the Football League.Foster 2015 8 For the first two years of the play-offs, the club which had finished immediately above the relegation places in the Second Division competed with three clubs from the Third Division for a place in the second tier of English football for the following season. https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy/2017/may/04/football-league-play-offs-30-1987-finals-championship-league-one-two The Guardian Richard Foster The Football League play-offs at 30: a quick fix that survived and thrived 4 May 2017 19 January 2021 12 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201112011651/https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy/2017/may/04/football-league-play-offs-30-1987-finals-championship-league-one-two live Sheffield United had finished the 1987–88 season in 21st place in the Second Division, having won their final game against bottom club Huddersfield Town on the last day of the season to avoid automatic relegation. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75557749/the-observer/ The Observer 11 April 2021 8 May 1988 20 Michael Ralph Newspapers.com Villa edge home 19 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202533/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75557749/the-observer/ live Walsall had finished in third place in the Third Division, two points behind Brighton & Hove Albion (who were automatically promoted in second position) and eleven behind Sunderland (who were promoted as champions). Bristol City ended the regular season in fifth place, two positions and seven points below Walsall. Walsall's opponents in their play-off semi-final were Notts County with the first match of the two-legged tie being played at Meadow Lane in Nottingham on 15 May 1988. The home side took an early lead when Dean Yates scored with a header from an Aidey Thorpe inswinging cross in the second minute of the match. Walsall started to control the match and four minutes before half-time, David Kelly scored the equaliser from a Richard O'Kelly cross. Two minutes after half-time, Craig Shakespeare gave Walsall the lead with a low strike and nine minutes later Kelly scored Walsall's third goal after holding off a tackle from Chris Withe to convert O'Kelly's headed pass. No further goals were scored and the first leg ended 3–1 to Walsall. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19880516/568/0033 British Newspaper Archive 12 April 2021 Pressure proves too much for wilting Magpies David Lea 16 May 1988 Derby Daily Telegraph 33 subscription The second leg of the semi-final took place at Fellows Park in Walsall three days later. Notts County took an early lead, once again with a headed goal from Yates, in the 12th minute of the match. Although the visiting side dominated the match and made several chances to score, Walsall equalised on the hour mark when Trevor Christie scored from around 12 yd after the initial strike by Kelly was blocked by Yates. The match ended 1–1 and Walsall progressed to the final with a 4–2 aggregate victory. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19880519/518/0061 British Newspaper Archive 12 April 2021 Second best – Another season in Division Three for Magpies 61 19 May 1988 David Lea subscription Bristol City faced Sheffield United in the other semi-final and the first leg was held at Ashton Gate in Bristol on 15 May 1988. In front of their largest crowd in nine years, Alan Walsh put the home side ahead two minutes before half-time with his 14th goal of the season after shooting from close range after a long throw-in from Steve McClaren. Bristol City's goalkeeper Keith Waugh made a number of saves, from Richard Cadette, Wally Downes and Paul Stancliffe, and the match ended 1–0. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19880516/292/0018 Bristol City 1 Sheffield United 0 Newcastle Journal 16 May 1988 12 April 2021 18 British Newspaper Archive subscription The second leg was played three days later at Bramall Lane in Sheffield. In the 16th minute, Bristol City took the lead when Carl Shutt scored with a diving header. Colin Morris equalised after half-time after he lifted the ball over Waugh in the Bristol City goal and the match ended 1–1. With a 2–1 aggregate victory, Bristol City progressed to the final while Sheffield United were relegated to the Third Division. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75560008/the-guardian/ The Guardian Buoyant Bristol hound Bassett Newspapers.com 12 April 2021 19 May 1988 12 Cynthia Bateman 11 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210411203732/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75560008/the-guardian/ live Match Background Bristol City had last played in the Second Division in the 1979–80 season after which they suffered three consecutive relegations before gaining promotion from the Fourth Division in the 1983–84 season. https://www.fchd.info/BRISTOLC.HTM Bristol City Football Club History Database 12 April 2021 30 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201030103121/http://www.fchd.info/BRISTOLC.HTM live Walsall had been promoted to the Third Division after ending the 1979–80 season as Fourth Division runners-up. https://www.fchd.info/WALSALL.HTM Walsall Football Club History Database 12 April 2021 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918193006/http://www.fchd.info/WALSALL.HTM live They had finished the previous season in eighth position, one place outside the play-offs. https://www.11v11.com/teams/walsall/tab/leagueTables/1987/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 12 April 2021 League Division Three table at close of 1985–86 season 20 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210520203303/https://www.11v11.com/teams/walsall/tab/leagueTables/1987/ live Before the final, there was speculation over the future of Kelly who had scored 25 goals for Walsall during the season: he was reportedly the subject of a £500,000 transfer bid from First Division side Liverpool. Colin Gordon was no longer available for selection by Bristol City as Reading had refused to extend his loan. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75599844/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com Pull of the play-offs for 60,000 Ian Ridley 12 April 2021 25 May 1988 14 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412105351/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75599844/the-guardian/ live Gordon had scored five goals in ten games for Bristol City, but his loan had expired the day of the first leg of the final: https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A117471541/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=ed60ed42 The Times subscription 12 April 2021 Gale Chelsea's self-doubt may catch them out Clive White 25 May 1988 19 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202537/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA117471541&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=ed60ed42 live Reading had insisted on a transfer fee of £70,000 to secure Kelly's services but Bristol City's manager Joe Jordan said "there's no way we can afford that." https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19880525/328/0019 City strike a problem 12 April 2021 British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 Aberdeen Evening Express Both matches between the sides during the regular season ended in draws, 1–1 at Fellows Park in September 1987 and 0–0 at Ashton Gate the following February. https://www.11v11.com/teams/bristol-city/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Walsall/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 12 April 2021 Bristol City football club: record v Walsall 19 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202537/https://www.11v11.com/teams/bristol-city/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Walsall/ live According to bookmakers, Bristol City were clear favourites to win the final over two legs. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002487/19880526/01032/0075 British Newspaper Archive 12 April 2021 subscription Kelly's double cheer for Walsall Rob Bishop 26 May 1988 75 First leg right|thumb|alt=Ashton Gate|Ashton Gate (pictured in 1982) hosted the first leg of the final. Summary The first leg of the final kicked off at 7:45p.m. on 25 May 1988 at Ashton Gate in front of 25,128 spectators and refereed by Joe Worrall. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75601371/the-guardian/ The Guardian Fixtures 12 April 2021 25 May 1988 Newspapers.com 14 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412122314/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75601371/the-guardian/ live https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-walsall-25-may-1988-297626/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 12 April 2021 Bristol City v Walsall, 25 May 1988 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412122313/https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-walsall-25-may-1988-297626/ live Walsall made the better start with Christie going close to scoring within the opening minute of the match. Bristol City's Walsh then saw his carefully placed shot saved by Fred Barber, the Walsall goalkeeper. Seven minutes before half-time, Graeme Forbes fouled Steve Neville and Walsh scored directly from the resulting free kick to give Bristol City the lead. Both Rob Newman and Neville went close to doubling the lead but the half ended with Bristol City leading 1–0. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75604932/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 12 April 2021 16 26 May 1988 Walsall eye promotion as Dalglish eyes Kelly David Foot 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412141055/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75604932/the-guardian/ live Walsall equalised in the 62nd minute: Forbes' header from a Mark Goodwin corner was cleared off the Bristol City goalline and Christie bundled in the rebound. Joe Jordan, Bristol City's player-manager, substituted himself on for Neville two minutes later, and soon after saw his shot pass a foot wide of the Walsall goalpost. With ten minutes remaining, a Peter Hart free kick was headed on by Christie to Kelly who scored to give Bristol City the lead. In the final minute of the match, Barber's goal kick found Kelly in Bristol City's half of the pitch who ran with the ball and shot from around 20 yd, past Waugh in the goal to score and make the final score 3–1. Details uncollapsed 1 25 May 1988 19:45 UTC Bristol City 1–3 Walsall Walsh 38 Christie 62 Kelly 79 90 Ashton Gate, Bristol 25,128 Joe Worrall 1Keith Waugh2Andy Llewellyn3Rob Newman4Glenn Humphries 5John Pender6Steve McClaren7Ralph Milne8Steve Galliers9Carl Shutt10Alan Walsh11Steve Neville 64Substitutes used:12Joe Jordan 64Manager:Joe Jordan1Fred Barber2Mark Taylor3Richard O'Kelly 454Craig Shakespeare 5Graeme Forbes6Mark Goodwin7Phil Hawker8Peter Hart9Trevor Christie10David Kelly11Willie NaughtonSubstitutes used:12Mark Jones 45Manager:Tommy Coakley Second leg right|alt=Fellows Park|thumb|Fellows Park (pictured in 1982) hosted the second leg and the subsequent replay. Summary O'Kelly was unavailable for Walsall for the match having pulled a calf muscle in the first leg. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19880528/356/0022 British Newspaper Archive Newcastle Journal 12 April 2021 subscription 28 May 1988 22 O'Kelly out for Walsall The second leg of the final kicked off at 3p.m. on 28 May 1988 at Fellows Park in front of 13,941 spectators and was refereed by George Tyson. https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-bristol-city-28-may-1988-297627/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 12 April 2021 Walsall v Bristol City, 28 May 1988 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412122634/https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-bristol-city-28-may-1988-297627/ live https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75608248/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 12 April 2021 Fixtures 28 May 1988 24 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412152630/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75608248/the-guardian/ live Bristol City started the stronger of the sides and Barber punched a shot away from Ralph Milne in the third minute. An early strike from Walsh hit the Walsall goalpost, a shot from Shutt went close and Walsh's 25 yd free kick also narrowly missed the target. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75609435/the-observer/ The Observer Newspapers.com 12 April 2021 A third helping of anxiety Derek Wallis 20 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412154047/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75609435/the-observer/ live In the 31st minute, Walsh played in a corner which Newman headed into the Walsall goal and although Craig Shakespeare hooked the ball out from under the crossbar, the linesman adjudged that the ball has crossed the goalline. Cynthia Bateman, writing in The Guardian suggested that the "strong, swirling wind was not altogether responsible for some pretty awful football". https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75608468/the-guardian/ A Shutt and open case Cynthia Bateman The Guardian Newspapers.com 12 April 2021 30 May 1988 18 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412152405/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75608468/the-guardian/ live Shakespeare and Kelly had both come close to equalising, but midway through the second half, McClaren crossed for Shutt to shoot past Barber to make it 2–0 and level the aggregate score at 3–3. In the 76th minute Forbes saw his header cleared off the Bristol City goalline by Steve Galliers. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002324/19880529/270/0026 British Newspaper Archive Kelly is delayed again! subscription 12 April 2021 29 May 1988 26 Sunday Independent With no outright winner after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout was used to determine which side would host the replay: Walsall won 4–2 and earned the right to play the deciding match at Fellows Park. Details uncollapsed 1 28 May 1988 15:00 UTC Walsall 0–2 Bristol City Newman 31 Shutt 65 Fellows Park, Walsall 13,941 George Tyson 1Fred Barber2Mark Taylor3Andy Dornan4Craig Shakespeare 5Graeme Forbes6Mark Goodwin7Phil Hawker8Peter Hart9Trevor Christie10David Kelly11Willie NaughtonManager:Tommy Coakley1Keith Waugh2Andy Llewellyn3Rob Newman4Glenn Humphries 5John Pender6Steve McClaren7Ralph Milne8Steve Galliers9Carl Shutt 8510Alan Walsh11Joe JordanSubstitutes used:12Tony Caldwell 85Manager:Joe Jordan Replay Summary The replay of the final kicked off at 3p.m. on 30 May 1988 at Fellows Park in front of 13,007 spectators and refereed by George Courtney. https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-bristol-city-30-may-1988-297628/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 12 April 2021 Walsall v Bristol City, 30 May 1988 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412122949/https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-bristol-city-30-may-1988-297628/ live https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75610740/the-guardian/ The Guardian 12 April 2021 30 May 1988 15 Newspapers.com Fixtures 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412155529/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75610740/the-guardian/ live Walsall took the lead in the 11th minute: Bristol City's John Pender had tackled Shakespeare but failed to clear the ball which Kelly won and struck past Waugh. Six minutes later, Kelly ran onto a through-ball from Goodwin and scored his second goal. Within minutes, Walsall were 3–0 ahead: Goodwin's corner was headed into the Bristol City net by Phil Hawker. Willie Naughton's diving header just before half-time went wide for Walsall and the half ended without further scoring. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75610867/the-guardian/ Kelly's rule of three Cynthia Bateman 31 May 1988 12 Newspapers.com The Guardian 19 April 2021 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412161507/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75610867/the-guardian/ live Although the second half started with Bristol City winning a series of corners, it was Walsall who scored. Kelly beat Galliers and struck the ball which took a deflection off Humphries before spinning round Waugh and ending in the Bristol City goal off the goalpost, to complete Kelly's hat-trick. Towards the end of the match, Shutt was sent off for a foul on Barber and the match ended 4–0 to Walsall who secured promotion to the Second Division. Details uncollapsed 1 30 May 1988 15:00 UTC Walsall 4–0 Bristol City Kelly 11 17 64 Hawker 19 Fellows Park, Walsall 13,007 George Courtney 1Fred Barber2Mark Taylor3Andy Dornan 4Craig Shakespeare 5Graeme Forbes6Mark Goodwin 7Phil Hawker8Peter Hart9Trevor Christie10David Kelly11Willie NaughtonSubstitutes:12Mark Jones 13Paul Sanderson Manager:Tommy Coakley1Keith Waugh2Andy Llewellyn3Rob Newman4Glenn Humphries 5John Pender6Steve McClaren7Ralph Milne8Steve Galliers9Carl Shutt 10Alan Walsh11Joe JordanManager:Joe Jordan Post-match Kelly was sold by Walsall to West Ham United in July 1988 for a fee of £600,000. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75628940/the-observer/ The Observer Kelly's aye 19 24 July 1988 Newspapers.com 19 April 2021 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412202141/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75628940/the-observer/ live Walsall's manager Tommy Coakley was sacked in December 1988 after a losing streak of eleven games, culminating in a 5–1 Boxing Day defeat at home to Oxford United which sent Walsall to the bottom of the league. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75626310/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 12 April 2021 Coakley fired by Walsall Russell Thomas 10 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412195734/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75626310/the-guardian/ live He was replaced the following January by John Barnwell, https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75626980/the-guardian/ Ball sent bouncing out The Guardian 12 April 2021 18 January 1989 18 Russell Thomas 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412195733/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75626980/the-guardian/ live but Walsall ended their following season in last position in the Second Division and were relegated back to the Third Division. https://www.11v11.com/teams/walsall/tab/leagueTables/1989/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 12 April 2021 League Division Two table at close of 1988–89 season 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412194145/https://www.11v11.com/teams/walsall/tab/leagueTables/1989/ live Bristol City's next season saw them finish in 11th position in the Third Division, five places and nine points outside the play-offs. https://www.11v11.com/teams/bristol-city/tab/leagueTables/1989/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 12 April 2021 League Division Three table at close of 1988–89 season 12 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210412194406/https://www.11v11.com/teams/bristol-city/tab/leagueTables/1989/ live References Sources Foster Richard The Agony & The Ecstasy 978-1-9109-0600-2 Ockley Books 2015 3 Category:EFL League One play-off finals Category:Football League Third Division play-off finals Play-off Final 1988 Play-off Final 1988 Football League Third Division play-off final