1987 Football League Fourth Division play-off final

Association football match June 2017 June 2021 1987 Football League Fourth Division play-off final 1986–87 Football League Fourth Division Aldershot 3 WolverhamptonWanderers 0 First leg 2 0 22 May 1987 Recreation Ground Aldershot Allan Gunn 5,069 Second leg 1 0 25 May 1987 Molineux Wolverhampton Keith Hackett 19,962 1988 The 1987 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match contested by Aldershot and Wolverhampton Wanderers over two legs on 22 May 1987 and 25 May 1987 to determine which club would play the next season in the Third Division. Aldershot had finished in sixth place in the Fourth Division while Wolverhampton Wanderers were fourth. They were joined in the play-offs by fifth-placed Colchester United and Bolton Wanderers, who had finished in 21st position in the division above. Aldershot defeated Bolton Wanderers in their semi-final, consigning the latter to relegation, while Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Colchester United in the other semi-final. The first leg of the final was played at Recreation Ground in Aldershot, in front of a crowd of 5,069. An early goal from Ian McDonald and a second-half penalty from Bobby Barnes gave Aldershot a 2–0 lead heading into the second leg. Three days later, at Molineux, 19,962 people saw Barnes score the only goal of the game to give Aldershot a 3–0 aggregate victory and promotion to the Third Division. Crowd violence followed the second leg with more than 40 people being arrested. Aldershot ended their following season in 20th position in the Third Division, one place and one point above the relegation play-off position. Wolverhampton Wanderers' next season saw them finish as champions of the Fourth Division, gaining automatic promotion to the Third Division for the 1988–89 season. Route to the final 1987 Football League play-offs 1986–87 Football League main WDL Q right auto 21 Football League Third Division final table, relegation positions BOL Bolton Wanderers CAR Carlisle United DAR Darlington NEW Newport County 10 15 21 46 58 10 8 28 39 78 7 16 23 45 77 8 13 25 49 86 complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/1987/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 League Division Three end of season table for 1986–87 season 30 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210330111007/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/1987/ live main WDL Q right auto Football League Fourth Division final table, leading positions NOR Northampton Town PNE Preston North End SOU Southend United WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers COL Colchester United ALD Aldershot 30 9 7 103 53 26 12 8 72 47 25 5 16 68 55 24 7 15 69 50 21 7 18 64 56 20 10 16 64 57 complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-four/1987/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 League Division Four end of season table for 1986–87 season 22 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180722130209/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-four/1987/ live This was the inaugural season of the Football League play-offs, which were introduced 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 team which had finished immediately above the relegation places in the Third Division competed with three clubs from the Fourth Division immediately below the promotion positions for promotion to 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 The play-offs were not universally lauded: Oldham Athletic manager Joe Royle was scathing of them after losing in the semi-final of the Second Division play-offs, saying "We finished seven points clear of Leeds. So to go out on away goals to them means there is something unjust. I welcomed the play-offs but possibly hadn't considered the long-term ramifications." The Swindon Town manager Lou Macari was also dissatisfied with the play-offs, arguing "we have proved ourselves the better team over 46 games this season but then see our future decided in Cup-style matches". https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74663494/the-guardian/ The Guardian 29 March 2021 Clubs swallow play-offs with spoonfuls of money Newspapers.com 29 May 1987 29 Russell Thomas 30 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210330111015/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74663494/the-guardian/ live Bolton Wanderers had finished the 1986–87 season in 21st place in the Third Division, one position above the relegation zone. Wolverhampton Wanderers ended the season in fourth position in the Fourth Division, one point behind Southend, who were automatically promoted in third place, eleven behind Preston North End who were promoted as runners-up, and twenty behind champions Northampton Town. Colchester United finished nine points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers in fifth place while Aldershot ended the season in sixth, also nine points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers but with inferior goal difference to Colchester United. Bolton, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Colchester United, and Aldershot thus competed in the play-offs. Aldershot's opposition in their play-off semi-final were Bolton Wanderers, with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at the Recreation Ground in Aldershot on 14 May 1987. https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-bolton-wanderers-14-may-1987-306767/ Aldershot v Bolton Wanderers, 14 May 1987 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 20 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210520203514/https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-bolton-wanderers-14-may-1987-306767/ live The match ended 1–0 to Aldershot as Gary Johnson scored the only goal of the game in the 77th minute. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A117670908/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=d59a698e Gale subscription 7 June 2021 15 May 1987 Aldershot 1 Bolton 0 The Times 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701124122/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA117670908&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=d59a698e live The second leg was held three days later at Burnden Park in Bolton. https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolton-wanderers-v-aldershot-17-may-1987-306769/ Bolton Wanderers v Aldershot, 17 May 1987 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 20 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210520203349/https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolton-wanderers-v-aldershot-17-may-1987-306769/ live Tony Caldwell scored a 50th minute penalty to level the tie on aggregate before Darren Anderson scored for Aldershot in the 76th minute. Caldwell's 81st minute goal meant extra time was required to decide the result. Glenn Burvill gave Aldershot the lead in the 103rd minute, and with no further goals, the tie ended 3–2 to Aldershot on aggregate. They progressed to the final while Bolton were relegated to the Fourth Division for the first time in their history. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74660656/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com Sunderland and Bolton are sunk 28 18 May 1987 29 March 2021 30 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210330111015/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74660656/the-guardian/ live https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A117670447/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=e3448143 Gale subscription 7 June 2021 18 May 1987 Swindon a step from promotion Nicholas Harling The Times 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701124151/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA117670447&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=e3448143 live Wolverhampton Wanderers faced Colchester United in the other semi-final, with the first leg being played at Layer Road in Colchester on 14 May 1987. https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-wolverhampton-wanderers-14-may-1987-306768/ Colchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 14 May 1987 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 20 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210520203406/https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-wolverhampton-wanderers-14-may-1987-306768/ live Rob Kelly gave the visitors the lead in the 28th minute when he headed in a deflected cross from Steve Bull. Five minutes later, Bull himself scored when he converted a shot from Andy Thompson which had rebounded off the Colchester United goalpost. Mark Kendall, the Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper, made a number of saves to keep a clean sheet and his side won 2–0. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002487/19870515/614/0061 Sandwell Evening Mail 7 June 2021 Win gives the Wolves a firm grip 15 May 1987 British Newspaper Archive subscription 61 Mike Ward The second leg took place three days later at Molineux in Wolverhampton. https://www.11v11.com/matches/wolverhampton-wanderers-v-colchester-united-17-may-1987-306770/ Wolverhampton Wanderers v Colchester United, 17 May 1987 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 20 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210520203446/https://www.11v11.com/matches/wolverhampton-wanderers-v-colchester-united-17-may-1987-306770/ live The match ended goalless and Wolverhampton Wanderers progressed to the final with a 2–0 aggregate victory. Match Background Wolverhampton Wanderers had been involved in numerous promotions and relegations in the seasons leading up to this one. Having been relegated to the Second Division in the 1981–82 season, they were promoted the following year after finishing as runners-up. Three consecutive relegations followed, in 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 to leave them in the Fourth Division, the lowest tier of English football in which they had ever played. https://www.fchd.info/WOLVERHW.HTM Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club History Database 7 June 2021 9 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200809043006/http://fchd.info/WOLVERHW.HTM live Aldershot had played in the Fourth Division since being relegated in the 1975–76 season. https://www.fchd.info/ALDERSHO.HTM Aldershot Football Club History Database 7 June 2021 9 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210509174335/https://fchd.info/ALDERSHO.HTM live Wolverhampton Wanderers won both matches between the sides during the regular season. The game at the Recreation Ground in August 1986 ended 2–1 and the return match at Molineux in February 1987 saw Wolverhampton win 3–0. https://www.11v11.com/teams/wolverhampton-wanderers/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Aldershot/ Wolverhampton Wanderers football club: record v Aldershot 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 16 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200616131039/https://www.11v11.com/teams/wolverhampton-wanderers/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Aldershot/ live First leg right|thumb|alt=Recreation Ground|The first leg of the final took place at Aldershot's Recreation Ground. Summary The referee for the first leg, played on 22 May 1987 at the Recreation Ground in Aldershot in front of 5,069 spectators, was Allan Gunn. https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-wolverhampton-wanderers-22-may-1987-306771/ Aldershot v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 22 May 1987 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 20 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210520203412/https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-wolverhampton-wanderers-22-may-1987-306771/ live Conditions underfoot were poor with a heavily waterlogged pitch, and the first goal came about in the fourth minute when a number of players slipped, including Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Floyd Streete, and Ian McDonald scored. Kendall made a number of saves including one in the 40th minute to deny Mike Ring which Mike Ward, writing in the Sandwell Evening Mail, described as a "rescue act of quite stunning brilliance". https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002487/19870523/281/0031 British Newspaper Archive 7 June 2021 23 May 1987 31 subscription Shambles as Wolves dive Mike Ward Sandwell Evening Mail Bull saw two attempts to score denied by Aldershot defenders before half-time and within thirty seconds of the start of the second half, Streete was adjudged to have handled the ball from a clearance by Nicky Clarke, his teammate. Bobby Barnes scored the resulting penalty. Bull then missed an opportunity to score in the 70th minute and the match ended in a 2–0 victory for Aldershot. Details uncollapsed 1 22 May 1987 19:45 BST Aldershot 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers McDonald 4Barnes 47 pen. Recreation Ground, Aldershot 5,069 Allan Gunn (Burgess Hill) GK 1 Tony LangeRB 2 Barry BlankleyCB 3 Paul FriarCB 4 Andy KingLB 5 Colin SmithRM 6 Steve WignallCM 7 Bobby BarnesCM 8 Giorgio MazzonLM 9 Mike RingCF 10Ian McDonald (c)CF 11Gary JohnsonManager:Len Walker GK 1 Mark KendallRB 2 Steve StouttCB 3 David BarnesCB 4 Floyd Streete (c)LB 5 Rob KellyRM 6 Nicky ClarkeCM 7 Jon PurdieCM 8 Andy ThompsonFW 9 Steve BullFW 10Andy MutchLM 11Micky HolmesManager:Graham Turner Second leg alt=Molineux Stadium|right|thumb|The second leg of the final was hosted by Molineux (pictured in 1991). Summary The referee for the second leg, played on 25 May 1987 at Molineux in Wolverhampton in front of a crowd of 19,962, was Keith Hackett. https://www.11v11.com/matches/wolverhampton-wanderers-v-aldershot-25-may-1987-306772/ Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aldershot, 25 May 1987 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 20 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210520203445/https://www.11v11.com/matches/wolverhampton-wanderers-v-aldershot-25-may-1987-306772/ live Wolverhampton Wanderers concentrated their efforts on playing long balls forward to their attackers, but according to Mike King of the Sandwell Evening Mail, they were met with "an unflinching Aldershot defence". https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002487/19870526/312/0033?browse=true British Newspaper Archive 7 June 2021 Punchless Wolves miss out 33 Mike King subscription Sandwell Evening Mail In the ninth minute, Bull struck a shot high over the Aldershot crossbar and two minutes later, Barry Powell's strike from distance was tipped away by Tony Lange, the Aldershot goalkeeper. Just before the hour mark, Thompson shot high and off-target before Lange made another save, this time from a strike which took a deflection off Jon Purdie. With nine minutes of the match remaining, Barnes scored for Aldershot to give them a 1–0 win, and a 3–0 aggregate victory, securing promotion to the Third Division. After the final whistle, hundreds of Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters rushed on the 2,000 travelling Aldershot fans, attacking them and the police. Ten officers and a police horse were injured in the riot while forty-two people, including one Aldershot supporter, were arrested. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002487/19870526/007/0001 British Newspaper Archive 7 June 2021 Ten police hurt as fans run riot 1 subscription Sandwell Evening Mail Details uncollapsed 1 25 May 1987 15:00 BST Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 0–3 Aldershot Barnes 81 Molineux, Wolverhampton 19,962 Keith Hackett (Sheffield) GK 1 Mark KendallRB 2 Steve StouttCB 3 David BarnesCB 4 Floyd Streete (c)LB 5 Barry PowellRM 6 Nicky ClarkeCM 7 Robbie DennisonCM 8 Andy ThompsonFW 9 Steve BullFW 10Andy MutchLM 11Micky HolmesManager:Graham Turner GK 1 Tony LangeRB 2 Barry BlankleyCB 3 Paul FriarCB 4 Andy KingLB 5 Colin SmithRM 6 Steve WignallCM 7 Bobby BarnesCM 8 Giorgio MazzonLM 9 Mike RingCF 10Ian McDonald (c)CF 11Gary JohnsonManager:Len Walker Post-match Graham Turner, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, was disappointed and bemoaned the new method of determining the final team to be promoted, saying "I'm bitterly disappointed. We ended nine points clear of Aldershot in the table with a better goal difference, so that makes it even harder to swallow at the moment". https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2015/may/22/first-football-league-play-offs-1987-charlton-swindon-aldershot The Guardian 21 March 2021 How Charlton, Swindon and Aldershot triumphed in the first play-offs in 1987 Steven Pye 22 May 2015 3 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200603105618/https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2015/may/22/first-football-league-play-offs-1987-charlton-swindon-aldershot live His counterpart Len Walker was sympathetic, noting "It's sad Wolves finished fourth and we finished sixth, but we all knew the rules to start with". After the game, Aldershot teammates Giorgio Mazzon, Burvill and Anderson were involved in a road traffic accident which eventually led to Mazzon's retirement. https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/careers-made-and-broken-on-footballs-cruellest-stage-tkjzgg9ft The Times subscription 7 June 2021 19 May 2017 Football League play-offs: how football's cruellest stage made and broke careers Alyson Rudd 20 May 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170520120148/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/careers-made-and-broken-on-footballs-cruellest-stage-tkjzgg9ft live Goalscorer Barnes later talked of the violence at Molineux, noting "Crowd trouble was frequent in the Eighties... I'd played at Newcastle and had bananas thrown at me so I wouldn't have been phased by the trouble that day at Molineux." Aldershot ended their following season in 20th position in the Third Division, one place and one point above the relegation play-off position. https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/1988/ League Division Three end of season table for 1987–88 season 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 30 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210330111010/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/1988/ live Wolverhampton Wanderers' next season saw them finish as champions of the Fourth Division, gaining automatic promotion to the Third Division for the 1988–89 season. https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-four/1988/ League Division Four end of season table for 1987–88 season 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 June 2021 26 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180726010006/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-four/1988/ live References Bibliography The Agony & The Ecstasy (A Comprehensive History of the Football League play-offs) Richard Foster 978-1-910906-00-2 Ockley Books 2015 2 4 Category:EFL League Two play-off finals Play-off Final 1987 Play-off Final 1987 Football League Fourth Division play-off final