1991 Football League Fourth Division play-off final

Last updated

1991 Football League Fourth Division play-off final
Old Wembley Stadium (external view).jpg
The match was played at Wembley Stadium.
Event 1990–91 Football League Fourth Division
After extra time
Torquay United won 5–4 on penalties
Date31 May 1991
Venue Wembley Stadium, London
Referee George Courtney
Attendance21,615
1990
1992

The 1991 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match played on 31 May 1991 at the Wembley Stadium, London, between Blackpool and Torquay United. The match determined the fifth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Fourth Division, English football's fourth tier, to the Third Division. The top four teams of the 1990–91 Fourth Division season gained automatic promotion to the Third Division, while those placed from fifth to eighth in the table took part in play-offs, the semi-final winners of which competed for the final place for the 1991–92 season in the Third Division. Blackpool finished in fifth place while Torquay ended the season in seventh position. Burnley and Scunthorpe United were the losing semi-finalists, being defeated by Torquay and Blackpool respectively.

Contents

The match was refereed by George Courtney in front of a crowd of 21,615. Paul Groves opened the scoring for Blackpool with an angled shot from 8 yards (7.3 m) following a pass from Mark Taylor after seven minutes. Torquay equalised on 28 minutes after a cross from Mark Loram was headed past Steve McIlhargey, the Blackpool goalkeeper, by Wes Saunders. In the 37th minute, Dave Bamber was adjudged to have handled a cross from Paul Holmes in the Blackpool penalty area and Dean Edwards scored the penalty make it 21 to Torquay at half time. After the interval, Blackpool dominated the game and scored the equaliser in the 76th minute with an own goal from Chris Curran, and the match ended 22 and went into extra time. No goals were scored in additional time so the match had to be decided by a penalty shootout. The first two shots were saved before the next nine penalties were converted. Bamber then sliced his shot wide of the goal, concluding the shootout with a 54 victory to Torquay who were promoted to the Third Division for the first time in 20 years. It was the first play-off final to be decided by a penalty shootout.

In their following season, Blackpool finished in fourth position in the Fourth Division and participated in the play-offs where they defeated Scunthorpe United on penalties in the final. Torquay United ended their next season in 23rd place in the Third Division table and were relegated back to the Fourth Division after a single season.

Route to the final

Football League Fourth Division final table, leading positions [1]
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 Darlington 46221776838+3083
2 Stockport County 462313108447+3782
3 Hartlepool United 462410126748+1982
4 Peterborough United 46211786745+2280
5 Blackpool 462310137847+3179
6 Burnley 462310137051+1979
7 Torquay United 461818106447+1772
8 Scunthorpe United 462011157162+971

Blackpool finished the regular 1990–91 season in fifth place in the Football League Fourth Division, the fourth tier of the English football league system, two positions ahead of Torquay United. Both therefore missed out on the four automatic places for promotion to the Third Division and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fifth promoted team. Blackpool finished one point behind Peterborough United (who were promoted in fourth place), three behind Hartlepool and Stockport County (who were promoted in third and second place respectively), and four behind league winners Darlington. Torquay ended the season seven points behind Blackpool, who missed out on automatic promotion when they lost their final league game to finish fifth. [1] [2]

Torquay United faced Burnley in their play-off semi-final with the first match of the two-legged tie being held at Plainmoor in Torquay on 19 May 1991. Dean Edwards opened the scoring for the home side before Burnley's David Hamilton was shown the red card for a late tackle on Micky Holmes. Five minutes later Matt Elliott doubled Torquay's lead and the match ended 20. [3] The second leg was played three days later at Turf Moor in Burnley. The home team dominated the game but it was not until the 89th minute that they scored through an own goal from Stewart Evans. The match ended 10 to Burnley but Torquay progressed to the final with a 21 aggregate victory. [4]

Blackpool's opponents for their play-off semi-final were Scunthorpe United and the first leg took place at Glanford Park in Scunthorpe on 19 May 1991. After a goalless first half, Tony Rodwell put the visitors ahead in the 57th minute before Steve Lister was sent off for insulting the linesman. Twenty minutes later, Mark Lillis turned with the ball and struck an equaliser to ensure the match ended 11. [5] The second leg was held on 22 May 1991 at Bloomfield Road in Blackpool. Scunthorpe took the lead in the 38th minute with a 30 yards (27 m) free kick off the post from Dave Hill. Eleven minutes after half-time, David Eyres scored from an Andy Garner cross. In the 67th minute, Eyres then scored from a headed pass from Garner to make it 21, and Blackpool progressed to the final 32 on aggregate. [4]

Match

Background

This was Blackpool's first appearance in the English Football League play-offs and their first appearance at the national stadium since the 1953 FA Cup Final where they defeated Bolton Wanderers. [5] [6] Stan Mortensen, who had scored a hat-trick for Blackpool in that final, had died the previous week. [7] The club had played in the Fourth Division for a single season having been relegated in the 1989–90 season. [6] Billy Ayre had taken over as manager of Blackpool in December 1990 with the team sixth from bottom but led them into the play-offs with a club-record winning streak of 13 games at home. [5] Torquay were making their second appearance in the play-offs having lost in the semi-finals in 1988. They had played in the Fourth Division after being relegated in the 1971–72 season. [8] Their manager Dave Smith had been replaced by John Impey in April 1991 after the side had slipped from top to mid-table. [7] [9] This was Torquay's second visit to Wembley Stadium, their previous appearance being in the 1988–89 Associate Members' Cup which they lost 41 against Bolton Wanderers. [10] [11] In the matches between the clubs during the regular season, each side won their home game: Torquay secured a 21 victory in October 1990 while Blackpool won 10 the following March. [12]

The referee for the match was George Courtney. [13]

Summary

The match kicked off around 8 p.m. on 31 May 1991 in front of a crowd of 21,615. [14] Paul Groves opened the scoring for Blackpool with an angled shot from 8 yards (7.3 m) following a pass from Mark Taylor after seven minutes. Torquay equalised on 28 minutes after a Mark Loram cross was headed past Steve McIlhargey, the Blackpool goalkeeper, by Wes Saunders. In the 37th minute, Dave Bamber was adjudged to have handled a cross from Paul Holmes in the Blackpool penalty area and Edwards dispatched the resulting spot kick to make it 21 to Torquay at half time. After the interval, Blackpool dominated the game and scored the equaliser in the 76th minute: [15] Garner's overhead kick was tipped onto the crossbar by Torquay's goalkeeper Gareth Howells before Chris Curran played the ball into the net for an own goal. Regular time ended with the score as 22 and the game went into extra time. [13] [16]

Bamber scored in extra time but his goal was disallowed as he was adjudged to have been offside. Both Elliott and Evans had shots cleared from beneath the Blackpool crossbar and the game ended 22 sending it to a penalty shootout. Loram and Rodwell both saw their shots saved before the next nine penalties were converted. Bamber then sliced his shot wide of the goal, concluding the shootout with a 54 victory to Torquay who were promoted to the Third Division for the first time in 20 years. [16]

Details

31 May 1991 Blackpool 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)
Torquay United Wembley Stadium, London
20:00 UTC Groves Soccerball shade.svg7'
Curran Soccerball shade.svg76' (o.g.)
Saunders Soccerball shade.svg28'
Edwards Soccerball shade.svg37' (pen.)
Attendance: 21,615
Referee: George Courtney
Penalties
Rodwell Soccerball shade cross.svg
Taylor Soccerball shad check.svg
Gore Soccerball shad check.svg
Groves Soccerball shad check.svg
Garner Soccerball shad check.svg
Bamber Soccerball shade cross.svg
Soccerball shade cross.svg Loram
Soccerball shad check.svg M. Holmes
Soccerball shad check.svg Saunders
Soccerball shad check.svg P. Holmes
Soccerball shad check.svg Myers
Soccerball shad check.svg Howells
GK1 Steve McIlhargey
RB2 Mike Davies Sub off.svg 103'
CB3 Alan Wright
CB4 Paul Groves
LB5 Phil Horner
RM6 Ian Gore
CM7 Tony Rodwell
CM8 Mark Taylor
FW9 Dave Bamber
FW10 Andy Garner
LM11 David Eyres
Substitutes:
MF12 Trevor Sinclair Sub on.svg 103'
Manager:
Billy Ayre
GK1 Gareth Howells
RB2 Chris Curran
CB3 Paul Holmes
CB4 Wes Saunders
LB5 Matt Elliott
RM6 Sean Joyce
CM7 Chris Myers
CM8 Micky Holmes
FW9 Stewart Evans Sub off.svg 115'
FW10 Dean Edwards Sub off.svg 87'
LM11 Mark Loram
Substitutes:
MF12 Andy Rowland Sub on.svg 115'
FW13 Paul Hall Sub on.svg 87'
Manager:
John Impey

Post-match

It was the first time that a play-off final had been settled by a penalty shootout and there was some dismay in the media over the method. [17] Keith Blackmore, writing in The Times , described it as "the least desirable way" to win the match and a "sad conclusion", while Rothmans Football Yearbook described the game as being "settled by that most unsatisfactory of methods" and that "such an outcome did nothing to enhance the wretched reputation of this most misguided vehicle for deciding football matches". [13] [14] Ayre, the defeated manager, said "It is unfortunate from our point of view but we knew the rules, and we abide by them. There's no use complaining about it". [18]

In their following season, Blackpool finished in fourth position in the Fourth Division and participated in the play-offs where they defeated Scunthorpe United on penalties in the final. [19] [20] Torquay manager Impey was sacked in October 1991 with the club second from bottom, having lost eight of their first ten league matches. [21] [22] They ended their next season in 23rd place in the Third Division table and were relegated back to the Fourth Division after a single season. [23]

Related Research Articles

John David Bamber is an English former professional footballer. He played for nine clubs during a fifteen-year career. Over half of his 148 goals in the Football League were scored during his three spells with Blackpool.

John Edward Impey is an English former professional football player and manager. As player, he made 461 appearances in the Football League representing Cardiff City, AFC Bournemouth, Torquay United and Exeter City, and spent a season in the North American Soccer League with the Seattle Sounders. As manager, he led Torquay United to promotion from the Football League Fourth Division. He represented England at Schools and Youth level.

The 1991–92 season was Blackpool F.C.'s 84th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Four, then the fourth tier of English football. They finished fourth, missing out on automatic promotion by one point for the second consecutive season after a final-day defeat at Lincoln City, and were promoted via the play-offs to the new Division Two. It was Billy Ayre's first full season as manager.

The 1990–91 season was Blackpool F.C.'s 83rd season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Four, then the fourth tier of English football. They finished fifth, missing out on automatic promotion by one point after a final-day defeat at Walsall, and made the play-offs; however, they lost in the final, against Torquay United, in a penalty-shootout after the game finished 2–2 after normal and extra time.

The EFL League Two play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from fourth to seventh in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. They are part of the annual English Football League play-offs. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, where the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing seventh, and the team finishing fifth plays the team finishing sixth, each conducted as a two-legged tie. The winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Football League One play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2009 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 24 May 2009 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Millwall and Scunthorpe United to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2008–09 Football League One season, Leicester City and Peterborough United, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while those placed from third to sixth in the table took part in play-off semi-finals. The winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2009–10 season in the Championship. The losing semi-finalists were Milton Keynes Dons and Leeds United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Football League One play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2007 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 2007 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Yeovil Town and Blackpool to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2006–07 Football League One season, Scunthorpe United and Bristol City, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2007–08 season in the Championship. The losing semi-finalists were Nottingham Forest and Oldham Athletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2004 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 31 May 2004 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Huddersfield Town and Mansfield Town to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to Football League One. The top three teams of the 2003–04 Third Division season, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City and Torquay United, gained automatic promotion to League One, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2004–05 season in Football League One. Huddersfield and Mansfield defeated Lincoln City and Northampton Town, respectively, in the semi-finals.

During the 1999–2000 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division, the third tier of the English football league system. It was the 68th season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League, and the 50th since the club was voted back into the league in 1950. The team started the season in poor form, failing to win any of the first five league games, but then went on a much-improved run and began challenging for promotion to the Football League First Division. Robert Taylor scored 18 goals in 19 games by November, after which he was signed by Manchester City for £1.5 million, a new record fee for Gillingham. On the last day of the regular season, the team had a chance to gain automatic promotion, but lost and instead had to enter the play-offs. After defeating Stoke City in the semi-finals, Gillingham beat Wigan Athletic in the final to gain promotion to the second tier of the English football league system for the first time in the club's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2001 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 26 May 2001 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Blackpool and Leyton Orient. It was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 2000–01 Football League Third Division, Brighton & Hove Albion, Cardiff City and Chesterfield, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2001–02 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Hartlepool United and Hull City who had been defeated by Blackpool and Leyton Orient respectively. It was the first season that the play-off finals were contested at the Millennium Stadium during the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1998 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 22 May 1998 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Colchester United and Torquay United to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division for the 1998–99 season. The top three teams of the 1997–98 Football League Third Division, Notts County, Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in the play-offs. The losing semi-finalists were Scarborough and Barnet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Football League One play-off final</span> Football match

The 2014 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 25 May 2014 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Leyton Orient and Rotherham United to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2013–14 Football League One season gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2014–15 season in the Championship.

The 1988 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match contested by Swansea City and Torquay United over two legs on 25 and 28 May 1988, to determine which club would play the following season in the Third Division. Torquay United had finished in fifth place in the Fourth Division while Swansea City finished sixth. They were joined in the play-offs by fourth-placed Scunthorpe United and Rotherham United, who had finished in 21st place in the division above. Swansea City defeated Rotherham United County in their semi-final, consigning the latter to relegation to the Fourth Division, while Torquay United beat Scunthorpe United in the other.

The 1989 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match played over two legs between Wrexham and Leyton Orient on 30 May and 3 June 1989. The final was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Fourth Division, the fourth tier of English football, to the Third Division. The top three teams of the 1988–89 Football League Fourth Division season, Rotherham United, Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra, gained automatic promotion to the Third Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh in the league competed in the play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals played against each other for the final place in the Third Division for the 1989–90 season. Leyton Orient ended the season in sixth position, one place ahead of Wrexham, while Scarborough and Scunthorpe United were the other semi-finalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Football League Fourth Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1992 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 23 May 1992 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Blackpool and Scunthorpe United to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Fourth Division to the Third Division. The top three teams of the 1991–92 Football League Fourth Division, Burnley, Rotherham United and Mansfield Town, gained automatic promotion, while those placed from fourth to seventh place took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place in the Third Division for the 1992–93 season. Blackpool and Scunthorpe United beat Barnet and Crewe Alexandra, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Football match

The 1994 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match played on 28 May 1994 at the Wembley Stadium, London, between Wycombe Wanderers and Preston North End. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division, English football's fourth tier, to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1993–94 Third Division season gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh took part in play-off semi-finals, the winners of which competed for the final place for the 1994–95 season in the Second Division. Wycombe Wanderers finished the season in fourth place, and Preston North End in fifth. They defeated Carlisle United and Torquay United, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 29 May 1999 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Scunthorpe United and Leyton Orient. It was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1998–99 Football League Third Division, Brentford, Cambridge United and Cardiff City, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1999–2000 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Rotherham United and Swansea City who had been defeated by Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe United respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1991 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 1 June 1991 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Tranmere Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. It was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division, the third tier of English football, to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1990–91 Football League Third Division, Cambridge United, Southend United and Grimsby Town, gained automatic promotion, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh place took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners then competed for the final place in the Second Division for the 1991–92 season. Bolton and Tranmere beat Bury and Brentford, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Football League Second Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1994 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 29 May 1994 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Burnley and Stockport County. It was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Second Division, the third tier of English football, to the First Division. The top two teams of the 1993–94 Football League Second Division, Reading and Port Vale, gained automatic promotion, while the teams placed from third to sixth place took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these competed for the final place in the First Division for the 1994–95 season. Burnley and Stockport County beat Plymouth Argyle and York City, respectively, in the semi-finals.

References

  1. 1 2 "League Division 4 end of season table for 1990–91 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  2. Beet, Don (1 June 1991). "Howells of delight" . The Guardian . p. 19. Retrieved 22 February 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Burnley beached as tempers flare at Torquay" . The Guardian . 20 May 1991. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 Searby, Martin (23 May 1991). "Blackpool back at Wembley" . The Times . p. 39. Retrieved 24 February 2021 via Gale.
  5. 1 2 3 Thorpe, Martin (20 May 1991). "Room for manoeuvre and the Ayre of finalists" . The Guardian . p. 12. Retrieved 23 February 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Blackpool". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  7. 1 2 Blackmore, Keith (31 May 1991). "Blackpool have mixed feelings" . The Times . Retrieved 24 February 2021 via Gale.
  8. "Torquay United". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  9. "The History Of Torquay United". Torquay United F.C. Archived from the original on 29 September 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  10. "Torquay United v Bolton Wanderers, 28 May 1989". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  11. Joint, Laura (24 September 2014). "Torquay at Wembley Fourth time lucky?". BBC Devon. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  12. "Blackpool football club: record v Torquay United". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 Blackmore, Keith (1 June 1991). "Torquay land the prize on penalties" . The Times . Retrieved 24 February 2021 via Gale.
  14. 1 2 "Blackpool v Torquay United, 31 May 1991". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  15. Foster, p. 201
  16. 1 2 "Shoot-out drama at Wembley" . Dundee Courier . 1 June 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 24 February 2021 via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. Foster, p. 166
  18. "Lights go out on sad Blackpool" . Liverpool Echo . 1 June 1991. p. 30. Retrieved 24 February 2021 via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. "League Division Four end of season table for 1991-92 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  20. Foster, p. 202
  21. "League Division Three table after close of play on 07 October 1991". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  22. Thomas, Russell; Bateman, Cynthia (9 October 1991). "Carter adds to Arsenal's forward motion" . The Guardian . p. 20. Retrieved 24 February 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  23. "League Division Three end of season table for 1991-92 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 February 2021.