Looking Back: The 1989/90 Season

Before then, the Southern and Northern Premier Leagues were rated as the same level and could offer someone forward for the `dreaded` vote at the annual Football League AGM, which, of course, rarely saw anyone promoted!

Under the new re-organisation – which was extremely radical in its day – those leagues would lose their top status and would become the feeder divisions for the newly-formed Alliance Premier League.

During the 1978/79 season, clubs fought to be amongst the top end of the Southern and Northern Premier tables so as to become founder members of the newly-formed league.

In this feature, we`ll be bringing back memories of various seasons in the Alliance Premier as it was known until 1986 and the Football Conference as it became better known until 2015 when car leasing company Vanarama came in as new sponsors and it is now the Vanarama National League.

The 1989/90 season was a significant one as Vauxhall Motors agreed to extend their sponsorship of the league for a further two years, taking their total contribution to the semi-professional game to over the £1 million-mark.

Bill King succeeded Jim Thompson as the league`s chairman following Maidstone United`s promotion to the Football League, but it was the team who suffered relegation, Darlington, who created much of the 1989 summer headlines as their manager at time, former Aston Villa star Brian Little, spent big in the transfer market in an effort to make a swift return, shelling out a then-club record fee of £40,000 on Hartlepool United striker Andy Toman.

Cheltenham Town also created national headlines when they signed another former Villa favourite, Scotland`s Andy Gray.

Barnet, who finished a disappointing 8th in 1988/89, set a new transfer record outside the Football League by paying £60,000 for goalkeeper Peter Guthrie from Spurs.

Darlington, quoted as 8-1 to make it straight back to the Football League, started the season really well and the crowds certainly flocked to watch them early on as they hammered Kidderminster Harriers and Northwich Victoria in their opening two games.

Macclesfield Town also started the new campaign well and top the table as September arrived after the Quakers were held to a 1-1 draw by Telford United.

The month also saw its first managerial casualty as Enfield parted company with Eddie McCluskey after ten years in charge when he guided the club to two titles and an FA Trophy success.

He moved `upstairs` to become general manager and was replaced by Mike Ferguson, but it was to prove a terrible season for the E`s as they ended up bottom of the table – ten points adrift of the safety-mark and were relegated to the Isthmian League.

Fisher Athletic had a high-profile boss at this time in former Manchester City and Crystal Palace manager Malcolm Allison and he looked to sign some exotic names, including Portugese international Jorge Rocadas.

Kidderminster Harriers moved into second place in the table, while Merthyr Tydfil revealed record profits of £142,086 and vow to invest all of it into their Penydarren Park ground.

September ends with Darlington still heading the table and attracting a season`s best crowd of 3,880 for the win over the previous season`s runners-up, Kettering Town.

Macclesfield`s hopes of maintaining a title challenge waned after they sold influential midfielder Mike Lake to Sheffield United for £60,000, while the Poppies sold winger Cohen Griffiths to Cardiff for a similar fee.

Barnet, looking to buy, not sell, rejected a reported bid of £130,000 from a Second Division side for forward Andrew Clarke.

Northwich Victoria ended a run of six consecutive defeats with a 2-2 draw with Kettering, while Telford failed to earn the first silverware of the new season when they were beaten 2-0 by reigning champions Maidstone to win the JC Thompson Championship Shield.

Darlington extended their unbeaten run to a dozen games by mid-October and Andy Gray finally manages to score his first goal in non-League football in Cheltenham`s 2-0 win over Chorley.

A total of 14 Conference clubs progress to the First Round of the FA Cup, although four face replays, with Yeovil Town making it a record-breaking 42nd appearance following a 3-0 win over Staines Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round.

Darlington`s 13-match unbeaten run came to an end in early November, ironically in front of their biggest crowd to date, when Barnet beat them 2-1 at Feethams to go third in the table.

Managerial changes see the departure of Malcolm Allison from Fisher for `personal reasons` and the arrival of Ted Hardy at Enfield after Mike Ferguson`s short tenure ended.

Former Wolves star Mike Bailey succeeds Allison at Fisher.

Ten Conference teams face League opposition in the First Round of the FA Cup and Kettering`s 1-0 defeat by neighbours Northampton Town is watched by Rockingham Road`s highest crowd of the decade – 6,100.

Welling United recorded their first ever victory over Football League opposition, defeating Fourth Division Kent neighbours Gillingham 1-0.

The end of November sees Macclesfield as Darlington`s closest rivals for the title while Welling hammer Boston United 6-0.

The Quakers took time off league action to reach the Third Round of the FA Cup after beating Halifax Town 3-0, while Welling draw with Reading.

Stan Storton, the longest-serving manager in the league, quits Telford to devote more time to his family.

He had been in charge for ten years during which time he guided the Bucks to two FA Trophy successes and the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.

On a personal note, I introduced the first ever braille football programme at Kettering!

Stafford Rangers parted company with manager Ron Reid who is replaced by ex-Altrincham and Runcorn boss John Williams.

Struggling Enfield reject a bid of £175,000 for striker Paul Furlong from Stoke City, while Cheltenham`s biggest ever Conference crowd of 2,622 watched their 1-0 defeat by Darlington at Whaddon Road.

The Quakers enjoy their Christmas dinner heading the table on goal difference from Macclesfield and Kettering, with Barnet fourth.

However, the New Year begins with new leaders as Darlington are held to a 0-0 draw by Barrow in front of a season`s best crowd of 4,741 – Macclesfield assume the leadership after beating Altrincham.

The Poppies maintain their title bid with their biggest Conference win in ten years – 5-0 against Boston United, while Welling`s FA Cup venture is over after Reading beat them 2-1 at the fourth attempt.

Telford`s Ken McKenna hits a 5-minute hat-trick against Kidderminster.

Boston part company with manager George Kerr having reached their lowest league position for 10 years and Dave Cusack takes over as caretaker boss.

Another departure is Darlington`s midfielder Mark Hine, who is sold to Peterborough for £50,000.

However, the Quakers continue to fly the Conference flag in the FA Cup with a 0-0 draw at Cambridge United.

In the league, Macclesfield drop points in a goalless draw at Chorley, but Kettering`s challenge falters at Sutton, allowing Barry Fry`s Barnet to make up ground with a 1-0 win at Kidderminster.

A crowd of 9,000 see Darlington bow out of the FA Cup in the replay at Feethams against Cambridge.

Ron Reid returns to Boston as assistant to Cusack and there`s another managerial departure as Jim Kelman resigns at Wycombe following an FA Trophy defeat by Metropolitan Police.

Northwich keeper Dave Ryan ends his run of 183 consecutive games when he misses his first match since November 1986.

January ends with the Silkmen losing top spot to Darlington and Welling move up the table after extending their run of victories to seven – Runcorn are another side in form, closing the gap on the leaders after a ninth successive home win against Kettering.

Welling`s Nicky Brigden wins a third successive manager of the month award and February begins with former Northern Ireland international Martin O`Neill taking over as manager of Wycombe Wanderers – now I wonder what happened to him!

Someone slightly more experienced in managerial terms at the time, Barry Fry, celebrated his 10th anniversary in charge of Barnet by guiding his team to the top of the table, although Darlington remain in touch by completing the `double` over Kettering by winning 3-1 at Rockingham Road.

Runcorn midfielder Ian Woan attracts a £70,000 offer and Barnet pay out a five-figure fee for Enfield`s Paul Harding – the fee is believed to be the highest between Conference clubs but remained `undisclosed`.

David Cork nets four times as Darlington hammer struggling Boston United 6-1.

Barnet`s eight-match winning runs comes to an end with a 3-1 defeat at Welling – it was the best winning sequence since 1984.

Fisher, who tried to lure ex-West Ham star Geoff Pike to the Dockland outfit, move off bottom spot with a win at Enfield, while another struggler, Boston, come out of the drop zone for the first time in six months with victory over Sutton.

Telford announce plans to turn `full-time`.

February ends with Runcorn recording their biggest ever Conference victory – 9-0 over Enfield, with Mick Doherty returning from a 3-month lay-off to score 5 of the goals!

Ken Wright ends five years in charge at Chorley by resigning and is replaced by former Nottingham Forest and Derby midfielder John McGovern.

Darlington`s Brian Little wins the February manager of the month award for the third time.

But March starts with FA Trophy holders Telford bowing out of the competition with defeat at Leek Town, who eventually reached the final at Wembley.

Nottingham Forest win the race to sign Runcorn`s Ian Woan for a fee of £80,000, while in a bid to avoid relegation, Enfield shell out over £35,000 on players, including bringing in striker Jimmy Quinn.

Barnet maintain top spot after recording a 10th win in 11 matches against Kidderminster, while the Quakers lose at Northwich, who ended a run of five consecutive defeats.

Vics bring in ex-Manchester United and Republic of Ireland keeper Paddy Roche.

Stafford Rangers reach the Trophy semi-final with victory at Bath City, while Kidderminster and Barrow face replays, but Darlington bowed out to an 86th minute winner for Leek.

Enfield finally end their barren run of 12 games without a win in the league by beating Chorley 2-0.

Barrow reach the Trophy semi-finals by beating Kingstonian in their replay, but Kidderminster lose to Colne Dynamoes.

Darlington return to the top of the table with a 1-0 win at Altrincham, thanks to a debut goal from ex-Ipswich striker David Geddis, signed from Swindon.

And the Quakers see out March by beating Barnet 2-0 in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,880 at Underhill to take the initiative in the title race.

Enfield spend big again – Yeovil receiving a then-record fee of £20,000 for midfielder Gary Donnellan.

Martin O`Neill shows his managerial ability by winning the March award – just his second month in charge at Wycombe.

And it’s the end of an era at Northwich as long-serving goalkeeper Dave Ryan leaves the Drill Field after 12 years with the club.

Runcorn are going well and extended their unbeaten run to 10 games, while Kidderminster win at Aggborough for the first time on over 5 months with a stoppage time penalty against Yeovil.

There`s a massive bonus for Altrincham, who received a five-figure sum as part of the deal that took former defender Paul Edwards from Crewe to Coventry.

Darlington`s title hopes stutter after draws against Macclesfield and Farnborough, leaving Barnet three points clear at the top, while Runcorn`s 10-game unbeaten runs ends at Sutton.

Barrow reach the Trophy final with a 2-1 aggregate win over Colne – it will be the club`s first ever Wembley visit in their 89-year history.

But it won`t be an all-Conference final as Stafford lose to Leek in their semi-final.

Ted Hardy loses his job at Enfield and Eddie McCluskey takes back the reins, while Boston confirm Dave Cusack as player-manager after a period in caretaker charge.

Merthyr Tydfil`s Penydarren Park is chosen to host Wales` under-21 match against Poland, thus becoming the first club to stage an international outside the League.

Easter Bank Holiday gates set new Conference record with the aggregate set to pass 600,000 for the first time.

Darlington return to the top after an 88th minute winner against Welling, stretching their lead to four points, and an emphatic win over Stafford, while Barnet are being held at Barrow, see the Quakers in command in the promotion race.

However, recent champions Enfield become the first club to have relegation confirmed after they lose 5-1 at Merthyr – the first time the E`s have suffered relegation in their 96-year history.

Striker Efan Ekoku helps Sutton record a fifth consecutive win and then enters talks with Sheffield United over a possible transfer to Bramall Lane.

Yeovil confirm that the new ground they are building on the outskirts of town will be called Huish Park, while another famous old stadium, Northwich`s Drill Field, is subject of a development programme and Vics enter discussions with neighbours Witton Albion which would see them vacate the oldest senior football ground in Britain by 1991.

Another club moving home are Wycombe, who line-up the likes of George Best and Mark Lawrenson to play in a farewell match at Loakes Park.

April draws to an end with Quakers moving within 2 points of the title with a 5-1 win over Cheltenham in front of a season`s best crowd of 5,525 – the club offering manager Brian Little a new three-year contract.

The title race goes right to the last day of the season as Darlington are beaten 3-2 at Kidderminster – Harriers` Mark Whitehouse scoring the winner in stoppage time, while Barnet also leave it late before beating Macclesfield to set up the final day.

However, Darlington make certain of the championship with an 87th minute winner at Welling, leaving Barry Fry`s Bees as runners-up, despite a 4-1 win at Chorley – Barnet being bridesmaids for the third time in four years!

Defeat condemned Chorley to the drop and they are joined by Farnborough, who lost 3-2 at Stafford, despite being 2-0 up, and, of course Enfield, who had known their fate for while.

Fisher escape relegation with a fourth successive win at Merthyr.

Yeovil finished in their highest-ever position of 7th and celebrated further by winning the Bob Lord Trophy (as the league cup was then known), beating Kidderminster 4-1 on aggregate.

And they make an emotional farewell at the Huish with 4,237 attending the last-ever game on the famous slope.

Wycombe also play their final game at Loakes Park before moving to Adams Park and George Best is amongst the scorers in the international friendly.

Conference gates reached their highest-ever level in 1989/90 – 660,000 – which maintains the upward rise as it`s the fourth successive seasonal increase.

Kettering`s Robbie Cooke wins the `golden boot` with 28 goals, while runner-up Efan Ekoku completes a £100,000 move to AFC Bournemouth.

A couple of days after the end of the league campaign, Runcorn`s John Williams becomes the tenth managerial casualty, while Barrow`s revival continues with a 3-0 win over Leek in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley to bring the curtain down on a season which saw the final games played on three of the best-known grounds outside the Football League.