Looking Back At: 1972/73

Back to on-field matters, and home and away defeats put City down in 18^th place and only a point clear of the re-election zone but to the relief of another sub-3,000 crowd Terry Branston restored to the side despite having been transfer-listed, scored the only goal against Darlington to put an end to City’s 19-game winless run and inspire a classic headline in the Lincolnshire Chronicle.

With Dave Smith out action for the rest of the season the Darlington game saw a debut by experienced midfielder Terry Heath on loan from Scunthorpe. Further relief came with a McNeil brace bringing the points back from Jim Smith’s Colchester in a game of three penalties, two of which were saved by John Kennedy. A run of seven wins from the next 10 games then saw the Imps well into the top half of the league table to banish any re-election fears as Taylor’s team selection and changes to the squad began to take effect. Out went Jimmy McGeough on loan to Hartlepool, and in came winger Alan Harding from Darlington for £7,000 plus Frankie McMahon, valued at £7,500, the total of £14,500 beating City’s previous record transfer fee paid for Andy Graver in 1955. The new man scored on his debut against Chester in a match which also saw a solitary appearance on loan by Nottingham Forest reserve centre half John Cottam.

The Chester game also saw the last appearance by the literally unhappy Brendan Bradley. Having a troubled time off the field and having gone nine games without scoring on it he was sold back to Finn Harps for £5,000, going on to be something of a goalscoring legend in Irish domestic football. He was replaced in the side by John Ward who responded to becoming a first-choice player for the first time by scoring seven goals in the next four games, including a hat-trick in a 5-3 win over Stockport. The good run also owed something to the inclusion in the side of Terry Cooper in his true position alongside the centre half. Mick Bloor returned to the side due to injury to George Peden with Dennis Leigh switching to left back, while an injury to Heath meant the recall of McGeough from Hartlepool and he kept his place for the remainder of the season making up the midfield alongside Colin Symm.

It was Symm who scored his first goals for the club with both in a 2-1 win over Bradford City as City reached 9^th place. The midfielder then had to miss the last three games of the season with Dennis Leigh taking his place as George Peden returned from injury. Despite playing in only 30 games Peden’s form was enough to earn the left back the Player of the Season award. City ended the season in 10^th place, something which had seemed highly unlikely two months earlier in a season of ups and downs.

Elsewhere in football, the league champions were Liverpool and Southport were Fourth Division champions with Hereford United runners-up in their first Football League season. The FA Cup Final saw a shock win for Second Division Sunderland over favourites Leeds United while Lincoln United finished a creditable sixth in the Yorkshire League Division One.