This week in 1987 was a pretty big one, not just in football, but in Lincoln, and across the UK.
For me, it was the first time I had two matches in a week as a fan, celebrating my ninth birthday with a giant-killing, and a 0-0 draw. As we don’t have a game, I thought I’d pull a few headlines and do a ‘week that was’ article for you today.
Monday 16th November, 1987
Monday 16th November was all about the Imps against Crewe Alexandra. After beating Brigg Town in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, it was the Railwaymen, complete with David Platt and John Pemberton, who stood between us and a place in the second round.
It was a huge day for the Imps – fans were finally in the new St Andrews’ Stand, the first stand of the current Sincil Bank to be open and functional. I was stood behind the goal at the Railway End, my chin just about able to rest on the granite wall behind the goal.
In front of a bumper crowd, City despatched their Fourth Division rivals by two goals to one, with the visitors described by Julie Sherbourn in the Echo as ‘spineless’. Crewe featured a future England captain in David Platt, who would soon move to Aston Villa, but it was our John McGinley who opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Just after half time McGinley, a constant thorn in Crewe’s side, turned creator, crossing for Bob Cumming to score.
Aidan Murphy, on loan at Lincoln from Manchester United a year prior, came on for Crewe in the 32nd minute and was taken off 15 minutes from time. His replacement, Ian Macowat, got a late consolation for the visitors.
Some people reading this report in Welton on Monday afternoon may have been shocked because that was also the day two Red Arrows collided in mid-air and crashed into houses in the village.
Tuesday 17th November, 1987
As the Red Arrows squadron leader almost certainly started an investigation, the Imps were waiting on the outcome of Preston North End and Mansfield Town. They’d drawn 1-1 in the FA Cup First Round, and would play again the following week to decide who hosted City in the next round. The big question was around whether we wanted to play at Field Mill, or on the artificial turf at Deepdale.
“It’s the same proposition, as far as I’m concerned,” said manager Colin Murphy. “We would work very, very hard on any surface, whether concrete, plastic or grass.’ Supporters may not have felt the same – City struggled to deal with the plastic pitch in the 86/87 season, losing 3-0.
Wednesday 18th November, 1987
Focus turned from the FA Cup to Boxing Day and a big clash with Boston United. A row was brewing as Boston wanted the Imps to sell 5,300 tickets from Sincil Bank without any recompense. Boston wanted to then sell their tickets to their fans for the Easter Monday return leg. It was too much for the Imps, who asked for a small commission to cover costs, which Boston refused. Having done the maths, it amounted to around £600.
It meant City supporters could struggle to make the game, the first league meeting between the two clubs.
Thursday 19th November, 1987
I remember this day so clearly. It was my ninth birthday, and my Mum and Dad took me to Sincil Bank and bought me the Imps shirt. I seem to think the club shop was at the back on the South Park stand, and afterwards, we went to Hillards shopping, and I wore my shirt, shorts and socks like a proper full-kit wanker. Mum and Dad even wrote a note to school the day before, saying I’d be off school because it was my birthday. Happy days, and I still have the shirt.
Meanwhile, George Kerr admitted he was ‘sorry’ for Imps fans who might miss the game. Kerr wasn’t a popular figure at Sincil Bank, having played a major role in relegation our of the Football League the same year. Still, in a quiet news week, he was apologetic, saying that in the past the two clubs had enjoyed ‘good relations’ which were now tarnished.
Sadly, this wasn’t the biggest news of the day. At 7:30 pm the previous evening, a fire started under an escalator at King’s Cross Station, and 31 people lost their lives. In a week of tragedy and accidents, Lincoln and Boston tickets must have felt a little trivial to many.
Saturday 21st November, 1987
By the time the weekend arrived, with no resolution for the tickets, many fans might have been excited for the fixture ahead. When the Imps were first relegated, we were handed a ‘completely random’ duo of away days against Barnet (favourites for the GMVC) and Weymouth (big spenders, also fancied). Many felt it was a rigged fixture schedule, especially as we’d have to play both again before we opened advent calendar doors.
Weymouth put three past us without reply in the first game, so the tie at Sincil Bank was expected to be a chance for revenge, especially as we’d since beaten Barnet 2-1 after their 4-2 win on the opening day.
Sadly, it was not to be. Nine-year-old Gary Hutchinson watched his first (and only) game from the Hunters Stand, and star keeper Peter Guthrie, who would move to Spurs not long after, was barely tested. City dominated the game, in which future Aston Villa defender Shaun Teale also played, but without joy.
In fact, our chances of promotion were further hampered when Mark Sertori limped off, meaning left-back Dave Clarke finished the game up top. The 0-0 left us third in the table, but it was a dour end to a week that started well but was perhaps overshadowed by news away from football as it wore on.