FRONT, FORD ROBSON, HODSON, TALBUT (MANAGER) MCNALLY, GOODMAN, HACKETT
During the summer of 1990, Chris Whyte signed for Leeds United after a tribunal fixed his fee at £450,000, the Hawthorns pitch was completely re-turfed,the first time this had been done since 1911. The whole surface had been replaced and it was hoped that Albion would be able to play on a pitch worthy of first division status and return the club to its former glory days. To celebrate the ground's 90th birthday and, the anniversary of the Hawthorns opening home game of the season was against Ipswich Town, Albion went down 2-1. This disappointment on the birthday of the Hawthorns was to set the scene for the remainder of the season.
Dumped out of the League cup by Bristol City, draws against Hull, Oldham, Brighton, Barnsley Newcastle, and defeats to Plymouth and Millwall were only broken with a 2-1 away win against Port Vale to end a miserable start to the season.
As the year came to an end things didn't look to bad although any thoughts of promotion for this season had gone and the fans looked towards next season for a serious push to the top. But from New years day with a 2-1 defeat at Leicester City things started to get worse .
One of the programmes that didn't get thrown on the pitch
At least the fans gained praise from the Woking game for their sportsmanship.
Talbot was sacked and Stuart Pearson who was the fans choice to take over took charge.
Following a 4-2 battering by Non league Woking at the Hawthorns a humiliation that led to the immediate departure of manager Brian Talbot and coach Stuart Pearson taking charge for six games which Albion won 2 drew 1 lost 3 before ex-player Bobby Gould was drafted into the hot seat. Almost immediately, Gould definitely not a popular choice with the fans came under pressure as Albion suffered six straight defeats, which plunged the team into trouble.
However the directors wanted an experienced hand at the helm and placed ads with the national press
Alan Buckley was tipped for the post, but did not tick all the boxes maybe in a few seasons he might fit the bill.
Lou Macari and Terry Cooper were also amongst the names
But the board settled for Ex Albion player Bobby Gould, Gould had previously won the FA Cup with Wimbledon's crazy gang, managed Bristol Rovers and was number 2 to Don Howe at QPR.
Gould was not a popular choice with the fans but the choice had been made.
Right from the start things did not go well for Gould a falling
out with Albion's recent signing who himself had been overlooked for the
managers position when Talbut was sacked.
After a spate of draws Albion slipped into the relegation fight.
On transfer deadline, in an effort to avoid the drop, Gould entered the transfer market and splashed out £250,000 on striker Paul Williams from Stockport, £35,000 on Winston White from Burnley and brought in Kwame Ampadu on loan from Arsenal. Nothing changed. Albion collected 13 points out of the last 27 and in the end equalled the club record of 18 draws. having missed two penalties in the home draw with Port Vale this left Albionneeding to win at Bristol Rovers or equal what Leicester City where doing at against Oxford United. Gould having been an ex- manager at Bristol Rovers described the game as the battle of Azteca Twerton. Rovers had not had their own ground for 10 years having to share Twerton Park with non league Bath City. The grounds capacity was around the 8,000 mark. (Albion as always took a large contingent of fans some dressed in Togas as part of the usual end of season fancy dress. (Albion fans whatever the occasions make the best of it). Inside the ground there were Albion fans in every section of the ground. This was something the locals took offence to and began fighting on the home terrace with a section of Albion fans. This spilled onto the pitch and the Game was delayed while order could be restored. Outside the ground the locals with houses that over looked part of the ground were charging Albion fans to use their bedroom windows as a viewing point. On the hill behind the ground a large contingent of Albion fans had also gathered. This was the biggest game of the season for Albion and no one wanted to miss it...
11th May 1991 Albion travelled to Twerton Park for the last game of the season knowing that they had to beat Bristol Rovers to stay up. Disappointingly, they could only manage 1 - 1 draw after playing against 10 men from as early as the third minute...and so, after competing in 3,634 First and Second Division Matches. Albion descended ignominiously into the third tier of English football for the first time in their history Conceding late goals missing penalties, drawing to many games proved costly and at the end of the day Albion got what they deserved. There was some consolation when the second XI won the Pontins Division 2 Title and the Birmingham Cup. Gould had inherited a team which had already proved they were not going anywhere maybe the next season when Gould could put his own stamp on the team a marked improvement would be seen and better times would be on their way (for ever the optimist)
ALBION went the last 10 games of the season undefeated. Unfortunatley 8 were draws
Things could only get better next season or could they.
How about this for fate. Wimbledon managed by Ray Harford who would become Albion Manager a few years later were chasing Bob Taylor . QPR managed by ex Albion Manager Don Howe and Bobby Gould were also on Taylors case. Bobby Gould was also a former manager of Bristol Rovers before joining Albion
25-08-1990
Portsmouth
1-1
West Brom
29-08-1990
League Cup 2nd leg 1st Rd
West Brom
2-2
Bristol C
01-09-1990
West Brom
1-2
Ipswich
05-09-1990
League Cup 2nd rd 2nd leg
Bristol C
1-0
West Brom
08-09-1990
Oxford
1-3
West Brom
15-09-1990
West Brom
2-1
Bristol C
22-09-1990
Hull
1-1
West Brom
29-09-1990
West Brom
0-0
Oldham
02-10-1990
Plymouth
2-0
West Brom
06-10-1990
Millwall
4-1
West Brom
13-10-1990
West Brom
1-1
Brighton
20-10-1990
West Brom
1-1
Barnsley
22-10-1990
Port Vale
1-2
West Brom
27-10-1990
Newcastle
1-1
West Brom
03-11-1990
West Brom
3-1
Bristol R
06-11-1990
West Brom
0-1
Middlesbro
10-11-1990
Notts Co
4-3
West Brom
17-11-1990
West Brom
2-0
Blackburn
24-11-1990
West Brom
1-2
Sheff Wed
01-12-1990
West Ham
3-1
West Brom
05-12-1990
West Brom
1-1
Watford
15-12-1990
West Brom
0-0
Portsmouth
22-12-1990
Swindon
2-1
West Brom
26-12-1990
West Brom
1-0
Charlton
29-12-1990
West Brom
1-1
Wolves
01-01-1991
Leicester
2-1
West Brom
05-01-1991
FA Cup 3rd Rd
West Brom
2-4
Woking
12-01-1991
Ipswich
1-0
West Brom
19-01-1991
West Brom
2-0
Oxford
02-02-1991
Bristol C
2-0
West Brom
16-02-1991
Blackburn
0-3
West Brom
19-02-1991
Middlesbro
3-2
West Brom
23-02-1991
West Brom
2-2
Notts Co
02-03-1991
West Brom
0-0
West Ham
09-03-1991
Sheff Wed
1-0
West Brom
13-03-1991
West Brom
1-2
Plymouth
16-03-1991
Oldham
2-1
West Brom
20-03-1991
Brighton
2-0
West Brom
23-03-1991
West Brom
0-1
Millwall
30-03-1991
Charlton
2-0
West Brom
01-04-1991
West Brom
2-1
Swindon
06-04-1991
Wolves
2-2
West Brom
10-04-1991
West Brom
1-1
Hull
13-04-1991
West Brom
2-1
Leicester
20-04-1991
Barnsley
1-1
West Brom
23-04-1991
Watford
1-1
West Brom
27-04-1991
West Brom
1-1
Port Vale
04-05-1991
West Brom
1-1
Newcastle
11-05-1991
Bristol R
1-1
West Brom
P
HW
HD
HL
HGF
HGA
AW
AD
AL
AGF
AGA
Points
GD
Oldham
46
17
5
1
55
21
8
8
7
28
32
88
+30
West Ham
46
15
6
2
41
18
9
9
5
19
16
87
+26
Sheff Wed
46
12
10
1
43
23
10
6
7
37
28
82
+29
Notts Co
46
14
4
5
45
28
9
7
7
31
27
80
+21
Millwall
46
11
6
6
43
28
9
7
7
27
23
73
+19
Brighton
46
12
4
7
37
31
9
3
11
26
38
70
-6
Middlesbro
46
12
4
7
36
17
8
5
10
30
30
69
+19
Barnsley
46
13
7
3
39
16
6
5
12
24
32
69
+15
Bristol C
46
14
5
4
44
28
6
2
15
24
43
67
-3
Oxford
46
10
9
4
41
29
4
10
9
28
37
61
+3
Newcastle
46
8
10
5
24
22
6
7
10
25
34
59
-7
Wolves
46
11
6
6
45
35
2
13
8
18
28
58
0
Bristol R
46
11
7
5
29
20
4
6
13
27
39
58
-3
Ipswich
46
9
8
6
32
28
4
10
9
28
40
57
-8
Port Vale
46
10
4
9
32
24
5
8
10
24
40
57
-8
Charlton
46
8
7
8
27
25
5
10
8
30
36
56
-4
Portsmouth
46
10
6
7
34
27
4
5
14
24
43
53
-12
Plymouth
46
10
10
3
36
20
2
7
14
18
48
53
-14
Blackburn
46
8
6
9
26
27
6
4
13
25
39
52
-15
Watford
46
5
8
10
24
32
7
7
9
21
27
51
-14
Swindon
46
8
6
9
31
30
4
8
11
34
43
50
-8
Leicester
46
12
4
7
41
33
2
4
17
19
50
50
-23
West Brom
46
7
11
5
26
21
3
7
13
26
40
48
-9
Hull
46
6
10
7
35
32
4
5
14
22
53
45
-28
1990-91
Naylor
Hawker
Raven
Eihogu
Anderson C
Foster
Dobbins
Palmer
Roberts
Parkin
Rees MJ
Rogers
Williams
White
Ampeadu
Hodson
Harbey
Robson G
Burgess
Strodder
Ford
Goodman
Bannister
Bradley
Shakespeare
Hackett
West
McNally
1991-92
17-08-1991
West Brom
6-3
Exeter
20-08-1991
League Cup 1st Rd 1st Leg
Swindon
2-0
West Brom
24-08-1991
Darlington
0-1
West Brom
28-08-1991
League Cup 1st Rd 2nd Leg
West Brom
2-2
Swindon
31-08-1991
West Brom
1-1
Wigan
03-09-1991
Fulham
0-0
West Brom
07-09-1991
Bolton
3-0
West Brom
14-09-1991
West Brom
1-0
Stockport
17-09-1991
West Brom
4-0
Peterborough
21-09-1991
Chester
1-2
West Brom
28-09-1991
West Brom
1-0
Hull
01-10-1991
Preston
2-0
West Brom
12-10-1991
West Brom
2-0
Shrewsbury
19-10-1991
Brentford
1-2
West Brom
26-10-1991
West Brom
0-1
Birmingham
02-11-1991
West Brom
1-1
Bury
05-11-1991
Hartlepool
0-0
West Brom
09-11-1991
Reading
1-2
West Brom
16-11-1991
FA Cup 1st Rd
West Brom
6-0
Marlow
23-11-1991
West Brom
2-1
Huddersfield
30-11-1991
West Brom
2-2
Stoke
09-12-1991
FA Cup 2ND Rd
Leyton Orient
2-1
West Brom
14-12-1991
Bradford
1-1
West Brom
22-12-1991
West Brom
3-1
Darlington
26-12-1991
Wigan
0-1
West Brom
28-12-1991
Exeter
1-1
West Brom
01-01-1992
West Brom
2-3
Fulham
04-01-1992
Torquay
1-0
West Brom
11-01-1992
West Brom
4-0
Bournemouth
18-01-1992
Leyton Orient
1-1
West Brom
25-01-1992
West Brom
2-3
Swansea
01-02-1992
West Brom
2-0
Brentford
08-02-1992
Birmingham
0-3
West Brom
12-02-1992
Stoke
1-0
West Brom
15-02-1992
West Brom
1-1
Bradford
22-02-1992
Bournemouth
2-1
West Brom
29-02-1992
West Brom
1-0
Torquay
03-03-1992
West Brom
1-3
Leyton Orient
06-03-1992
Swansea
0-0
West Brom
11-03-1992
West Brom
1-2
Hartlepool
14-03-1992
Bury
1-1
West Brom
21-03-1992
West Brom
2-0
Reading
28-03-1992
Huddersfield
3-0
West Brom
31-03-1992
Stockport
3-0
West Brom
04-04-1992
West Brom
2-2
Bolton
11-04-1992
Peterborough
0-0
West Brom
18-04-1992
West Brom
1-1
Chester
20-04-1992
Hull
1-0
West Brom
25-04-1992
West Brom
3-0
Preston
02-05-1992
Shrewsbury
1-3
West Brom
Brentford
46
17
2
4
55
29
8
5
10
26
26
82
+26
Birmingham
46
15
6
2
42
22
8
6
9
27
30
81
+17
Huddersfield
46
15
4
4
36
15
7
8
8
34
27
78
+28
Stoke
46
14
5
4
45
24
7
9
7
24
25
77
+20
Stockport
46
15
5
3
47
19
7
5
11
28
32
76
+24
Peterborough
46
13
7
3
38
20
7
7
9
27
38
74
+7
West Brom
46
12
6
5
45
25
7
8
8
19
24
71
+15
Bournemouth
46
13
4
6
33
18
7
7
9
19
30
71
+4
Fulham
46
11
7
5
29
16
8
6
9
28
37
70
+4
Leyton Orient
46
12
7
4
36
18
6
4
13
26
34
65
+10
Hartlepool
46
12
5
6
30
21
6
6
11
27
36
65
0
Reading
46
9
8
6
33
27
7
5
11
26
37
61
-5
Bolton
46
10
9
4
26
19
4
8
11
31
37
59
+1
Hull
46
9
4
10
28
23
7
7
9
26
31
59
0
Wigan
46
11
6
6
33
21
4
8
11
25
43
59
-6
Bradford
46
8
10
5
36
30
5
9
9
26
31
58
+1
Preston
46
12
7
4
42
32
3
5
15
19
40
57
-11
Chester
46
10
6
7
34
29
4
8
11
22
30
56
-3
Swansea
46
10
9
4
35
24
4
5
14
20
41
56
-10
Exeter
46
11
7
5
34
25
3
4
16
23
55
53
-23
Bury
46
8
7
8
31
31
5
5
13
24
43
51
-19
Shrewsbury
46
7
7
9
30
31
5
4
14
23
37
47
-15
Torquay
46
13
3
7
29
19
0
5
18
13
49
47
-26
Darlington
46
5
5
13
31
39
5
2
16
25
51
37
-34
Playing in the Third Division, season 1991-92 for Albion was one of the lowest point in the clubs history, and it ended in sheer frustration and total disappointment as the team missed out on the Play-offs, finishing seventh in the table, their lowest ever league position after they all expectation were for the team to bounce straight back. Manager Bobby Gould had hoped to win promotion by using the same squad of players who had been relegated the year before (you got us here, you get us out of here was his way of thinking). Gould pushed his staff by introducing maverick ideas which worked initially He also introduced the Yellow and Red stripped second kit after reading a Roy of the Rovers comic book and wanted to Emulate Roy Race and the Melchester Rovers squad. However things did not go to plan after a Gruelling pre season under Gould the season got off well with a 6-3 demolition of Exeter City on the opening day this was followed by a win at Darlington a draw at Wigan and a goalless draw at Fulham in fact only losing twice in the first eleven league games of the season , even an early elimination from the League Cup by Swindon, did not stop the run of league wins and draws but by December Albion went out of the FA Cup to Leyton Orient in the second Round and were beaten at home by Exeter in the Auto Glass Trophy
Things began to turn sour picking up only 4 points over the Christmas period
The sale of Don Goodman in December to Sunderland for 1 million was a blow to the team. however The bad run stopped by February, Bob Taylor was brought from Bristol City for £350,000and Albion found themselves at the top of the table following a 2-0 win over league rivals Brentford and an emphatic 3-0 win over local rivals Birmingham City courtesy of goals from Bob Taylor who scored on his debut at home to Brentford the 2 more against Birmingham, but following defeat at Stoke in February Albion won only four games, there followed a shattering demise which led to the fans calling for the heads of the manager and the entire board
Gould used a total of 31 players. The defence looked solid enough but the midfield struggled over the last 3 months of the season Things went from bad to worse so much so that When Gould sacked fans favourite Stuart Pearson feelings began to run high and The fans made their feelings known at the last away game at Shrewsbury when a coffin was carried around the pitch and chants for Gould out were accompanied by sack the board.
As soon as the season was over Gould was sacked from his position; John Silk resigned as Chairman to be replaced by local business man Trevor Summers
Newcomers included Wayne Fereday from Bournemouth, Loan signings Alan Miller from Arsenal, Frank Sinclair from Chelsea, Andy Dibble from Manchester City and youngsters Carl Heggs and Roy Hunter,
Mel Rees left for Sheffield United Colin West moved to Swansea, Tony Ford to Grimsby Graham Harbey to Stoke, Gary Bannister Nottingham Forest Adrian Foster Torquay Graham Roberts to become player manager at non league Enfield, and John Parkin Mansfield
Fans saying goodbye to Bobby Gould at Shrewsbury after a disapointing season in Division Three
The following season Ossie Ardilles arrived and the start of a new era was on the way
1991-92
Miller
Robson G
Bradley
Bowen
Harbey
Pritchard
Ford
Palmer
Strodder
Hackett
Burgess
West
Bannister
White
Goodman
Rogers
Foster
Sinclair
Shakespeare
Fereday
Ampeadu
Roberts
Williams
Taylor
McNally
Dibble
Piggott
Raven
Hodson
Hunter
Naylor
Cartwright
Parkin
Heggs
1992 - 93
15-08-1992
West Brom
3-1
Blackpool
19-08-1992
League Cup 1st Rd 1st Leg
West Brom
1-0
Plymouth
22-08-1992
Huddersfield
0-1
West Brom
25-08-1992
League Cup 1st Rd 2nd Leg
Plymouth
2-0
West Brom
29-08-1992
West Brom
2-1
Bournemouth
02-09-1992
West Brom
3-0
Stockport
05-09-1992
Fulham
1-1
West Brom
09-09-1992
West Brom
3-0
Reading
15-09-1992
Bolton
0-2
West Brom
19-09-1992
Stoke
4-3
West Brom
26-09-1992
West Brom
2-0
Exeter
03-10-1992
Burnley
2-1
West Brom
10-10-1992
West Brom
0-1
Port Vale
17-10-1992
Wigan
1-0
West Brom
24-10-1992
West Brom
2-2
Rotherham
31-10-1992
Hull
1-2
West Brom
03-11-1992
West Brom
3-1
Hartlepool
07-11-1992
Leyton Orient
2-0
West Brom
14-11-1992
FA Cup 1st Rd
West Brom
8-0
Aylesbury
21-11-1992
West Brom
1-1
Bradford
28-11-1992
Preston
1-1
West Brom
06-12-1992
FA Cup 2nd Rd
Wycombe
2-2
West Brom
12-12-1992
Swansea
0-0
West Brom
15-12-1992
FA Cup 2nd Rd Replay
West Brom
1-0
Wycombe
20-12-1992
West Brom
2-0
Mansfield
26-12-1992
West Brom
2-0
Chester
28-12-1992
Plymouth
0-0
West Brom
02-01-1993
FA Cup 3rd Rd
West Brom
0-2
West Ham
16-01-1993
Exeter
2-3
West Brom
23-01-1993
West Brom
1-2
Stoke
26-01-1993
Bournemouth
0-1
West Brom
30-01-1993
West Brom
2-2
Huddersfield
06-02-1993
Blackpool
2-1
West Brom
13-02-1993
West Brom
4-0
Fulham
20-02-1993
Stockport
5-1
West Brom
27-02-1993
Port Vale
2-1
West Brom
06-03-1993
West Brom
2-0
Burnley
10-03-1993
Brighton
3-1
West Brom
13-03-1993
West Brom
2-0
Leyton Orient
20-03-1993
Hartlepool
2-2
West Brom
24-03-1993
West Brom
3-2
Preston
28-03-1993
Bradford
2-2
West Brom
03-04-1993
West Brom
3-1
Brighton
07-04-1993
West Brom
3-0
Swansea
10-04-1993
Chester
1-3
West Brom
12-04-1993
West Brom
2-5
Plymouth
17-04-1993
Mansfield
0-3
West Brom
21-04-1993
Reading
1-1
West Brom
24-04-1993
West Brom
5-1
Wigan
01-05-1993
Rotherham
0-2
West Brom
08-05-1993
West Brom
3-1
Hull
16-05-1993
League One Play-Off
Swansea
2-1
West Brom
19-05-1993
League One Play-Off
West Brom
2-0
Swansea
30-05-1993
League One Play-Off
West Brom
3-0
Port Vale
At the end of the1990 - 91 season, Gould and club chairman John Silk
both resigned, being replaced by the former Tottenham Hotspur and Argentinian
World Cup star Ossie Ardiles and Trevor Summers respectively. Before he had
settled into his office seat, Ardiles brought in Keith Burkinshaw (who had been
his manager at White Hart Lane) and physiotherapist Danny Thomas, another
former Spurs player.
Ardiles then set about the task of sifting through his
squad. Out went proven goal scorer Gary
Bannister, who was eventually signed by Nottingham Forest and moved on to Stoke
City in May 1993, where he teamed up with his former Albion colleague,
left-back Graham Harbey, who had left West Brom for the Victoria Ground shortly
after the 1991 -2 campaign had ended.
Utility man Steve Parkin was transferred to Mansfield Town; centre-back
Darren Rogers was taken on a free transfer by Birmingham City; goalkeeper Jonathon
Gould moved to Coventry City, where his father was manager; experienced
defender and former England international Graham Roberts was released and later
joined non-League Enfield; striker Adrian Foster went south to Torquay United;
midfielder Dave Pritchard was secured by Telford United; utility forward Les
Palmer was taken on by non-Leaguers Kidderminster Harriers; and little winger
Stewart Bowen also went to Coventry City (on trial) and later played for
Telford United.
in came four new players, one from outside the Football League. midfielder Ian Hamilton from Scunthorpe United for £160,000, left-back Steve
Lilwall from Kidderminster Harriers for £70,000, Blackburn Rovers' champion
goalscorer Simon Garner, who cost a bargain £30,000, and goalkeeper Tony Lange
on a free transfer from neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers.
There was an air of anticipation and optimism at The Hawthorns as the start of the 1992-3 season approached. So
enthusiastic were the fans that the three home friendly matches against FA Premier
League opposition in Sheffield Wednesday, Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn
Rovers attracted a total of almost 20,000 supporters.
A sun-drenched crowd of over 16,500 saw the Baggies get off to a flying
start, beating Blackpool 3-1 at home
Albion were knocked out of the Coca- Cola Cup at the first hurdle beaten
2-1 on aggregate by Plymouth Argyle. This didn't stop Albion's new look team as
they prospered in the League and they
hit top spot on the second Saturday after winning 1-0 at Huddersfield, thanks
to Garner's first goal for the club.
This didn't stop Albion's new look team as they prospered in the League and they hit top spot
on the second Saturday after winning 1-0 at Huddersfield, thanks to Garner's
first goal for the club.
In fact, the albion were playing terrific football,
and remained unbeaten in their first seven League games, Stoke City finally ending
their fine opening run with a 4-3 win in a cracking contest at the Victoria
Ground in mid-September.
Albion then had a poor spell, winning only one of their next five games,
suffering defeats at home to Port Vale and away at lowly Wigan and mid-table
Burnley, all by narrow margins.
They relinquished top spot
to Stoke for a while, but regained pole position in November after beating Hull
City and Hartlepool United in quick succession
former England striker Luther Blissett was taken on loan from Watford
despite a few hiccups here and there,ALBION maintained their overall form, and
they started their FA Cup campaign with a crushing 8-0 home win over Aylesbury United with new midfield signing Kevin Donovan (bought from
Huddersfield Town) scoring a hat-trick on his debut in the competition for the
Baggies.
Four successive League draws followed that Cup triumph before Wycombe
Wanderers were ousted in the second round, Albion going through 1-0 after a
replay, having been held 2-2
Before the end of the year, Alan Dickens (from Chelsea) had replaced
Blissett as the on-loan signing and not a single goal was conceded in five
matches as Ardiles seemed to have sorted out his defence.
An exit from the FA Cup by West Ham United , who won a third- round tie
2-0 at The Hawthorns in front of a near-26,000 crowd. But Albion quickly got
over that set-back and duly whipped Walsall 4-0 at home in their first
Autoglass Trophy game of the season.
They followed up with a vital 3-1 home win
over promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers in the League and a 3-2 success at
Exeter this after the Baggies had been 2-0 down with time fast running out.
Almost 30,000 spectators saw the return home League game against Stoke
City, but it was the travelling fans from the Potteries who went away happy,
Albion losing 2-1 to the eventual Second Division champions.
David Speedie, once of Chelsea, Coventry City,
Liverpool and Birmingham City was signed on loan from Southampton was now in
the side,scoring the winner at bournemouth
A few indifferent results interrupted Albion's progress, though, and
they went out of the Autoglass Trophy to the holders, Stoke City. This defeat
was followed by a 5-1 hammering at Stockport County, for whom Paul Williams
scored, this after he had returned to Edgeley Park for just £25,000
after his
disappointing spell with Albion. And Port Vale also completed the double over
the Baggies, winning 2-1 at Vale Park in a game that had sunshine, showers and
snow and a cracking goal from Ian Hamilton.
Nicky Reid, the former Manchester City player, was now bedded in at The
Hawthorns, having moved south from Blackburn Rovers, and just before that
debacle at Stockport, Ardiles had signed (initially on loan, finally completing
the £100,000 transfer in the summer) the tall Newcastle United striker Andy
Hunt and what a great start he made to his career with Albion, scoring on his
first outing at Bradford City on 28 March and then claiming a rapid-fire seven-
minute hat-trick on his home debut against Brighton six days later the first
Baggies player to achieve this feat for almost 80 years!
Thankfully inform, and now the fans' favourite, Bob Taylor, was also
continuing to hit the target, and in their last 15 League games of 1992-3 when
the pressure was really on Albion lost only twice, one of them a 5-2
humiliation at home to their 'bogey' side Plymouth over Easter. This result
shook everyone rigid at The Hawthorns,
but gutsy Albion hit back immediately
and easily clinched fourth place in the table behind Stoke City, Bolton
Wanderers and Port Vale, thus qualifying for the end-of-season promotion
play-offs.
Albion were paired with Swansea City in the 'semi-final', playing the
first leg away at a rainswept Vetch Field on Sunday, 16 May. A fair-sized crowd
of almost 14,000, including around 4,500 Albion followers (plus another 2,750
at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham where the game was beamed back live
on a giant TV screen) witnessed the contest, which the Swans deservedly won
2-1.
Albion simply failed to adapt to the conditions and in truth, did not
perform anywhere near their best. The home side led 2-0 at one stage, but an
own-goal by Andy McFarlane, after Daryl Burgess had lobbed on to the crossbar,
gave Albion a fighting chance in the return leg.
The Hawthorns three days later, in front of a vociferous 26,000-plus
Albion turned the aggregate score around
to win 2 -0 on the night , Andy Hunt fired home Bob Taylor's low cross on ten
minutes and Ian Hamilton brilliantly conjured up a second nine minutes later.
Both goals coming in front of a packed Brummie Road End as Albion attacked
non-stop in a thrilling first half. Despite the sending-off of Micky Mellon
soon after the interval it was Albion who still pressed forward and Swansea
goalkeeper Roger Freestone pulled off a string of excellent saves to keep his
side in the game.
Swansea substitute Colin West, a former Albion player, was then
dismissed for stamping on Hamilton as the pace hotted up and both Hunt and
skipper Darren Bradley missed easy one-on-one chances to sew things up for the
Baggies. With the Albion still driving forward, referee Allan Gunn sounded the
final whistle amidst scenes of jubilation Albion were at Wembley for the first time in
23 years, and the celebrations continued long into the night.
The atmosphere at Wembley was electric with some 42,000 Albion
supporters completely outnumbering the Vale fans in the 53,471 crowd.
And what a terrific 'May Day' it turned out to be for Albion, their
41-year-old manager and, indeed, the vast army of supporters who celebrated
long into the night and for the next
couple of days after Port Vale, who had a man sent off, were beaten 3-0 for the
Baggies to clinch a place in the First Division.
xclubs.
Ardiles said: "The sky's the limit now. We're going places. My next step
is to win a place in the Premier League and then lift a European trophy."
Trevor Summers, the bouyant Albion chairman who was
a terrace supporter the last time the Baggies played at Wembley, said: ''I've
been on cloud ten ever since we beat Swansea in the playoff semi-final. I'm so
proud to be chairman of such a great club, a club with such a marvellous
history, a band of super supporters and the best managementteam in the country. I see no reason why Ossie and Keith Burkinshaw
can't be with us for many years to come."
Summers said that there was money available for Ardiles to strengthen the
squad for 1993-4, as Albion looked forward to mouth-watering clashes with
Birmingham City and Wolves, as well as other Midlands derby games against
Leicester, Stoke, Derby and the two Nottingham clubs.
19 June, Ardiles announced that he was accepting an offer to manage Spurs in the wake of the
Sugar-Venables turmoil. Albion appointed Keith Burkinshaw in his place, whilst
threatening to seek £1 million compensation for the loss of Ardiles.
P
HW
HD
HL
HGF
HGA
AW
AD
AL
AGF
AGA
Points
GD
Stoke
46
17
4
2
41
13
10
8
5
32
21
93
+39
Bolton
46
18
2
3
48
14
9
7
7
32
27
90
+39
Port Vale
46
14
7
2
44
17
12
4
7
35
27
89
+35
West Brom
46
17
3
3
56
22
8
7
8
32
32
85
+34
Swansea
46
12
7
4
38
17
8
6
9
27
30
73
+18
Stockport
46
11
11
1
47
18
8
4
11
34
39
72
+24
Leyton Orient
46
16
4
3
49
20
5
5
13
20
33
72
+16
Reading
46
14
4
5
44
20
4
11
8
22
31
69
+15
Brighton
46
13
4
6
36
24
7
5
11
27
35
69
+4
Bradford
46
12
5
6
36
24
6
9
8
33
43
68
+2
Fulham
46
9
9
5
28
22
7
8
8
29
33
65
+2
Rotherham
46
9
7
7
30
27
8
7
8
30
33
65
0
Burnley
46
11
8
4
38
21
4
8
11
19
38
61
-2
Plymouth
46
11
6
6
38
28
5
6
12
21
36
60
-5
Huddersfield
46
10
6
7
30
22
7
3
13
24
39
60
-7
Hartlepool
46
8
6
9
19
23
6
6
11
23
37
54
-18
Bournemouth
46
7
10
6
28
24
5
7
11
17
28
53
-7
Blackpool
46
9
9
5
40
30
3
6
14
23
45
51
-12
Exeter
46
5
8
10
26
30
6
9
8
28
39
50
-15
Hull
46
9
5
9
28
26
4
6
13
18
43
50
-23
Preston
46
8
5
10
41
47
5
3
15
24
47
47
-29
Mansfield
46
7
8
8
34
34
4
3
16
18
46
44
-28
Wigan
46
6
6
11
26
34
4
5
14
17
38
41
-29
Chester
46
6
2
15
30
47
2
3
18
19
55
29
-53
1992-93
Naylor
Raven
Fereday
Coldicott
Lilwall
Heggs
Hunter
Donavan
Strodder
Blissett
Shakespeare
Burgess
Garner
Reid
Hamilton
Dickens
Tayolr
Speedie
McNally
Lange
Robson G
Mellon
Hodson
Hunter
Bradley
Darton
Ampeadu
Williams PA
Hackett
1993- 94
After the euphoria of the Wembley promotion in May the fans had at last something to look forward to at the start of the 1993 - 94 season. However by June the sweetness of success was taken away by the sour taste of reality when Tottenham came calling for Ardiles and the call of the bright lights of a London team waving a large cheque was too much for Ardiles to turn down. Fans were at the time divided some felt angry and betrayed others thought that it would have been too much for Ardiles to turn down the team who brought him over to England in the early eighties. The chairman at the time Trevor Summers threatened to sue even going as far as threatening to send an exocet missile to blow up Alan Sugars computers (at that time Sugar was chairman of Spurs and head of Amstrad ).Keith Burkinshaw was promoted to the manager's chair and had a difficult first season as Albion set about consolidating themselves in the First Division, Albion played well for the first 10 weeks including a memorable 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton, rising to fourth in the table, but by mid- October they were in among the strugglers, in November They made an inglorious exit from the FA Cup, losing 2-1 at non-League Halifax, a truly dreadful result. Following the FA Cup defeat they picked up around Christmas, moving up to 16th, the run in to the end of the season turned into a battle for survival. Injuries and suspensions were frequent and only occasionally was the manager able to field an unchanged side. To add to the poor run which can only be attributed to certain players performing well below par for far too long and although Taylor and Hunt netted 30 League goals between them Albion's overall scoring record let them down badly, especially away from home. During March they picked up 7 points this followed by only 5 points in April including a 4-2 home defeat to fellow strugglers and local rivals Birmingham City left Albion going to Portsmouth on the last day of the season needing nothing less than victory to stay in the first division. As always Albion were backed by a large contingent of travelling support. Estimated at 12000. Official Match Attendance 17,629 Lee Ashcroft scoring with a header just before half time. Despite Portsmouth trying to end Albion's first division status the game finished 1-0 and Albion were safe for another season.
During the season thirty players were called into action, including newcomers Neil Parsley and Kieran O'Regan from Huddersfield; Ashcroft from Preston, for £225,000; Paul Mardon and David Smith from Birmingham and left-back Paul Edwards from Wolves. Two loan players, Graham Fenton Aston Villa and Paul Williams Coventry City, added some much needed impetus to the side, but despite pleas from the fans Albion failed to secure the transfer of the Graham Fenton on a permanent basis. Five players who left The Hawthorns in 1993-94 were Fereday to Cardiff, Hackett to Peterborough, Garner and Reid to Wycombe and Ampadu to Swansea. Trevor Summers finally relinquished his position as chairman, handing over to Tony Hale.
Pompey Day out 12,000 away fans invade Portsmouth and the Albion Stay up!!!!1
1993-94
Lange
Ampeadu
Coldicott
Parsley
Darton
Ashcroft
Bradley
Mellon
Raven
McNally
Burgess
Reid
Hunt
Naylor
Hamilton
Williams PRC
Taylor
Mardon
O'Reagan
Hunter
Donavan
Heggs
Strodder
Fenton
Garner
Edwards
Fereday
Smith
Lilwall
McCue
1994 - 95
Due to massive redevelopment work at The Hawthorns which saw the work on the Birmingham Road End finally completed by Boxing Day, Albion played their first five League matches away, drawing two and losing three, and quickly found themselves at the foot of the table. In late October after Albion had suffered the humiliation of losing to Third Division Hereford 1-0 on aggregate in the League Cup, Keith Burkinshaw was replaced and on the 20th October 94 Alan Buckley was appointed as manager, Buckley had been manager at Grimsby where he had been an outstanding success. He was accompanied by his assistant Arthur Mann. Buckley's first game in charge was away at Barnsley which ended in a 2-0 defeat.
Under Buckley and Mann's leadership the team slowly improved but were always straying too near the trapdoor for comfort. From a position of 23rd in the table, they quickly turned things round, and within three months Albion had climbed to 16th, but after losing 2-1 at home to Coventry City in the FA Cup Albion's League form began to lose momentum, and they slipped back down to 19th in early March, before edging clear of danger after winning six and drawing two of their last 12 matches.
Albion finished their final home game of the season with a 5-1 victory over playoff semi finalists Tranmere Rovers. They followed this with a 2-2 draw at Sunderland Inconsistency was to prove their main problem, and at the end of the season with only 3 away wins under their belt the 13 home wins were just enough to secure safety. Injuries and suspensions also played their part in a difficult season. Albion had enough cover in defence and attack, but it was in midfield where they struggled. Mike Phelan, a close-season signing from Manchester United, rarely lived up to his large signing-on fee, and the left-back position was also a problem until Buckley signed Paul Agnew from his old club Grimsby. He also brought in Tony Rees as an extra attacker.
Several players of the first-team left The Hawthorns during and at the end of the season: Lange to Fulham, Hunter to Northampton, McNally to Hednesford, Bradley to Walsall, Parsley to Exeter, Lilwall to Rushden & Diamonds, Darton and Mellon to Blackpool, Heggs to Swansea and Strodder to Nott's County.
13-08-1994
Luton
1-1
West Brom
16-08-1994
League Cup 1st Rd 1st Leg
Hereford
0-0
West Brom
28-08-1994
Wolves
2-0
West Brom
31-08-1994
Swindon
0-0
West Brom
07-09-1994
League Cup 1st Rd 2nd Leg
West Brom
0-1
Hereford
10-09-1994
Millwall
2-2
West Brom
14-09-1994
Middlesbro
2-1
West Brom
17-09-1994
West Brom
1-1
Grimsby
24-09-1994
West Brom
1-0
Burnley
28-09-1994
West Brom
0-2
Portsmouth
02-10-1994
Stoke
4-1
West Brom
08-10-1994
West Brom
1-3
Sunderland
15-10-1994
Tranmere
3-1
West Brom
18-10-1994
West Brom
1-0
Sheff Utd
22-10-1994
Barnsley
2-0
West Brom
29-10-1994
West Brom
2-0
Reading
02-11-1994
West Brom
0-0
Port Vale
05-11-1994
Watford
1-0
West Brom
13-11-1994
Charlton
1-1
West Brom
19-11-1994
West Brom
3-1
Oldham
26-11-1994
Notts Co
2-0
West Brom
03-12-1994
West Brom
2-1
Barnsley
10-12-1994
Sheff Utd
2-0
West Brom
18-12-1994
West Brom
1-0
Luton
26-12-1994
West Brom
1-0
Bristol C
27-12-1994
Southend
2-1
West Brom
31-12-1994
West Brom
1-0
Bolton
02-01-1995
Derby
1-1
West Brom
07-01-1995
FA Cup 3rd Rd
Coventry
1-1
West Brom
14-01-1995
Reading
0-2
West Brom
18-01-1995
FA Cup 3rd Rd Replay
West Brom
1-2
Coventry
01-02-1995
West Brom
0-1
Watford
05-02-1995
West Brom
0-1
Charlton
11-02-1995
Port Vale
1-0
West Brom
18-02-1995
West Brom
3-2
Notts Co
21-02-1995
Oldham
1-0
West Brom
25-02-1995
West Brom
1-3
Stoke
04-03-1995
Burnley
1-1
West Brom
08-03-1995
Portsmouth
1-2
West Brom
15-03-1995
West Brom
2-0
Wolves
19-03-1995
West Brom
2-5
Swindon
22-03-1995
West Brom
3-0
Millwall
25-03-1995
Grimsby
0-2
West Brom
01-04-1995
West Brom
1-3
Middlesbro
08-04-1995
Bolton
1-0
West Brom
15-04-1995
West Brom
2-0
Southend
17-04-1995
Bristol C
1-0
West Brom
22-04-1995
West Brom
0-0
Derby
30-04-1995
West Brom
5-1
Tranmere
07-05-1995
Sunderland
2-2
West Brom
Middlesbro
46
15
4
4
41
19
8
9
6
26
21
82
+27
Reading
46
12
7
4
34
21
11
3
9
24
23
79
+14
Bolton
46
16
6
1
43
13
5
8
10
24
32
77
+22
Wolves
46
15
5
3
39
18
6
8
9
38
43
76
+16
Tranmere
46
17
4
2
51
23
5
6
12
16
35
76
+9
Barnsley
46
15
6
2
42
19
5
6
12
21
33
72
+11
Watford
46
14
6
3
33
17
5
7
11
19
29
70
+6
Sheff Utd
46
12
9
2
41
21
5
8
10
33
34
68
+19
Derby
46
12
6
5
44
23
6
6
11
22
28
66
+15
Grimsby
46
12
7
4
36
19
5
7
11
26
37
65
+6
Stoke
46
10
7
6
31
21
6
8
9
19
32
63
-3
Millwall
46
11
8
4
36
22
5
6
12
24
38
62
0
Southend
46
13
2
8
33
25
5
6
12
21
48
62
-19
Oldham
46
12
7
4
34
21
4
6
13
26
39
61
0
Charlton
46
11
6
6
33
25
5
5
13
25
41
59
-8
Luton
46
8
6
9
35
30
7
7
9
26
34
58
-3
Port Vale
46
11
5
7
30
24
4
8
11
28
40
58
-6
West Brom
46
13
3
7
33
24
3
7
13
18
33
58
-6
Portsmouth
46
9
8
6
31
28
6
5
12
22
35
58
-10
Sunderland
46
5
12
6
22
22
7
6
10
19
23
54
-4
Swindon
46
9
6
8
28
27
3
6
14
26
46
48
-19
Burnley
46
8
7
8
36
33
3
6
14
13
41
46
-25
Bristol C
46
8
8
7
26
28
3
4
16
16
35
45
-21
Notts Co
46
7
8
8
26
28
2
5
16
19
38
40
-21
1994-95
Naylor
Strodder
Parsley
Lilwall
Edwards
Boere
Phelan
Smith
Herbert
Coldicott
Burgess
Mardon
Ashcroft
Hunt
Hamilton
O'Reagan
Taylor
Raven
Heggs
Bradley
McNally
Rees AA
Donavan
Agnew
Darton
Lange
Mellon
West Brom 5 Tranmere 1
An eight-minute hat-trick from Lee Ashcroft ended West Bromwich Albion's upside down season on a high and will not have hurt the spirits of the men from Molineux who saw one of their play-off rivals take a heavy beating.
With goals from Kevin Donovan and Bob Taylor sandwiching Ashcroft's strikes in the 3rd, 68th and 71st minutes, a season that looked destined to end in relegation ended in semi-delirious joy. A point would have taken Tranmere above Wolves but they have now conceded 12 goals in three successive defeats although it's hard to know whether Wolves will find a wounded lion or a bleeding carcass when they travel there Wednesday.
Ashcroft - a makeshift striker in the absence of both Andy Hunt and Tony Rees - will not be forgotten quickly by Tranmere.
He was the victim of two fouls from Dave Higgins, which led to the centre-half s dismissal on the stroke of half time, and also earned the penalty for his third goal when he was tripped in the area.
Except Rovers will not have seen it that way. Ashcroft does have a fine line in the spectacular tumble and there was a suspicion of the Luganis's about the one which earned Higgins his first yellow and another to claim a penalty.
It was Albion's biggest win of the season and underlined manager Alan Buckley's remarkable achievement.
They were second from bottom when he arrived and when it comes to handing round the managerial gongs he should be at the top of the list.
Back in October, Albion might well have folded against a side like Tranmere and although the visitors made the early running, there is a spine now running through the Albion side.
And Buckley has imprinted his close passing pattern on the play which led to a fine opener three minutes before the break.
Donovan exchanged a one-two with Taylor and fired a low shot from the left corner of the six-yard box across Eric Nixon and in at the far post.
Higgins launched himself through Ashcroft to earn a second yellow and early bath from Keith Cooper, of Swindon, and from that moment Albion was never in trouble.
A clearance from a corner by Paul Raven allowed Ashcroft to turn Tony Thomas on half-way and sprint 40 yards before sliding the ball past the advancing Nixon from the edge of the area.
David Smith's rash lunge on Pat Nevin allowed John Aldridge to blast a penalty to close the gap but within a minute Ashcroft re-opened it with a rasping shot from 16 yards, flicking off the near post and in off the far one.
Two minutes later he was, heading across the corner of the area when John McGreal's presence sent him sprawling. Rovers were incensed and Nixon was booked before the cocky Ashcroft lashed his third.
Donovan had a confrontation with Aldridge immediately afterwards and there was every chance the simmering ill-feeling - fuelled by Rovers' outrage at the cheek of Ashcroft - might boil over.
But Rovers were utterly dispirited and Albion could have had two or three more before Bob Taylor thumped the fifth.
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