1991 Football League Third Division play-off final

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1991 Football League Third Division play-off Final
The match took place at Wembley Stadium.
Bolton Wanderers Tranmere Rovers
0 1
Date1 June 1991
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeKeith Hackett (Sheffield)
Attendance30,217
WeatherCool
← 1990
1992 →

The 1991 Football League Third Division play-off Final was an

1991–92 season. Bolton and Tranmere beat Bury and Brentford
, respectively, in the semi-finals.

The referee for the match, which was played in front of 30,217 spectators, was Keith Hackett. In the 14th minute, Tranmere's Scottish centre forward Jim Steel was injured and substituted for Chris Malkin. The first half ended scoreless despite several close chances for Tranmere, including a disallowed headed goal by Malkin. He hit the crossbar early in the second half but the match ended 0–0 and headed into extra time. Nine minutes into the first period of additional time, Ged Brannan's shot rebounded to Malkin, who scored to put Tranmere ahead. No further goals were scored and the match ended 1–0, with Tranmere being promoted to the Second Division for the first time in 52 years.

Tranmere's next season ended with them in fourteenth position in the Second Division. Bolton ended their following season in thirteenth position in the Third Division.

Route to the final

Main article:
1990–91 Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division final table, leading positions[1]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Cambridge United 46 25 11 10 75 45 +30 86
2 Southend United 46 26 7 13 67 51 +16 85
3 Grimsby Town 46 24 11 11 66 34 +32 83
4 Bolton Wanderers 46 24 11 11 64 50 +14 83
5 Tranmere Rovers 46 23 9 14 64 46 +18 78
6 Brentford 46 21 13 12 59 47 +12 76
7 Bury 46 20 13 13 57 56 +1 73

Bolton Wanderers finished the regular 1991–92 season in fourth position in the Football League Third Division, the third tier of the English football league system, one place and five points ahead of Tranmere Rovers. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to the Second Division and instead took part in the play-offs, along with Brentford and Bury, to determine the fourth promoted team. Bolton Wanderers finished level on points with Grimsby Town (who were promoted in third place with a superior goal difference), two points behind Southend United (who were promoted in second) and three behind league winners Cambridge United.[1][2]

Bolton's opponents for their play-off semi-final were

aggregate victory.[4]

Tranmere faced Brentford in their play-off semi-final, with the first leg being held at Griffin Park in Brentford on 19 May 1991. Terry Evans opened the scoring for the home side in the 13th minute before two goals from Steve Cooper gave Tranmere a 2–1 lead. Kevin Godfrey then equalised in the last minute of the game to ensure a 2–2 final result.[5] The second leg took place three days later at Prenton Park in Tranmere. Ged Brannan scored the only goal of the game in the 34th minute, securing a 1–0 win in the match and a 3–2 aggregate victory.[4]

Match

Background

This was Bolton's third appearance in the

Associate Members' Cup Final.[9]

The referee for the match was Keith Hackett from Sheffield.[10] Bolton played in a 4–4–2 formation while Tranmere adopted a 5–3–2.[11] The Tranmere players were incentivised by a £10,000 win bonus from their chairman Peter Johnson, who estimated that promotion to the Second Division would be worth £1 million to the club.[12] Their team was at full strength with the exception of Steve Mungall and Ian Muir, who were long-term injured, and Neil McNab, who was receiving treatment for a damaged hamstring;[13] Mark Hughes had sustained a groin injury in the build-up to the final but was selected to start.[14]

Summary

The match kicked off around 3 p.m. on 1 June 1991 at Wembley Stadium in front of 30,217 spectators in cool conditions.[11][15] In the 11th minute, Tranmere's goalkeeper Eric Nixon tipped a cross from Storer over the bar.[16] Three minutes later, Tranmere's Scottish centre forward Jim Steel fell badly and was injured: he was taken off and substituted for Chris Malkin. Minutes later, Kenny Irons struck a shot over the Bolton crossbar.[11] Just before half time, Malkin headed in a free kick from John Morrissey, but it was disallowed by Hackett, who adjudged that Tranmere had taken the set piece too quickly. Five minutes after half-time, another header from Malkin, this time from a Tony Thomas free kick, struck the Bolton crossbar. Nixon then saved a strike from Julian Darby. Paul Comstive also missed an opportunity to put Bolton ahead and the match ended 0–0, sending it into extra time.[11][17][18]

Nine minutes into the first period of additional time, Dave Higgins took control of the ball and passed to Morrissey on the left wing. Morrissey cut inside, beating two Bolton players, and passed to Brannan, who struck the ball goalwards. It rebounded off the legs of Bolton's goalkeeper David Felgate and fell to Malkin, who scored to put Tranmere ahead. Brian Glanville, writing in The Sunday Times declared that "there could scarcely have been a more appropriate scorer".[11] A late shot from Phil Brown was saved by Nixon in the Tranmere goal. No further goals were scored and the match ended 1–0, with Tranmere being promoted to the Second Division for the first time in 52 years.[11][17][18]

Details

1 June 1991 Bolton Wanderers 0–1 (a.e.t.) Tranmere Rovers Wembley Stadium, London
Malkin 99' Attendance: 30,217
Referee: Keith Hackett (Sheffield)
1 David Felgate
2 Phil Brown
3 Barry Cowdrill
4 Paul Comstive
5 Mark Seagraves
6 Alan Stubbs
7 Stuart Storer downward-facing red arrow 100'
8 Steve Thompson
9 Tony Cunningham downward-facing red arrow 68'
10 Tony Philliskirk
11 Julian Darby
Substitutes:
12 Scott Green upward-facing green arrow 100'
13 Dave Reeves upward-facing green arrow 68'
Manager:
Phil Neal
1 Eric Nixon
2 Dave Higgins
3 Ged Brannan
4 Kenny Irons
5 Mark Hughes
6 Shaun Garnett
7 John Morrissey
8 Dave Martindale downward-facing red arrow 74'
9 Jim Steel downward-facing red arrow 14'
10 Steve Cooper
11 Tony Thomas
Substitutes:
12 Jim Harvey upward-facing green arrow 74'
13 Chris Malkin upward-facing green arrow 14'
Manager:
Johnny King

Post-match

After the match, Tranmere's manager John King spoke about plans for the next season: "We have taken giant strides in recent years. We have a wonderful stadium, wonderful fans. Now we must push for the first division ... I have never been so proud of my team."[18] David Prentice, writing in the Liverpool Echo, remarked that "Rovers ran Bolton ragged".[19]

Tranmere's next season ended with them in fourteenth position in the Second Division.[20] Bolton ended their following season in thirteenth position in the Third Division.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "League Division Three end of season table for 1990–91 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  2. Newspapers.com
    .
  3. Newspapers.com
    .
  4. ^
    Newspapers.com
    .
  5. Newspapers.com
    .
  6. ^ "Bolton Wanderers". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Tranmere Rovers". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Tranmere Rovers football club: record v Bolton Wanderers". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Birmingham City v Tranmere Rovers, 26 May 1991". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  10. Newspapers.com
    .
  11. ^ a b c d e f Glanville, Brian (2 June 1991). "Malkin's late winner takes Tranmere into Division Two". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021 – via Gale.
  12. ^ "Rovers realise 52-year dream". Newcastle Journal. 3 June 1991. p. 16. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Cash boost incentive for Rovers' final aces". Liverpool Echo. 28 May 1991. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ George, Ric (31 May 1991). "Tranmere's final fence". p. 56. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Bolton Wanderers v Tranmere Rovers, 01 June 1991". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  16. ^ George, Ric; Muir, Ian (3 June 1991). "Kicking every ball – from the sidelines!". Liverpool Echo. p. 23. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^
    Newspapers.com
    .
  18. ^ a b c Blackmore, Keith (3 June 1991). "Wembley victory is King's reward". The Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via Gale.
  19. ^ Prentice, David (3 June 1991). "Magical show fit for a King". Liverpool Echo. p. 22. Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "League Division Two end of season table for 1991–92 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  21. ^ "League Division Three end of season table for 1991–92 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
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