Blyth and dangerous

Let's re-live some lovely moments

Blyth is the largest town in Northumberland, but on a national scale it's relatively unheard of.

However, the events, of the 1977-8 season were to make Blyth a household name for the next 20 years. A cup run that started against teams who ply their trade in the backwaters of the Northern League ended one Tuesday night at St James' Park, Newcastle.

I was seven years old. In came my mam, my dad and my sister. They had all been crying. I was staying at my Aunty's that night - I was too young to go. It had been one of the most memorable nights in the history of Blyth. Wrexham had defeated Blyth in the 5th round replay of the FA Cup. Only days before, Blyth had become the only non-league team in the history of the FA Cup to make the draw for the 6th round. Had we defeated Wrexham, we would have been at home to Arsenal in the 6th round.

The fervour that gripped the town as the cup run progressed has been unsurpassed since. Every shop window was adorned with green and white. Blyth had made almost anonymous progress into the 4th round until they were drawn away to Stoke. At the time, Stoke were fielding players of the like of Garth Crooks and Howard Kendall.

"Hail the magnificent Spartans!"

Message in the Blyth programme for the replay match

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Forty-eight buses of fans were despatched from Blyth. As expected Stoke made the early running and were soon 2-1 up. Blyth fought back and levelled it. Then in the dying minutes of the game Terry Johnson scored the goal that would take Blyth into the 5th round. The dream of a Newcastle v Blyth fixture was promptly ended by Wrexham, as they put Newcastle out in the 4th round.

Blyth travelled to Wrexham for the 5th round. The game, and one controversial incident in particular, is still talked about in Blyth to this day. Blyth were one up with minutes to go. Wrexham won a corner. It was safely gathered by the Blyth keeper Dave Clarke. The referee blew and ordered the corner to be taken again as the corner flag had been knocked out and was sytanding at an angle. The re-taken corner was cleared, but again the referee blew and ordered the kick to be taken again. The third time, the inevitable happened. Goal! Wrexham ecstatic. Blyth dejected. Two minutes away from that match with Arsenal. Anger, heartbreak, tears and recriminations. A long journey home.

That night, instead of Match of the Day opening with its normal credits, the programme opened with the

Blyth team singing their anthem. The fixture had suddenly caught the attention of the nation. Could this collection of miners, policemen and postmen really reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup?

The replay was held at St James'. Blyth's capacity at the time was a meagre 8,000. This was a game everyone wanted to see. 42,000 turned up, with a reputed 10,000 locked out. The game was to be no fairy tale for Blyth. Wrexham had taken an early lead and then in the second half Dixie McNeil had made it two. With the part-time legs getting weary, the cup dream was fading. Then against the run of play Blyth scored. 2-1! Ten minutes to go. The crowd roared. "Come on Blyth", urged the radio commentator. For ten minutes every player dug deep and contributed to one of the best spells of cup football. They played on pure adrenalin. Equally desperate attacking was met by equally desperate defending. Eventually the match ended and the whistle was blown. Each player was engulfed with emotion and many wept openly.

A small boy ran up to goalkeeper Dave Clarke crying his eyes out. Clarkey picked him up and said:

"Yeah, next year! Next year!"

In essence that sums up the magic of the FA Cup. Of course there wasn't to be a next year for Blyth. Of the players in the team, Les Mutre was to sign for Hull and Alan Shoulder signed for Newcastle, top-scoring for them in the old First Division. The manager Brian Slane retired at the end of that season. He felt he could no longer live up to the expectations. Blyth had their revenge over Wrexham when they beat them over two legs in the now-defunct Debenhams Cup in the following season.

Blyth moved into the 1980s and dominated the Northern League, winning it five times in a row. Their impact on the FA Trophy had been

Spartans Factfile

Record transfer fee received: £30,000 (Les Mutrie, Hull City, 1979)

Ground: Croft Park

Capacity: 6,000 (Seats: 300)

Clubhouse: Available for wedding receptions

(Source: Non League Club Directory 1997)

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minimal and this seemed to highlight the gap between the Northern League and the other leagues. With the introduction of the Pyramid system Blyth were able to progress into the Unibond First Division. They won that at their first attempt to take them into the Unibond Premier, where they reside today.

They tasted FA Cup success again when they beat Bury in the 1st round of

the FA Cup two seasons ago. The name of Blyth was back

and the old footage of the Wrexham game was being shown again on TV. We went out in the next round to a good Stockport side in front of 1,000 travelling fans.

This year under the guidance of John Burridge we went to Blackpool in the FA Cup. In an enthralling game we were beaten by a goal conceded in the dying minutes. We'd lost 4-3. The FA Cup means a lot to the people of Blyth. They take great pride in being known as Giantkillers.

The Wrexham game sparks debate even to this

"Giant-killers who are going up in the world"

How the Blyth programme introduced Wrexham

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day. I don't think there is a person in Blyth who hasn't at some point talked about that corner flag incident. The game though put Blyth on the map as a football team and it made us stand out. It never ceases to amaze me how many people I've met from all walks of life who have heard of the name Blyth Spartans.

Our aim now is to get into the Conference and the Football League. After a disappointing league season, John Burridge has made way for Alan Shoulder - a cup hero of 1978. Whether he can help repeat the magic and take us to League status only time will tell. You ever know, but Blyth and Wrexham might meet one day in the League. Until then, the people of Blyth can only think about what might have been if we'd beaten you.

Good luck for the season ahead.