We take a look back at the first ever FA Trophy final to mark its 50th anniversary
BRIAN FIDLER, in his own words, was a Showman. So it’s little wonder he will always remember his goal from nearly half a century ago that helped to write Macclesfield Town into the FA Trophy history books.
“I stood right on the halfway line on the right wing, all by myself,” Fidler says. “Telford were trying to equalise and had a corner. Our keeper, John Cooke, caught it and booted it to me.
“I ran forward and their goalkeeper came to the edge of the box. I chipped it over him from over 40 yards and watched it go up. And up. And up. It clipped just inside the post and rolled in.”
The Silkmen were the first ever winners of the inaugural competition that took place in the 1969-70 season, set up by the Football Association to run alongside the FA Amateur Cup.
Most leading Non-League clubs paid their players as opposed to amateurs; the latter status being abolished in 1974, leading to the end of the Amateur Cup.
This bolstered the FA Trophy entrants to 294, although numbers widely altered in the decade, during an era where Northern, Southern and Isthmian League clubs fought for election to the Football League.
Northern League Macclesfield Town and Southern League Telford United saw off Barnet and Chelmsford City in the first semi-finals, which were then one-legged ties played at neutral venues.
It was a great year for Town, who captured the locals’ imagination by also winning the Northern Premier League. Their semi-final win over Barnet at the Victoria Ground, home of Stoke City, saw just under 8,000 attend a cautious 1-0 win thanks to Dick Young’s strike.
They carried on the momentum on May 2, 1970, winning the first final 2-0 in front of 28,000 at Wembley. Dave Lyon, who passed away in December, scored the opener, before Fidler wrapped up the win in the closing stages.
Fidler had been to Wembley a few times with his father to watch England, but this was the first time he’d played at the iconic venue. The former midfielder’s celebration afterwards caused some controversy.
Supremes
“I ran across to the Royal Box after and shouted, ‘Give me my medal now – it’s all over!’” Fidler says.
“No-one had done that before. The press afterwards said it wasn’t the right thing to do. I was a Showman. It was a big thing to score the winning goal at Wembley. That was my character.
“After the game, from memory, we went to see The Supremes, who had just started. We were invited guests.”
The Lilywhites made amends a year later, defeating Hillingdon 3-2 in the latter’s only final appearance.
Telford weren’t as fortunate as the decade progressed. In December 1977, under the stewardship of England World Cup final hero Geoff Hurst, they were humbled by Hednesford in the third qualifying round. On the same afternoon, Cheltenham
Stunned future Southern League champions Bath City 7-1 at Whaddon Road, which remains the Romans’ record decompetition. Runcorn were the nearly men of the first ten years, losing three semi-finals. Their last in 1979 was at the hands of eventunStafford Rangers, 3-2 on aggregate.
Showpiece
Goalkeeper Grahame Lloyd broke his leg in the first tie and was replaced in goal by forward Barry Whitbread which hincause. They finally made it to Wembley in 1986. Instead, it was Scarborough wjo almost made Wembley a
second home in the decade, with four visits in five years, and differing fortunes.
In 1973, they edged past Wigan Athletic 2-1 in the first final to require extra-time. John Rogers’ last-gasp goal for the Latics forced an extra half hour before Malcolm Thompson popped up with a 116th minute winner.
Two years later, Scarborough were crushed 4-0 by Matlock, but recovered to win the next two finals.
Their 1977 win over Dagenham was dramatic. Terry Harris had given the Daggers the lead, and with 10 minutes left, Boro’ boss Colin Appleton brought on Jeff Barmby, father of future England midfielder Nick.
Harry A Dunn brought the Seadogs level with a penalty and Derek Abbey netted a winner, Scarborough’s third FA Trophy success in what turned out to be their last outing in Non-League’s leading competition showpiece event.
The 1980s started with a few underdogs upsetting the socalled giants, but as the decade progressed, the bigger names from the newly formed Alliance League got their act together.