In the latest of his Memory Match series, Simon Weatherill remembers the 3-1 home win over Wigan Athletic on 10^th September 1996.

 The 1996/97 season kicked off with Jim Platt at the helm. He had spent the summer rebuilding the squad after the disappointment of losing at Wembley in the previous seasons play-off final and had lost three of his most influential players. Gary Bannister had to retire due to a neck injury, Matty Appleby was sold to Barnsley and Steve Gaughan to Chesterfield. Their places in the squad were taken by new signings Brian Atkinson from Sunderland, Darren Roberts from Chesterfield and Michael Oliver from Stockport County. Platt also signed several youngsters, among them Gary Innes from Sheffield United, Lee Brydon from Liverpool and Russell Kelly from Chelsea.

Platt’s new look team made a mixed start to the new season. One win and two draws from their first five games saw the Quakers sat just below half way in the table with five points. Their next game at Feethams would be against unbeaten Wigan Athletic, who sat top of the table with four wins and a draw from their five games. Athletic had spent big and were favourites to gain promotion.

Darlington had drawn 0-0 at Leyton Orient on the Saturday and would be making changes for the Tuesday night fixture with Wigan. Left back Mark Barnard missed the trip to London with a twisted ankle, and experienced midfielder Brian Atkinson was also missing with a dead leg. Both players would be fit to return for the visit of highflying Athletic. Robbie Blake had been left out of the team at Orient for tactical reasons and he would return to the side up front alongside Darren Roberts.

A disappointing crowd of 2601 were at Feethams for the visit of the league leaders. They saw the Quakers make a solid start to the game defensively, only allowing a couple of half chances to the free scoring Wigan attack, who’d scored twelve goals in their first five games. In the 15th minute Colin Greenall flicked on a right wing corner to John Pender, who headed towards goal, but full back Phil Brumwell was on hand to clear the ball off the line. Two minutes later they threatened again. Graeme Jones dribbled past Sean Gregan but Paul Newell saved bravely at his feet just as he was about to shoot. Darlington scored with their first meaningful attempt at goal in the 32nd minute. Michael Oliver and Phil Brumwell combined to set up Gary Twynham, who burst past three defenders as he broke into the box and hit a low right foot shot which visiting keeper Les Butler saved but couldn’t hold. Darren Roberts was the first to react as he hammered the loose ball into the net for his fifth of the season. Half time 1-0.

The goal gave the Quakers confidence and allowed them to play some superb passing football after the break to cause their visitors all sorts of problems. They nearly added a second goal on 56 minutes when Oliver found the overlapping Brumwell down the right but the full back fired just past the post. They had a lucky escape on the hour though as Brumwell appeared to bring down Gavin Johnson in the goalmouth as the two players contested a Roberto Martinez free kick, but Wigan’s penalty appeals were waved away by referee Richard Poulain. Three minutes later the Quakers were 2-0 ahead. Robbie Blake released Oliver down the right and his first time cross deceived keeper Butler and found its way into the far top corner of the net. Roberts than had two opportunities to increase the lead when put clear, but on both occasions he allowed defenders to recover and clear the danger. He made up for his errors in the 82nd minute though when he played a large part in the build up to a superb third goal. Roberts picked up the ball in his own half and played it forwards to Anthony Carss who played a first time return pass into the onrushing Roberts’ path down the left wing, from where he crossed perfectly for Blake to side foot home on the volley from six yards out. Greenall pulled a goal back for the visitors with a header from a corner two minutes into injury time, but it was too little too late for Athletic, who ended the night a well beaten side.

A 1-0 win over Hereford in their next game took the Quakers to the dizzy heights of sixth place but it was all downhill from then on! Ten defeats in their next thirteen games saw the club plummet to second bottom in the table, only three points clear of Brighton, who occupied the one and only relegation spot. The dismal run cost the popular Platt his job as he was sacked after defeat at Lincoln at the beginning of November. He was replaced by former manager David Hodgson who’d walked away from the club almost exactly a year earlier. Results were never particularly convincing though and the club was always uncomfortably close to the wrong end of the table. An improved run in March (three wins and three draws from six games) won Hodgson the manager of the month award and lifted the club clear of relegation worries. They eventually finished the season in 18th place with 52 points, although that was only five points clear of bottom club Hereford. Brighton had spent virtually the whole season in bottom position but had saved themselves in the final few weeks of the season. They drew at Hereford on the final day, condemning their hosts to relegation to the Conference. Wigan didn’t let their first defeat of the season affect them too much. They were never out of the top four and finished the season as champions. It proved to be the beginning of an exciting time for the club. Within nine years, after two further promotions, they were playing their football in the Premier League.

The programme for the 1996/97 season consisted of 32 pages, of which 9 were adverts. It cost £1.50 and was printed by Mawers Talbot Print. Full colour throughout, the front cover was a photo from a previous game. Inside were columns by manager Jim Platt and chairman Bernard Lowery, News Desk, Journalists View, Division 3 Review, two pages on today’s opponents, a page of current season statistics, action photos from a previous game, Encounters (a look at previous matches with our visitors by Frank Tweddle), In The Spotlight (featuring one of the first team squad), Treatment Room and Team News, a supporters club page, Reserve and Youth Team News, results and line-ups for the current season and the team line-ups on the back cover.

Team v Wigan : 1 Paul Newell 2 Phil Brumwell 3 Mark Barnard 4 Gary Twynham 5 Andy Crosby 6 Sean Gregan 7 Michael Oliver 8 Brian Atkinson 9 Darren Roberts 10 Robbie Blake 11 Anthony Carss. Subs 12 Robbie Painter (replaced Blake, 82 mins) 13 Gary Innes (not used) 14 Russell Kelly (replaced Atkinson, 86 mins).