We continue our look back at the 1990-91 title winning season thanks to the Darlo's on the Up book, and the story of the "storm in the tea room"

Maybe there was an underlying reason behind the mini slump. Under the headline of “Storm in a tea room” in the Northern Echo, it was revealed that Brian Little had threatened to quit after certain treatment – or lack of it – of players’ wives and families by an unnamed vice president. There had been a big row between Brian Little and officials of the vice presidents’ club after the Hartlepool game, and then two players’ wives had been refused entry to the vice presidents’ lounge at half time in the York game.

Little said; “There were problems because players’ wives weren’t treated properly, so it’s not surprising that players weren’t very happy here because of that.” Little himself had said that “they’d been treated like muck.”

Chairman Dick Corden said; “I thought this matter had been sorted. It will be.” Dick was true to his word and soon a club statement said; “The position has been resolved internally and brought to a satisfactory conclusion.”

Clearly it must have, because Quakers then won 3-0 at Lincoln City on November 24th, another club that had lost and then regained its Football League place. Lincoln produced a special souvenir programme for the game.

With regular penalty taker Frank Gray injured, Gary Gill took on penalty duties and he scored from the spot after Andy Toman was tripped, and then Kevan Smith headed in a Drew Coverdale corner. Teenager Lee Ellison, who was attracting attention from several clubs higher up the ladder, headed the third, before Gill missed another penalty. Nevertheless, it was still a convincing win, and enough for the Lincoln supporters to stage a demonstration against their manager, Allan Clarke, after the game. He was indeed sacked a few days later. Darlo were now fourth in the table after 16 games.

“I don’t think we played that well,” said Little. “The game was by no means a classic, but the goals came at important times. Lee has an ability to sneak in, just like he did for his goal. Last season our strength was in not changing the team, but all of a sudden we’ve had to change the team regularly because of injuries.”

Ray Simpson wrote in the Echo; “Quakers were the better organised and more skilful winners of this game between two Conference winners.”

Quakers’ youth team played Manchester United two days later in the FA Youth Cup, and lost 6-0, Ryan Giggs, later to be a Manchester United legend,  scoring five of them.

The Leyland DAF Cup wasn’t as high on the agenda compared to a promotion campaign, and so there was no real regret at losing 3-2 at York City in the first group game on November 27th. John Borthwick scored both goals for Darlo.

Quakers went to fellow promotion challengers Stockport County on December 1st, and lost 3-1 – the first away league defeat since the opening day of the season at Gillingham. Stockport led 2-0 at one point before Gary Coatsworth pulled a goal back with a header. However, Stockport, managed by Danny Bergara, made sure with a third to keep their home unbeaten record intact.

The team with the best home record beat the team with the best away record. Little told his players to take a break. “I’ll give the lads a ring when I want them to come in,” he said. “The break could do them good, and it will give Frank Gray and myself a chance to sit down, take stock and work a few things out.”

“Darlington slumped to only their second away defeat of the season when they were overpowered by an impressive Stockport side,” said the Sunday Sun.

Nick Helliwell wrote in the Echo; “Darlington had won just five times in 49 previous visits to Edgeley Park, and once Stockport had taken a two goal lead inside the first 20 minutes there seemed little hope of Quakers celebrating meeting number 50.”

The second Leyland DAF group game was a remarkable encounter against Grimsby Town, which saw two visiting players dismissed for fighting with each other.

The incident occurred midway through the first half, when a Darlo attack broke down, and then suddenly Grimsby players Tony Rees and Tony Watson squared up to each other. Referee Eddie Parker had no option but to send the two players off, and after the game, a nearby police officer confirmed that the two players had sworn at each other before throwing punches.

Nevertheless, Grimsby made Darlo work hard, and a quick Andy Toman hat trick saw them off by 3-1, and also earn Quakers a tie in the next round at Preston as group runners up.

Jimmy Willis returned to the Darlington line up after breaking his leg on Easter Monday.

With Jimmy Willis fit again, Brian Little changed the team’s formation for the home game against Torquay on December 15th, going with a five man defence and three up front, and the move paid instant dividends.

That helped them regain their winning form again in their next league game in a 3-0 win.

Lee Ellison started the game in place of David Cork and had a hand in the first two goals for John Borthwick and Andy Toman, and then Gary Gill crossed for Drew Coverdale to score the third. Phil Lloyd, a member of the 1985 promotion winning team, was in the heart of the Torquay defence.

“New look Darlington too sharp for poor Torquay” was the Echo’s headline. “Quakers found a balance and purpose that had been lacking in previous matches.”

“Teenager Lee Ellison terrorised Torquay’s defence” said the Sunday Sun.

Brian Little said; “We said at the start of the season that our target was to keep in the top eight and be challenging for an automatic promotion spot. We’ve done that all season despite having to re-arrange the way we play because of injuries.”

Darlo were now fifth at Christmas, with Northampton top followed by Torquay, Doncaster and Burnley. Hartlepool were level with Quakers.

A tough home game followed against Chesterfield on December 22nd, but midfielder Gary Gill was the difference between the teams, scoring the only goal of the game from an Andy Toman pass eleven minutes from the end.

“Unconvincing Quakers keep target well in sight,” said the Echo headline. “After victory in a game which was as low on Christmas cheer as it was high on chances, the Quakers are preparing their promotion case.”

“It wasn’t spectacular, but it was a very hard game and Chesterfield made it very difficult for us,” said Brian Little.

Between Christmas and New Year, Darlo’s away game at Aldershot was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, then they went across to Scarborough and drew 1-1 on December 29th. Drew Coverdale claimed one of the quickest ever Darlo goals in a league game when he scored on just 31 seconds, when John Borthwick flicked on a Mark Prudhoe clearance for Coverdale to round the keeper. It was also reckoned to be the fastest goal in the Football League so far in that season.

But Coverdale conceded a penalty at the other end when he handled, and George Oghani equalised for Scarborough from the spot. “Speedy Drew left in a stew” was the headline in the Sunday Sun.

“I’m pleased to have moved into fourth place. It’s the same position we were in this time last year in the Conference, so hopefully that’s a good omen,” said Brian Little.

The Football League fixture compilers must have had a malfunction that season, because Cardiff were handed an arduous away game at Feethams on New Year’s Day.

There had been a snowfall overnight and the pitch was very heavy, but nevertheless the referee gave the game the go-ahead.

Quakers produced probably their best home performance of the season with a 4-1 win. “Darlington’s bedraggled fans were bedazzled by a stirring performance,” wrote Nick Helliwell in the Echo. Les McJannet scored the opener with a low shot, David Cork chipped the keeper for the second. Jim Willis pushed up front and scored the third off Mark Prudhoe’s long clearance, and Mick Tait followed up to score the fourth after Willis’ header was blocked.

There was a comical moment in the game – referee John Trussell was about to book somebody, but then realised he’d dropped his yellow card and notebook somewhere on the snow-covered pitch. They were found by another player.

“We played some of our best football for some time,” said Brian Little. “Before the match I thought we might have to bypass midfield. It was particularly pleasing to score four times against a side with a good record for not conceding many goals away from home.” Darlo were now third, a point behind Doncaster and Torquay.

Darlo went top of the table on January 5^th with a 3-1 home win over Carlisle, in front of 3,725 fans. The last time the sides had met was when Darlo were relegated on the last day of the 1988-89 season.

Like Cardiff, the Cumbrians were brushed aside. Drew Coverdale blasted in a 50 yard pass from John Borthwick for 1-0, then Phil Linacre, playing his first full game, scored the second from an Andy Toman pass. Skipper Kevan Smith scored the third from a corner. They also hit the bar three times.

“Being top is a bonus, but it can lead to false expectations. There is still a long way to go. The hard part is staying there,” said Brian Little.

Nick Helliwell said; “Staying at the top might prove harder than getting there – but Darlington have already shown they can live with the pressure.”

Quakers were knocked out of the Leyland DAF Cup at Preston on January 8th by 2-1, after taking an early lead through Phil Linacre.

Manager Brian Little rested a few players at Preston, specifically because Quakers had a big top of the table clash at Burnley’s Turf Moor a few days later.

However, the Clarets were too strong and knocked Quakers off the top of the table, going 3-0 up through Steve Davis, Ron Futcher and big John Francis before Phil Linacre pulled a goal back from the edge of the box.

Little decided to change his five at the back tactic, but it misfired. “We had the better of the first ten minutes, then they scored and it was a different game,” he said. “We’ve had one match when things haven’t gone right, but we’ll bounce back. Not many teams will get much from Turf Moor, I rated them the best footballing side we have played.”

Nevertheless despite that defeat, clubs from higher up the football ladder were starting to take notice of Brian Little’s achievement in putting Quakers into promotion contention, and there was speculation that Birmingham were interested in taking him to St Andrew’s, especially when Birmingham chairman Samesh Kumar introduced himself to Brian Little after the goalless draw at bottom of the table Halifax Town. “I was speaking to our chairman at the time. I’m flattered to be mentioned in the context of the Birmingham job,” said Little. “I’m very happy at Darlington and have a very good relationship with my chairman. We don’t need this sort of publicity, and the sooner the matter is resolved, the better.”

Kevan Smith nearly won the game for Quakers on a bone hard pitch, but his effort came back off the bar. Darlo dropped down to fourth, behind Northampton, Doncaster and Stockport.

“We tossed up twenty minutes early in order that we could change footwear. We decided to defend the worst area of the pitch in the first half,” said Little.

Coming up next -- we consolidate our automatic promotion place.