Match programme: York City v Bolton Wanderers (2 May 1987)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

After the dizzy heights of playing Liverpool twice in the 5th round of the F.A.Cup in the previous two seasons, York City were struggling in the Division Three season of 1986-87.

On May 2, 1987, Bolton Wanderers visited Bootham Crescent with both clubs locked on 45 points with three games to play.

Bolton had experience in their side in the form of player manager Phil Neal, the former Liverpool full back, and ex-Leeds United and Scottish international player Asa Hartford.

As would be expected from the proverbial six pointer relegation battle, it turned out to be a tight and hard-fought match. Goals from wingers Martin Butler and Tony Canham secured York a 2-1 victory.

These proved to be three vital points as York only picked up one more point from their last two matches, losing 3-2 at Wigan, who finished in the fourth promotion place, and drawing at home with Notts County who finished seventh.

Bolton Wanderers were relegated following a play-off defeat against Fourth Division Aldershot.

At the end of the season, two influential players left the club - winger Gary Ford who had played 435 games and Keith Walwyn who had agaIn finished top goal scorer with 19 League and 5 Cup goals. In total, he had scored 140 goals in 291 appearances.

The other notable departures at the end of the season were the managerial team of Denis Smith and Viv Busby who had brought the club so much success during their five seasons at York. They moved to Division Two Sunderland.

Acknowledgement

This facsimile of the match programme was created by the publisher of There’s Only One Arthur Bottom, the daily email newsletter for fans of York City FC, and TOOAB contributors Richard Snowball, Terry Espiner and Paul Bowser.

www.tooab.com