Author: Paul W

Play-Off Facts & Figures 1987-2023 – Appendix

The 2023 play-offs were the 37th time the end-of-season fixtures have been played since the system was (re)introduced in 1987. In that time, a number of clubs, managers and players have set notable records. This post gathers a few of the Football League play-off facts and figures over the past five decades. In 2023, Salford…

By Paul W June 3, 2023 0

Bristol Rovers v Cardiff City, 1983

Bristol Rovers welcomed Cardiff City to Eastville for the final game of the 1982/83 season. The fixture included many famous football names of the past, and future. Cardiff were already promoted and a point secured second place behind Portsmouth, and an immediate return to the Second Division. Bristol Rovers finished in 7th place. There was…

By Paul W May 14, 2023 0

The Play-Offs (Part Two): 1987-1992

The play-offs were re-introduced to the Football League almost a century after the ‘test matches’ of the 1890s. The measure was agreed at a League meeting in December 1985 as part of a package of compromise measures to prevent a ‘Super League’ breakaway of the First Division clubs. Initially the play-offs were proposed to run…

By Paul W April 29, 2023 0

Yugoslavs in the Football League 1978-92 – Appendix

A brief overview of the Yugoslav footballers who played in the Football League between 1978 and 1992. Radomir ‘Raddy’ Antić Born: 22.11.1948 Žitište (d. 06.04.2020) Signed from: Real Zaragoza (Spain), July 1980 [£50,000] Football League Career: Luton Town 1980-83 – 94 appearances, 9 goals Football League Debut: West Ham v Luton, Second Division 16 August…

By Paul W January 7, 2023 0

Yugoslavia: Foreign Players in the Football League

Yugoslavia provided a surprising number of imports to English football in the wave that followed the summer of 1978. While Ardiles and Villa, Mühren and Thijssen took the headlines, apart from the Netherlands no overseas country provided more players to the Football League in the immediate post-1978 period than Yugoslavia. 14 players moved to England…

By Paul W December 31, 2022 0