Roll up, roll up! This is the greatest show? Quite possibly not. Have you ever sat there and thought to yourself “who were the greatest side to win the Football League Trophy during the 90’s?”. No? Well neither did we, until we needed something to do.

Here at www.cm9798.co.uk we’ve pitted the best Champions League sides against each other, the best Cup Winners Cup sides, so naturally the Football League Trophy was the best fit in that order.

An at best, derided trophy. The football equivalent of winning the meat draw at the social club. But it has been lifted by some sides who have gone on to play Premier League football. And some who have gone on to play in the Conference. And to think, it started life out as a replacement for the Anglo-Scottish Cup in the early 80’s. Should we jump in to our first participants? You’ll soon see the competition was dominated by middle England clubs.

Birmingham City | 1990-91

About the side: A club under great financial strain that it is rumoured only survived due to the money raised by progressing through and winning what was then the Leyland DAF Cup. An average side placing mid-table in Division Three (Division Two in 97-98 terms). John Gayle the star of their run, netting 4 goals in 6 appearances.

The Managers View: This is a short story. There was once a team called Birmingham City. They won the Football League Trophy in 1991. No one knows how. They are f****** s***. The end.

Stoke City | 1991-92

About the side: Stoke City were unlucky not to be promoted that season and had the enviable strike force of Mark Stein and Wayne Biggins. Inevitably, the distraction of the Leyland DAF Cup was too much, and they fell at the semi-final of the playoffs. Stein scored 5 in 7 on their run to win the trophy including the winner at Wembley.

The Managers View: In June 1991 Luigi ‘Lou’ Macari was appointed manager of Stoke City and tasked with changing the club’s fortunes following the previous seasons all time low finish of 14^th in the Third Division. Thankfully, Lou knew what he was doing and thanks to some excellent business in the transfer market Stoke boasted a squad containing players such as Kevin Pressman, Vince Overson, Noel Blake, Mick Kennedy, Carl Beeston, Wayne Biggins and Mark Stein! Lou turned Stoke around as they finished in the play-off positions, however, falling at the penultimate hurdle, losing to Stockport County over two legs. All was not lost however because Stoke had made it through to the much more important League Trophy final against promotion arch-rivals Stockport. Thankfully for you and Lou, Mark Stein got the only goal in a 1-0 win, and because of that fabled day on the 16^th May 1992 you will now get to enjoy reading about the 1991-92 Stoke City squad taking on the other titans of Football League Trophy glory.

Port Vale | 1992-93

About the side: Again, a run in what was now the Autoglass Trophy was too much to bear as the Valiants slipped to a playoff defeat in the league after finishing 3^rd. Autoglass could not indeed repair or replace their season for a better one. But…trophies…whooo. Paul Kerr their Trophy top scorer as he and Bernie Slavin (yes) made sure of the final victory.

The Managers View: The 1993 Football League Trophy was contested by heavyweights Port Vale and Stockport – a match which clearly captured public imagination with 35,000 fans filling the 90,000 capacity Wembley stadium. 

Bernie Slaven and Paul Musselwhite would be the heroes in a 2-1 win for Port Vale. Musselwhite kept Stockport at bay whilst Man-of-the-Match Slaven laid on a 4th minute opener for Paul Kerr before scoring a solo effort on 37 minutes. The final frantic 20 minutes was Musselwhite vs Stockport, as they pressed for an equalizer that would never come.

Incidentally, Bernie Slaven started the 1992-93 season a Premier League footballer with Middlesborough – featuring in seven of the opening ten games of the inaugural Premier League season (scoring twice). After falling out of favour with manager Lennie Lawrence, Slaven requested a transfer. ‘Boro’s loss would be Port Vale’s gain in March ’93 as Slaven secured a free transfer and chance at a Wembley date.

Key names for the Port Vale side – in addition to Slaven, Musselwhite and Kerr – are ex-Villa midfielder Ian Taylor (who would be the club’s leading scorer in 1992-93 with 19 goals), Central Defender Neil Aspin (who would spend ten seasons with Vale) and Dutchman Robin van der Laan (who would play Premier League football for Derby in the 97-98 season).

Wish us luck, we’re going to need it!

Swansea City | 1993-94

About the side: A season so good for Swansea fans, there isn’t even a Wikipedia page. It was the Swans first ever appearance at Wembley and was ultimately decided on penalties as Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield couldn’t hold their nerve.

The Managers View: Juventus, Chelsea, Swansea. What do these teams have in common? Well, they’ve all been drawn out of the hat for me for CM leagues with the Blog Squad. This time it’s not European trophy winners, it’s Football League Trophy winners.

I recognise Steve Jenkins and Jason Bowen from the 93/94 squad. They finished 13^th in League Two that season, so I’m not expecting much. Avoid finishing bottom and not getting sacked will be my aim, anything more is a bonus really.

Birmingham City | 1994-95

About the side: A second trophy in the decade for Birmingham City, by this time the Auto Windscreen Shield with which to defend their honour over their city rivals. Steve Claridge was their top scorer in the trophy with 4 in 7, however in the final Paul Tait scored the winner to reveal a shirt emblazoned with “Shit on the Villa” in reference to their clearly inferior rivals…

The Managers View: I couldn’t care less really; I’ve decided to hand the reigns over to my assistant manager so I can go on the p*** in Rome. Let that sink in and what that means about this squad…

Rotherham United | 1995-96

About the side: Another season so delightful for a participant club there is little the internet has to say about it. Managed by John McGovern and Archie Gemmill, success was destiny. There is a 43 second snippet on YouTube about ‘Nigel Jemson’s Wembley Winners’. A gripping 43 seconds. He was only on loan for 3 months and scored both goals in the final.

The Managers View: So…from Barcelona ’97 to Rotherham ’96; from Vitor Baia to Matt Clarke; from Ronaldo to Shaun Goater, a fall from grace somewhat. I’ll be honest, I know nothing about this team so I can neither be pleased or disappointed at how they perform, and my expectation level is set firmly to zero. I might do a Chris Wilder and chug a few Peroni’s while I watch from the dugout, and when it comes to tactics and team talks I have only one instruction…feed the goat!

Carlisle United | 1996-97

About the side: Over 45,000 people travelled to Wembley to see the classic tie of Carlisle United vs. Colchester United. Michael Knighton is alleged to have threatened to withdraw his team prior to the final over a TV revenue dispute. The lucky viewers of Sky Sports, and poor souls who attended, were put through a goalless 120 minutes of fun, 8 yellow cards and 10 penalties. Worth every penny.

Grimsby Town | 1997-98

About the side: A team to break the hoodoo. Winning the Auto Windscreen Shield and being promoted via the playoffs. Unbeknown to them, these were heady days for Grimsby fans. 9 goals over 7 games was enough for the Mariners to win it. Their top scorer was Wayne Burnett with 3 goals.

The Managers View: As a Gateshead fan, this is possibly the worst outcome and the best outcome. Super Jack Lester doesn’t look so super though. We should be in the mix…should be…

Wigan Athletic | 1998-99

About the side: Dave Whelan came on to score the winner with a wooden leg in the 90^th minute…jokes. Another blackout from the history books for Wigan. They won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Paul Rogers. Wigan only conceded 2 goals over their 7 games in the Shield, big thanks to a young Roy Carroll.

The Managers View: Wigan 98-99, one of the plummer draws I could have got when we spun the random wheel. Bobby Martinez, Leeds legend Kevin Sharp, I’m presuming Graham Jones and Andy Liddell seem to be the main guys I can lean on. God knows who my defenders are, hopefully Roy Carroll is half decent. Can I win it all? Maybe, will I win it all, definitely not! GAME ON, now where’s my pie barm???

Stoke City | 1999-00

About the side: Ah, Stoke again. Everybody loves Stoke, on a Tuesday night especially. Peter Thorne their hero with 4 goals in 5 shield appearances. A season of Icelandic invasion for the club, and a one of mourning of a legend in Stanley Matthews. That trophy was for him.

Odds (& Sods):

Birmingham ’91 – No f****** chance | 1000/1

Stoke ’92 – Giving it the Biggins | 5/1

Port Vale ’93 – Anglo Italian pretenders | 10/1

Swansea ’94 – Up the swanny without a paddle | 25/1

Birmingham ’95 – A Daish of potential | 9/1

Rotherham ’96 – It will be a ‘Goodwin’ if they get a point | 50/1

Carlisle ’97 – Put your Poune’s on these lads | 2/1

Grimsby ’98 – It’s No-gan for this lot | 10/1

Wigan ’99 – A Liddell bit of something-something | 4/1

Stoke ’00 – Couldn’t lose this if they tried | 1/1000 on

If that doesn’t have you salivating about what is to come, then you’re a pretty normal person. That said, please do indulge us a little and come back next week to see how the blog squad get on kicking-off with their newly found favourites!