grafikhaus
Kraft durch Freude
...May 15th, 1988 actually. We played at Bristol City on a baking-hot Saunaday 
in the first leg of the relegation play-off semi-finals. Yes, we had them back then and the result of this two-legged game could decide if we went down from Division Two to Division Three. Just for the for the 1986-87 and 1987-88 season play-offs, the semi-finals included a team from the next league who had finished above the relegation positions up, e.g. one team from the first tier and three teams from the second tier. The team from the higher division would be relegated if they failed to win the play-offs, with the play-off winner being promoted in their place. United had finished third-bottom (21st) in the Second Division and Bristol had finished in fifth place in the Third Division.
Despite losing the first leg of the Third Division PO Final at Ashton Gate (1-3 to Walsall), The Robins won the second leg at Walsall 2-0 so the game was 3-3 on aggregate and penalties would decide who would host the replay.
Walsall won on pens 4-2 and, two days later at Walsall, The Saddlers would win 4-0 and gain promotion to the Second Division.
Play-offs are far simpler nowadays. United lose and that's it.
Anyway, back to May 15th and United lost the game at Ashton Gate 1-0 in front of a crowd of 25,335.
The second leg at Bramall Lane three days later ended 1-1 (Colin Morris for us, Carl Shutt for them.)
So despite the legendary Dave Bassett being appointed manager in January 1988, he couldn't prevent a piss-poor Blades getting relegated. But better times were just around the corner...
That same season (1987-88), Sunderland were Champions of Division Three, Wolves were Champions of Division Four and - joining them in Division Three via the play-offs - were...Swansea City.
The following season (1988-89) Dave Bassett worked his magic and United were promoted back to the Second Division, finishing runners-up to Wolves. United only pipped Port Vale to an automatic promotion spot on goal difference, both having finished on 84 points. This triumphant season ended with a disappointing 0-1 defeat on the last day...away at Bristol City.
in the first leg of the relegation play-off semi-finals. Yes, we had them back then and the result of this two-legged game could decide if we went down from Division Two to Division Three. Just for the for the 1986-87 and 1987-88 season play-offs, the semi-finals included a team from the next league who had finished above the relegation positions up, e.g. one team from the first tier and three teams from the second tier. The team from the higher division would be relegated if they failed to win the play-offs, with the play-off winner being promoted in their place. United had finished third-bottom (21st) in the Second Division and Bristol had finished in fifth place in the Third Division.Despite losing the first leg of the Third Division PO Final at Ashton Gate (1-3 to Walsall), The Robins won the second leg at Walsall 2-0 so the game was 3-3 on aggregate and penalties would decide who would host the replay.
Walsall won on pens 4-2 and, two days later at Walsall, The Saddlers would win 4-0 and gain promotion to the Second Division.
Play-offs are far simpler nowadays. United lose and that's it.
Anyway, back to May 15th and United lost the game at Ashton Gate 1-0 in front of a crowd of 25,335.
That same season (1987-88), Sunderland were Champions of Division Three, Wolves were Champions of Division Four and - joining them in Division Three via the play-offs - were...Swansea City.
The following season (1988-89) Dave Bassett worked his magic and United were promoted back to the Second Division, finishing runners-up to Wolves. United only pipped Port Vale to an automatic promotion spot on goal difference, both having finished on 84 points. This triumphant season ended with a disappointing 0-1 defeat on the last day...away at Bristol City.
