Opponents No.6 - Tynecaster United

Tynecaster United first emerged as challengers to Melchester Rovers in 1975/76. Rovers ended the season trophyless as United snatched the league title as Rovers lost to already relegated Westhampton. Rivals Oldfield won the F.A. Cup, so both major trophies would spend the year in the North-East.

Tynecaster are one of the few ever present teams, a fixture at the top of the First Division and then Premier League - a genuine giant of English football. A team of few stars, United have traditionally relied on teamwork and organisation, which was epitomised by Charlie Rogers' Championship side of 1976.

The glory of '76 was short-lived and Melchester Rovers' disappointments soon forgotten as the mighty Rovers crushed Tynecaster 4-0 on the final day of the 1976/77 season to reclaim the title, as United's title defence ended with a fourth place finish.

No title challenge would come from the North-East for some time, however Tynecaster would still be involved in some great matches, including the classic 4-4 draw with Melchester Rovers in the 1978/79 season. Quicksilver striker Talbot scored a first-half hat-trick to shock the Rovers. But Roy Race's substitution of an off-form Duncan McKay proved the turning point, as Trevor Cassidy man-marked Talbot out of the game. Roy netted twice, but it was an own goal that leveled the scores in one of the most dramatic games ever - real Roy of the Rovers stuff!

Tynecaster faced Rovers in another famous match at the end of the 1982/83 season. Roy Race had resigned as player-manager to join Walford Rovers and it would be Tynecaster who would defeat caretaker manager Taffy Morgan's side 2-1.

Rob Richards made his Rovers debut in the opening match of the 1983/84 season. He scored, but Blackie Gray's first match as Rovers player-manager would end with another 2-1 defeat.

The following season Rovers and Tynecaster again played in an important match. Bobby Robson, the England manager, was at Mel Park to watch Roy and Jimmy Slade. Slade did not show up after smashing his new car into a hedge, but Roy went on the show Robson his class and was later called up to the England squad. Tynecaster were thrashed 5-0!

1985/86 finally saw Tynecaster challenging for silverware, this time in the Milk Cup. Gone were the traditional blue shirts with white hoop, the new white and light blue striped shirts bringing luck in the Milk Cup at least. Terry Galton's goals, Brian Gale's creativity and Mike Brennan's spectacular goalkeeping taking United to the Final. Although the season would end in disappointment as Melchester Rovers would complete the treble over United, to win the Cup easily 3-0.

The stripes were here to stay (until 1990/91 at least) and Geoff Coulson was building a strong side around his captain Hargreaves and top striker Phil Stevens. The reward would come in the 1988/89 season, in the form of the Littlewoods Cup!

But Tynecaster's loyal fans would not be rewarded with a League Championship, leading to star players moving on - Stevens to Carford City and Nick Leach to Kelburn. But Coulson spent wisely and even without his two superstars 1991/92 would be Tynecaster's best season in years, only missing out on the league championship on the final day of the season, as Rovers beat Kingsbay to become the last winners of the First Division. Now in resplendent red shirts, Tynecaster were a force to be reckoned with.

Coulson's side would begin the Premier League era as one of the title favourites, with a team packed with young stars. Carl Thomas and Johnny Merrick were the pick of the bunch earning England B caps. Simon Foley a top goalkeeper, every bit as good as legends Brennan and Duncan Wood, good enough to be a transfer target for Roy Race. While Race was also rumoured to be interested in signing United's Errol Bailey.

By the late 90s Tynecaster had again rebuilt, spending big on foreign stars including Claudia, the Brazilian winger who gave Steve Wootten such a torrid time during Rovers' first match back in the Premier League in 1998/99, that Roy dropped the great defender. Dutchman De Blanke was the latest in a long line of top quality Tynecaster goalkeepers.

United would lead the Premier League for much of the 1999/2000 season, before fading to finish third behind Champions Rovers and previous winners Weston Villa. However that disappointment would not prevent United mounting a serious title bid in 2000/01 where we are left wondering whether Tynecaster would hold onto their two point lead at the top, and hold off the challenge of Portdean to take their first Premier League title.

But there is no doubt that Tynecaster United are one of the true giants of English football and glory cannot be far away.