Peterborough
had to apply an astonishing 21 times to be elected to the football
league, despite having a 30,000 capacity stadium and having reached
the third round of the FA Cup in 4 of the last 7 seasons. In 1960,
it was Gateshead who eventually made way for 'The Posh', a nickname
given to Peterborough because of their high standard facilities.
Their election
was well warranted - the next year they stormed to the Fourth
Division Championship, scoring an incredible 134 goals in one
season. 52 of those came from Terry Bly, who set a post-war goal-scoring
record in the process.
In the 1967-68
season, Peterborough were relegated from the then Third Division
after being docked a huge 19 points for making improper payments
to players. They should consider themselves lucky - Port Vale
were expelled from the Fourth Division for a similar offence.
Many people
remember Sutton United's famous 2-1 FA Cup victory over then top
flight Coventry City in 1989. Peterborough probably saw this coming,
as only a year earlier Sutton had knocked them out of the FA Cup
on their way to a Third Round tie against Middlesbrough.
Cup drama
seems to follow The Posh. In 1992, they thumped Kingstonian 9-1
in a first round replay, but were forced to replay the match after
it as revealed that the Kingstonian goalkeeper, Adrian Blake,
was hit by a coin from the crowd early in the match. The rescheduled
match was far from as straightforward, with Peterborough squeezing
through thanks to a single goal.
Both managers
involved in the Darlington - Peterborough play off final in 2000
are still involved at their respective clubs, with Barry Fry now
the chairman at London Road. Both have also released autobiographies!
As
ever, the Supporters Club are offering coach travel to Peterborough.
Coaches
depart from Park Place at
To book your place please contact Mary or Glen Bowes on (01325)
243 911.
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