This was my first season supporting Walsall. My first match was against Newport which I think ended our 21 match unbeaten run. Interesting to see that Tony Macken became manager of Drogheda.
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thank you for posting this, took me right back to that season. Had some wild away and home days. We were promoted at Easter if I remember right and I think we all believed we would go up as champions but we fell away at the end. The loss at Wigan was a big surprise, whilst the home defeat by Newport wasnât that unexpected given that they had momentum and two brilliant forwards. Ian Paul, what a player he wouldâve been! I think Don Penn suffered from injury too but Mark Rees and Kenny Mower progressed to make some special memories for us a few years later.
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It felt like exciting times, probably due to being youthful.
I used to go to away matches with Kevin James and Eric Pye.
Iâm not sure if anyone knows them or if they still go as it has been decades since I last saw either of them.
If I shouldnât have put their names Iâll delete it but I always wonder about them
It was my first season of regular away games, courtesy of living away from home and having a Student Railcard.
A phenomenal season.
As has been said, promoted by Easter then threw the league title away.
Ian Paul - my all-time favourite player.
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Loved that season - as a 12 year old i had seen us relegated for the first time in the previous season and was heartbroken. First ever away game at Huddersfields old leeds road ground where we snatched a draw in front of 17,000. Some superb performances with players like don penn, ian paul and steve Waddingham. As don says we should have been champions.
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An impressive place to start. That long, barrel-roof on the 'Cowshed End.
We won 2-1 at Pompey too that season in front of a huge crowd .
It was almost law to see Buckley and Penn on the score sheet .
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âHeâs scored,
again,
it must be Donald Penn,
Donald Pennâ
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I went to that and I think Iâm right in saying Tony Macken scored a rare goal that day.
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I think you are right !
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In that game, it was actually âBuckley (pen)â!
It was Tony Macken who scored the other - think he only scored 2 goals for us.
The return game at Fellowâs park saw Buckley score my all time best Walsall goal. Legendry
Yes that was a cracker, even Buckley thought so judging by his reaction! Still think his one away at Port Vale was even better though.
I was 14 going on 15 and thankfully West Muds transport or someone at British Rail decided to link Walsall with Redditch via rail direct. It was perfect jumped on at Redditch where my folks had moved the year before off at Bescot , meander down to Fellows Park for 2ish and then home by 730.
A magic season all round, we should have been champions and blew it good and proper over the last couple of weeks. The 4 - 2 loss on the final Saturday and fun and games afterwards will always be remembered.
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After clinching promotion on the Monday our next game was at Huddersfield and we drew, which seemed to be good enough and should ensure we won the title. Five points clear with three to play and although Huddersfield had a game in hand it was only two points for a win, so it was all over bar the shouting⌠
They won all four and we cocked up.
We signed Peter Hart, the Huddersfield skipper, in the summer so I look at it as swapping the title for Hart, which doesnât seem too bad a deal, if you look at it in such an illogical way. 
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Yes - the game at fellows park was a cracker - still one of my all time favourites
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