COLD War tensions were at their peak as Bolton Wanderers faced-off against Wigan Athletic for the very first time in league football in December 1983.
War games had been played between superpowers USA and USSR for several months, and by the close of the year the threat of nuclear felt closer than ever as the brinkmanship between both sides continued.
Back in the UK, a harsh recession had pushed unemployment above three million and football’s economy had also been hit hard with crowd numbers starting to drop rapidly as hooliganism started to take hold of the terraces.
Crowds at Burnden were averaging just under 6,000 by the time John McGovern took his side to Springfield Park for their first competitive fixture on Boxing Day. But the Latics’ decision to cash in on a bumper holiday crowd had left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Burnden Park hierarchy.
Wanderers fans were charged £2.30 to get into their section of the terracing, while home fans paid just £1.80.
The game had already been put back to an 11am kick-off in the hope it could prevent crowd trouble but the away price hike nearly backfired as many Bolton fans refused to pay the higher price and entered into the home end, throwing police segregation plans haywire.
Bolton secretary Des McBain sent a letter of complaint to the Football League and chairman Terry Edge added: “It was naughty. We wouldn’t try that because we know what to expect.”
Wigan recorded the biggest gate since they entered the Football League five years earlier but were forced to delay kick-off as the crowd issues were sorted.
The game itself was a typically feisty local affair with two major incidents.
Young goalkeeper Simon Farnworth – who had been chastised by Bolton fans in the previous game against Preston – proved the hero of the hour with a superb penalty save to deny Wanderers old-boy Steve Taylor the opening goal of the game.
Coach Charlie Wright claimed the save, low down to his right, had been no fluke.
“This just shows you the value of the hours and hours of scouting and the hours we put in going to games all over the place.”
Nobody was more relieved to see Farnworth prevail than Steve Thompson, who had conceded the chance by ‘saving’ a point-blank shot from Graham Barrow.
Thompson made amends with a pin-point cross 15 minutes from time to find Jeff Chander to squeeze a header inside the post for the winning goal, sending thousands of away fans into raptures.
Wigan felt bitterly disappointed, having wasted some big chances. Alex Bruce, Taylor and Barrow had all gone close to putting their team ahead, the latter also having a shot kicked off the line by Chandler just moments from full time.
Wanderers pushed up into sixth spot, with hopes that they could return to the Second Division at the first time of asking.
John McGovern confirmed that he had offered new contracts to top-scorer Tony Caldwell, who had missed the Wigan game with an ankle injury, Irish international Gerry McElhinney, skipper Ray Deakin and the highly-rated Brian Borrows.
Chandler, Warren Joyce and Neil Redfearn had refused to sign – and McGovern warned that he would not be held to ransom.
“At the moment I am not prepared to go back to them with a better offer because I think what I have offered them is reasonable,” he said.
Teenagers Thompson, Simon Rudge and Steve Saunders had committed to another year at Burnden Park as McGovern looked to secure the foundations of his side ahead of schedule.
“This prevents me having to haggle with them at the end of the season,” he said. “It benefits the players to get their pay rises in now.
“They have earned it for their performances this season. I have not offered them a lot but it is all we can afford.
“One or two wanted more but there is simply no more cash here at the moment and I can’t be over-generous.”
Elsewhere in the world of football, French star Michael Platini took his first Ballon d’Or ahead of Kenny Dalglish and Allan Simonsen and century-old club Darlington were locked out of their Feethams ground by the local cricket club over a debt of just £200.
The Test and County Cricket Board were in a fluster about Ian Botham playing football on the eve of England’s winter tour – claiming their prized all-rounder was risking his fitness by turning out for Scunthorpe United against Hull City and Preston.
In typically belligerent fashion, ‘Beefy’ carried on regardless, quipping to reporters: “I’ve been given the job on tour of putting the lads through a few physical exercises. I don’t think I’m wrong in saying I am the fittest man on the tour.”
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