United fans were biting their fingernails to the quick last Tuesday evening with the prize of a trip to Wembley at stake. Thankfully, joyous victory over Burton Albion sealed our passage to the Blue Square Premier Play-off Final and scenes of unbridled celebration at the Abbey.

Memories of our previous sojourn into the bear-pit of the Play-Offs were no doubt recalled, and the heartbreak it can sometimes deliver. However, there always has to be a winner, and the Abbey faithful will cast a moistening eye back to the early '90s and a memorable trip to the twin towers.

A marvellous end to the 1989/90 campaign saw United win seven and draw two of their ten remaining Barclays League Division Four, (now League Two) matches to slip unnoticed into the Play-Off places and semi-final with the now defunct Maidstone United. The first leg at the Abbey was a closely fought affair and, despite Michael Cheetham scoring from the spot on 51 minutes, the defence-minded Kent side held firm against the U's strike force of Dion Dublin and Steve Claridge. Nevertheless, with the home fans certain they had gained a 1-0 advantage, Mark Gall dampened spirits by scoring a 90th minute equaliser to ensure a nervy second leg.

The decider at Watling Street was another battle, and the hosts seemed happy to hold out for a draw and rely on their away goal to seal victory. However, as the game entered extra-time the power of the U's front-line became too much. Manager John Beck had gone for broke by leaving three attackers up field at a corner and, when the ball was cleared, Dublin ran on to bury a shot into the bottom corner and put the U's 1-0 ahead with 108 minutes on the clock. Then, with the away fans still celebrating Dublin was brought down in the area, leaving Cheetham to bury his second spot-kick of the tie and secure a trip to Wembley in the showpiece final with Chesterfield.

A 26,404 crowd streamed through the turnstiles on 26 May 1990 to witness the inaugural Play-Off Final to be staged at our National Stadium. The game itself was a tetchy one, and in truth the Spireites may lay claim to being the better side on the day. As the game wore on Beck felt new impetus was needed, and Steve Claridge was introduced as a substitute to liven the attack.

Then, on 77 minutes came the historical moment. Claridge berated Dublin for taking up a far post position as Chris Leadbitter prepared to take a corner and, after promptly moving forward several yards Dion proceeded to jump above the Chesterfield defence and gloriously head home the winner. The last 15 minutes were agony for the Amber Nation but, Beck's heroes held out to become, historically, the first ever team to win promotion at Wembley.

Two seasons later John Beck and his rampant charges swept the likes of Charlton, Portsmouth, Watford, Wolves, Sunderland and Newcastle aside, and even had the audacity to sit proudly atop the Barclays League Division Two table, (now the Championship) for five weeks prior to Xmas. The U's eventually concluded in fifth, with the prize a two-legged Play-Off semi-final with Leicester City and a chance of promotion to the Premiership bestowed upon them.

Brian Little's side stifled the U's attack at the Abbey in the first leg and took the lead through Kevin 'Rooster' Russell just before half-time, but a deserved equaliser came via the head of Danny O'Shea in front of whopping 9,225 crowd. The decider took place three days in the electric atmosphere of Filbert Street and, oppose to their defensive play in the first leg, City came out all guns blazing to stun the travelling U's who numbered several thousand of the 2,500 gate.

The cracks in Beck's armour had started to appear in the latter half of the season, with opposition teams successfully countering United's rigid but dominant style of play. Furthermore, club legend John Taylor had controversially been sold to Bristol Rovers six weeks earlier and replaced by the Devon White, who was not match fit and consequently weakened the front-line. That night at Filbert Street saw the house that Beck built come crashing down, as goals from Steve Thompson, Kevin Russell, Ian Ormondroyd and a Tommy Wright double rubber-stamped a 5-0 whitewash and the end of United's dream. Beck looked a forlorn character at the final whistle but, will forever be remembered as the Manager who delivered unparalleled success to the club, and a scrapbook full of memories for the fans.

The U's will take far more supporters to Wembley this Sunday than on that sunny day in 1990, which shows the furore and excitement that has built up in the City recently. Let's just hope that Jimmy and the lads can put in one last big performance with the aim of delivering League Football back to the deserving Abbey, and another few pages in that scrapbook duly filled up.

Doug Shulman

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