IT SEEMS unlikely Redditch United would have defied the odds and beaten relegation without Covid-19 but they did muster Mission Impossible 14 years ago.
A level higher than today in the second season of the Conference North, the Reds beat Barrow 2-1 on the final day to stay up on goal difference ahead of Leigh RMI, the team that had been deducted the potentially decisive point they had earned the week before for fielding an ineligible player.
Craig Wilding and Carl Palmer saved the day as United came back from behind at the Valley Stadium with midfielder Ian King, manager during the early part of the 2019-20 campaign, judged man of the match by Non League Paper reporter Roger Newbold.
Here we look back on that momentous day, what led to it and what happened after.
THE SCENE SETTER
What was supposed to be a continuation of the dream under Southern League Midland Division title-winning manager Rod Brown turned into a nightmare.
The Reds had defied all expectations after that double promotion by finishing ninth in the league’s inaugural season, one in which they had been expected to crash straight back down.
Top striker Norman Sylla controversially left but nine new players came in, including FA Trophy winners Ryan Young and Palmer from Hednesford Town, ex-Swansea City midfielder Lee Jenkins and veteran striker John Williams – ‘The Flying Postman’ – formerly of Kidderminster Harriers.
The changes simply didn’t work with a series of defeats leading to chopping and changing and the quick release of players, notably Williams who claimed he had signed a contract only to get bombed.
By mid-September United hit rock bottom having been beaten at Alfreton Town and while a rousing home win over Droylsden, inspired by Walsall loanee Joe Broad, lifted the mood, optimism was punctured by an FA Cup exit against United Counties League outfit Woodford United.
The struggles continued with a 6-3 home defeat to Workington seeing fans begin to turn for the first time in Brown’s era but the ire was mainly directed at chairman Pat Cremin amid managerial and boardroom unrest over the running of the club.
Assistant Gary Whild, who had followed Brown to the Reds from Stourport Swifts, was left with a quandary. Remain with the board battling Cremin and take over as manager or follow Brown who would soon turn up at arch rivals Bromsgrove Rovers.
He stayed and led a valiant effort, although Redditch appeared doomed after a dreadful six-pointer at Leigh, the chance to salvage a point from two down blown when a late penalty was scuffed by Wilding and the follow up blazed over by Paul Moore.
Hope was restored a week later when Nuneaton Borough, in between FA Cup ties with Middlesbrough, and Vauxhall Motors were gunned down 3-0.
Whild’s rejigged side continued to compete but lacked a cutting edge, drawing many matches and a run of one win in 15 from there saw them remain embroiled in a battle for survival.
Indeed, Redditch should have been in the drop zone going into the final day only for Leigh’s point from a 2-2 draw with Hucknall to get chalked off, leaving them level on points but behind by eight on goal difference ahead of entertaining champions Northwich Victoria.
Backmarkers Hednesford trailed both by two with a vastly-inferior goal difference, meaning the Reds knew a win would keep them up.
THE MATCH
Despite a strong start from the Reds, Barrow took the lead five minutes in.
Steve Ridley swung in a free-kick from the left and the unmarked Jonathan Smith steered in from the edge of the six-yard box.
Pre-match optimism was punctured in the stands but the hosts refused to lie down with Wilding and striker partner Richard Adams going close prior to another scare, Bluebirds hitman Gavin Knight lifting over when one-on-one with United keeper Richard Anstiss.
Redditch pounced on that reprieve, Wilding flicking a looping header off the back of his head in off the far post from Damian Whitcombe’s free-kick in the 31st minute.
Buoyed by the goal, Whild's charges went on the front foot either side of the break with Palmer having three shots, the first two of which had to be saved by keeper Simon Bishop.
Palmer’s breakthrough finally came on 62 minutes with the slightest of touches on Asa Charlton’s centre and United kept pushing in a bid to make the game safe, Adams, Jermaine Clarke, Wilding and fans’ favourite Richard Field all firing off target.
That profligacy, an Achilles heel all season, set up a tense finale, particularly as news filtered through that Leigh had won, but Reds stood firm and saw through the required result.
THE REACTION
Naturally, the story gripped the region as an all-for-one effort, the ultimate triumph over adversity in a season that the club fans had got to know came apart on so many levels.
Whild told the Birmingham Mail’s Ian Johnson: “It is great to have that side of things (off-field issues) settled and it is fantastic to have achieved the seemingly impossible by staying up.
“Having been on both sides of the fence I know exactly how much effort has been put in on the pitch and in the boardroom to get this club back on course.
“Since taking over at Christmas I have not been able to fault the effort of the players. They have given me everything and deserved a good drink after Barrow.
“However, to finish where we did means there are weaknesses in the squad and this has to be addressed by me and coach Kim Casey, who I have to say did a great job with the team. It’s a pleasure to work with him.
“Redditch were probably written off by many people two years ago when we were promoted but we have survived two seasons. We now have a blank canvas and having learned a massive amount in the past few months we must build on that.
“We will not be carrying the massive baggage of last season when the fans were protesting and making life difficult. They were entitled to their views but this next season we want them on our side.”
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
Things stabilised on the pitch and United generally stayed ahead of any relegation fears for a couple of campaigns bar the odd mid-season scare.
Off the pitch it was a different matter, though. Relations between the five directors left when Cremin departed eventually became strained and a mooted merger with Bromsgrove led to a boycott by fans in 2008.
Whild continued to keep the Reds out of the drop zone against growing odds before heading to Kidderminster Harriers as Steve Burr’s assistant.
The effect of ongoing cutbacks could not be contained and the club crashed out of the Conference North in 2011 with current chairman Chris Swan’s taking over long after hope of survival had vanished.
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