The confidence, team spirit and sheer class of the 1976/77 City team was obvious. They were playing at least a Division below their ability, remaining unbeaten in the Southern League Division One North until the pressure finally told in the very last match, at Barry. The unbeaten run brought the television cameras down to the Lane, and there was coverage of City in the national press. In one game manager Nobby Clark promised an injured Barry Williams that he would only come off after he’d scored a hat-trick. Barry obliged before half-time.

Many of the players were unorthodox and real characters. Keeper John Taylor was a fearless scruff. He grinned and kept on with unbelievable bravery until suffering an injury that eventually enforced his retirement with serious kidney damage. The full-backs, John Barton and Bob Newton, were opposites, with Barton young, talented and inspirational and Newton older, solid, experienced and dependable. The central defenders were almost a perfect pair, cool and clever - Billy Tetley and the young, still developing giant, Kevin Tudor, already superb in the air.

In midfield Williams played between Lionel Martin and the hugely popular Bobby Mellor. Martin was a bag of tricks. Twisting and turning with the ball, he was too clever for most opponents, and an ideal partner for midfield general Williams. Mellor was just different. Although not vastly skilled, he was a laid-back comic and musician who supplied a great dressing room spirit. Bobby had no feeble excuses for missing games. He missed the start of the season “due to towing a yacht back from the French Riviera!”

Up front City could outplay most teams, with elegant wing skills from Dave Roberts, chase-everything Norman Pemberton and prolific goalscorer John Inglis (until an injury finished his career unexpectedly in January). His replacement was “Mr Magic”, Roger Shaw, bought via a collection raised by Clark in the Social Club after a match.

Veterans Charlie Aitken, the former Aston Villa player, and John Chambers, plus blonde-haired defender Billy Tetley and the emerging Malcolm Phelps, played their part in the squad that would break all sorts of records.

Goals flowed as City hammered opponents (even eventual conquerors Barry lost 7-0 at the Lane). The average home attendance was 1485. The good times were well and truly back at the Lane.

City concentrated on the League title after suffering defeats in the FA Cup (2-4 in the mud at Chesham, a game in which John Barton was sent off) and in the Trophy (with a weakened side, 0-6 at Cheltenham). In the final game of the season, Burton were beaten 5-2 in the Staffordshire Senior Cup Final, after City were 0-2 down with 15 minutes left. This included a 35-yard free kick from Barry Williams, a goal still fresh in the mind of everyone there, and part of Worcester City folklore.

The most outstanding memory of the season is how Nobby Clark brought boardroom, supporters and players together, with a fantastic atmosphere now developing at St. George’s Lane.

The line-up in our photo:
Back: John Inglis, Graham Newton, Malcolm Phelps, Billy Tetley, Kevin Tudor, Bob Newton, John Taylor, John Barton, Roger Shaw, Nobby Clark
Front: Mascot Simon Inglis, Dave Roberts, Norman Pemberton, Nigel Bunt, Barry Williams, Lionel Martin.

The Official History of Worcester City FC is available in our online store.