SEASON
1985-86
Vauxhall Opel League Division Two North · 1st
The decision to join the Isthmian League in 1984 was proved right as we claimed the 1985-86 Division Two North title at just the second attempt. The winning margin from runners up Kingsbury Town was just a single point, with the last day win over Barton Rovers proving crucial. Quite why that final day was a Thursday is best answered by someone who saw it happen themselves. Our editor, just a few months old at that point, was still waiting for an introduction to our wonderful club.
Martin Gittings (who else?) scored the goals that powered Boro’ to the title. There was support from Phil Driver, Paddy Butcher and Chris Myers too. But it wasn’t just the league in which there was success – Boro’ beat top flight Watford in an impressive Herts Senior Cup scalp; Barnet, however, proving too much for Frank Cornwell’s side in the county final following the conclusion of the league season. All in all, however, much to be happy about.
Season at a Glance
Season Story
Heaviest Defeat
Barnet 0–4 N · 8 May 1986Filter by Competition
Filter by Venue
Saturday 17 August 1985
Saturday 24 August 1985
Tuesday 27 August 1985
Saturday 31 August 1985
Tuesday 03 September 1985
Saturday 07 September 1985
Monday 09 September 1985
Saturday 14 September 1985
Tuesday 17 September 1985
Saturday 21 September 1985
Tuesday 24 September 1985
Saturday 28 September 1985
Monday 30 September 1985
Saturday 05 October 1985
Monday 07 October 1985
Saturday 12 October 1985
Monday 14 October 1985
Saturday 19 October 1985
Saturday 26 October 1985
Tuesday 29 October 1985
Saturday 02 November 1985
Saturday 09 November 1985
Monday 11 November 1985
Monday 18 November 1985
Saturday 23 November 1985
Monday 25 November 1985
Saturday 30 November 1985
Tuesday 03 December 1985
Saturday 07 December 1985
Tuesday 10 December 1985
Saturday 14 December 1985
Monday 16 December 1985
Saturday 21 December 1985
Thursday 26 December 1985
Saturday 28 December 1985
Wednesday 01 January 1986
Saturday 04 January 1986
Monday 06 January 1986
Saturday 11 January 1986
Wednesday 15 January 1986
Saturday 18 January 1986
Saturday 25 January 1986
Saturday 01 February 1986
Monday 03 February 1986
Saturday 08 February 1986
Saturday 22 February 1986
Saturday 08 March 1986
Monday 10 March 1986
Saturday 15 March 1986
Tuesday 18 March 1986
Saturday 22 March 1986
Monday 24 March 1986
Saturday 29 March 1986
Tuesday 01 April 1986
Monday 07 April 1986
Saturday 12 April 1986
Monday 14 April 1986
Wednesday 16 April 1986
Saturday 19 April 1986
Monday 21 April 1986
Saturday 26 April 1986
Thursday 01 May 1986
Thursday 08 May 1986
Squad Leaders
Full Squad Rollcall
A complete breakdown of every player used during the 1985-86 season.
| Name | Pld | Gls | YC | RC | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Adcroft | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Armsby | 33 (1) | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Ball | 35 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Beech | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Bennett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paddy Butcher | 18 (3) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Graham Cox | 2 (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Danny Dance | 12 (1) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Driver | 47 (1) | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Alan Gallagher | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Des Gallagher | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Gittings | 53 (2) | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Gittings | 22 (3) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Alex Green | 6 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Graham Harding | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Lawrence Honey | 38 (3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Nigel Johnson | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Lowe | 1 (2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Lucey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Marshall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ricky Marshall | 52 (2) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Myers | 34 (6) | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dave Norton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Nugent | 10 (4) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Doug Pirie | 33 (4) | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Peter Shadbolt | 31 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Simpson | 21 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denny Tyler | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| David Watkins | 55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
League Table
Final Vauxhall Opel League Division Two North standings for the 1985-86 season.
| Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stevenage Borough | 38 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 71 | 24 | 47 | 84 |
| 2 | Kingsbury Town | 38 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 84 | 35 | 49 | 83 |
| 3 | Heybridge Swifts | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 65 | 46 | 19 | 68 |
| 4 | Cheshunt | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 60 | 40 | 20 | 64 |
| 5 | Hertford Town | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 60 | 50 | 10 | 58 |
| 6 | Chalfont St Peter | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 53 | 50 | 3 | 56 |
| 7 | Tring Town | 38 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 58 | 46 | 12 | 55 |
| 8 | Royston Town | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 59 | 57 | 2 | 52 |
| 9 | Saffron Walden Town | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 61 | 65 | -4 | 51 |
| 10 | Berkhamsted Town | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 45 | 52 | -7 | 50 |
| 11 | Haringey Borough | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 49 | 51 | -2 | 49 |
| 12 | Letchworth Garden City | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 46 | 52 | -6 | 47 |
| 13 | Rainham Town | 38 | 14 | 4 | 20 | 54 | 91 | -37 | 46 |
| 14 | Hemel Hempstead Town | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 50 | 66 | -16 | 45 |
| 15 | Ware | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 56 | 61 | -5 | 44 |
| 16 | Vauxhall Motors (Luton) | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 58 | 62 | -4 | 43 |
| 17 | Barton Rovers | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 50 | 60 | -10 | 43 |
| 18 | Harefield United | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 56 | 72 | -16 | 39 |
| 19 | Clapton | 38 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 51 | 90 | -39 | 37 |
| 20 | Wolverton Town | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 58 | -16 | 35 |
Points Per Game Progression
How Boro's cumulative league points-per-game changed across the 1985-86 season.
