Elmore v West Bromwich Albion, Phil Staddon Testimonial, Horsdon Park, Monday 26th March 1990

Twenty two years ago this month, Baggies' boss Brian Talbot took his Albion side down to Tiverton, Devon, to play a testimonial game against Elmore FC for their long-serving goalkeeper and Baggies’ fan Phil Staddon.

Albion travelled to Devon on the back of just two wins in nine games, in a season that was turning out to be a major disappointment following the promise of Talbot’s first season in charge.

With the exception of a 7-0 win over Barnsley in November, a thrilling 5-3 win away at Bradford City in the Littlewoods Cup in October and FA Cup victories over top-flight opposition in Wimbledon and Charlton, it had been a pretty forgettable season for the Baggies and they would end the season in 20th place just three points clear of relegation.

As for the game against Elmore, Talbot’s men ran riot, scoring eight second-half goals to record a 10-0 victory. Don Goodman, who was having his best season as an Albion player, hit five of the visitors’ goals, with Gary Bannister, player-manager Talbot, Darren Bradley, Football in the Community coach Dennis Mortimer and Dave Pritchard scoring the others.

Former Villa star Mortimer wasn’t the only member of the club’s backroom staff to make an appearance, physio John MacGowan and first team coach Stuart Pearson also played.

The Baggies made sure it was a night to remember for Staddon when he was allowed to come on as a second half substitute for Stuart Naylor in the Albion goal.

Albion lined up for the game with the following team:

Naylor (Staddon), Bradley (Pritchard), Shakespeare (MacGowan), Talbot, North (Ehiogu), Whyte (Burgess), Pearson, Goodman, Bannister, Mortimer, Hackett (Colcombe).

Attendance 820.

The 32 page programme, which is dated 27th March, doesn’t come up too often on dealers’ lists these days but when it does it usually sells for £3-4.

View the complete programme here