By Pete Oliver

Scarborough are fighting relegation from Conference North

Winding the clock back to happier times, Scarborough are to celebrate the 20th anniversary of becoming the first team to win automatic promotion to the Football League.

When the League scrapped re-election and the Conference won the right to send a team into the old Division Four in 1987, Scarborough were not expected to be the ones to take advantage.

But under the guidance of Neil Warnock in his first season in charge at the McCain Stadium, the Seasiders became an unstoppable force and earned the right to swap places with Lincoln City.

"It was the most satisfying promotion I have had, until this season when I took Sheffield United into the Premiership," Warnock told BBC Sport.

"Even though I took Notts County into the top flight, Scarborough still rated as the best because it was such hard work.

"I think we had one player signed on and I had to build a completely new team. We were 50/1 outsiders to win it, so it was an amazing feat."

Everyone was tipping Barnet all the way through Neil Warnock

Formerly a Northern Premier League side with an impressive record in the FA Trophy, Scarborough had been one of the founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979.

However, they had been consistently a mid-table side until Warnock, formerly a winger with eight league clubs and a qualified chiropodist, arrived from Burton Albion to work his magic.

"I didn't think we had a chance, because of what we had to do," he said. "But the type of lads we had was special and they all knitted together.

"It was a good team, although we didn't have a very good start. We lost at Goole in the FA Cup and the chairman said it was the worst Scarborough team he had-ever seen.

"But it all came together around the end of September and we didn't lose until something like the second last game."

Warnock, with Barry Gallagher and then Paul Evans as his assistant, combined non-league savvy with a wealth of Football League experience in building a team which lost just five times all season in beating favourites Barnet to the title by six points.

Warnock added: "Everyone was tipping Barnet all the way through and at a PFA 'do' they announced the next Football League manager and chairman as Barry Fry and Stan Flashman.

"We had just gone above them by winning at Bath and we thought 'we'll show you.' It was great to come through and do it as the underdogs."

Boro conceded just 33 goals in 42 league games with Kevin Blackwell, who went on to work alongside Warnock at half-a-dozen more clubs before becoming manager of Leeds United, in goal.

The back three was made up of Steve Richards, Ian Bennyworth and Paul Kendall with captain Cec Podd and Neil Thompson in the wing-back roles.

Boro's regular midfield trio lined up as Tommy Graham, Mitch Cook and future manager Ray McHale, with Phil Walker and Stewart Mell playing up front and Stuart Hamill arriving in mid-season to bolster the front line.

We were 50/1 outsiders to win it, so it was an amazing feat Neil Warnock

Neil Sellers also figured with Scarborough lads Dave Bowman, Kenny Dennis, Graham Hartley and Steve French supplementing the squad to give a local connection alongside Cook, who joined his hometown club from Middlesbrough early in the historic campaign.

"It was special for me," said Cook, who watched his first games at the McCain Stadium as a seven-year-old boy and after further spells as manager and player is back at the club as football in the community officer.

"It was a big thing for non-league football as a whole, automatic promotion. And to do it first time, and against the odds, was fantastic.

"Everything clicked and we had a great camaraderie. Some things went on in the changing room as they do with every team but the players wanted to win.

"They did not like getting beat and we had something like 13 1-0 wins. Winning was everything for them and they made sure they won at all costs."

Boro spent 12 years in the League, highlighted by two play-off finishes in the bottom division and some memorable League Cup moments, notably a win over Chelsea and a last 16-tie against Arsenal.

Warnock left mid-way through the 1988/89 season to go on to secure further promotion success with Notts County, Huddersfield, Plymouth and Sheffield United.

Many of the players also enjoyed extended League careers and on Friday they will meet up again at the McCain Stadium to mark Scarborough's finest hour.

"They played for Scarborough at the best time and they formed an allegiance," Cook added.

Warnock is now at Sheffield United but remembers his days at Scarborough fondly

"They are disappointed where the club is at the moment but hopefully by being there on Friday it will help now."

The team of 1987 will be guests when Scarborough play Worksop Town in a Conference North fixture on Friday, desperate for points to avoid a third relegation in eight years.

Since goalkeeper Jimmy Glass' last-gasp goal for Carlisle sent Boro out of the League, the club has been on a downward spiral.

Financial problems have undermined their efforts on the pitch, while the whole future of the club appears to hinge on a proposed ground move.

The 20-year reunion is therefore likely to be the last time the Conference winners meet up on their old stamping ground. They hope, though, it is not the end of the story.

"Even now I look at their fixtures and just want them to get out of the relegation zone and start climbing the table," said Warnock, who is flying back from United's training camp in Portugal to greet his old team.