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John Clark joined St Albans City from Finchley in the summer of 1976 as coach under manager Sid Prosser. When Prosser quit after one game of the 1976-77 season, 39-year-old Clark stepped in as caretaker manager. At first, he said that he did not want to take on the job permanently but, after a good start to season was made, he threw his hat into the ring. With three Isthmian League Division Two wins and a draw from the opening four games, Clark was confirmed as manager at the start of September.
Unfortunately for John, City’s first match with him as permanent manager saw the Saints concede the first goal in the FA Cup in the whole country as we slipped to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Athenian League side Molesey at Walton Road. The next league game, at home to Corinthian Casuals, was also lost before a win over Finchley was followed by defeat at Boreham Wood.
Gradually, changes were made to the side with Steve Anscombe joining from local side Selby to replace Alan Schaufler in goal, and crowd favourite Nick O’Donoghue returned from Boreham Wood to strengthen the attack. City then enjoyed a run of just two defeats in 19 games. Seven of the matches were cup ties as progress was made in the FA Trophy with victory over Division One Isthmian League side Southall, after a replay at Clarence Park, and a comfortable victory over Alton Town from the Athenian League. Wembley and Letchworth Garden City were removed from the London Senior Cup and a 4-0 win at Hertford Town in the Herts Senior Cup was followed by a highly impressive 3-2 win at Barnet (O’Donoghue 2, Keith King) in the next Round that ended the Bees unbeaten record at Underhill.
Two points were dropped when bottom of the table Ware rescued a point at Buryfield after trailing 2-0, but it appeared to be nothing more than a blip. Going into Christmas, Clark’s side was fourth in the table and going well in several knock-out competitions. Suddenly, and dramatically, City slumped. Another top Division scalp looked on the cards as City led at Clarence Park against Staines Town in the 3rd Round Qualifying of the FA Trophy before a controversial penalty saved the visitors. Staines swept to a 4-0 win in the replay and City also lost Paul Mayles with an injury. The injury list was growing rapidly with Phil Wood and King both suffering groin trouble while Richard Rosser had a damaged ankle.
City looked to be returning to winning ways at the start of January when leading 4-3 against Aveley with just two minutes remaining. But, on a frosty surface, Aveley goalkeeper Joe O’Sullivan received a shoulder injury and the game was abandoned. The week ended with City losing to Clark’s former club, Finchley, at Summers Lane at the start of run that was, pretty much, free-fall. As the results went against City the injuries just kept coming. A run of six winless games was ended by a 5-1 win over Chesham United at Clarence Park but the joy was marred with the news that Phil Wood had sustained a broken collar-bone. It was the only win in 11 games; a spell that saw City go out of the London Senior Cup and champions-elect Boreham Wood record their first win at the Park.
A run of three 1-0 wins – two of which were cup ties - in four games slowed the decline but the other game in that spell, a defeat at Cheshunt in the Herts Senior Cup, saw City lose both striker Mayles and full-back Peter Wales to injury. City then embarked on another run of seven games without a win before, on 22nd March, John Clark and his assistant, Joe Connors, were dismissed.
John, a PE teacher from Winchmore Hill, was philosophical following his sacking. “I’m not really surprised. I think it’s a little unfair as we’ve not had a full side out for several weeks. With a full squad earlier in the season we were in the running for promotion but the injury situation became so bad that at one stage I was forced to field a side without nine players who would have been automatic selections.”
Following Clark’s departure, Phil Wood was placed in temporary charge until Boreham Wood captain Bob Murphy moved into the hot seat at Clarence Park.
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