BRIGG TOWN FA CUP TIE WAS TOO BIG TO HOST AT THE HAWTHORNS

Brigg Blog has a programme from a unique Brigg Town FA Cup tie which we (and more than 2,000 others) watched 35 years ago.
This game is unique because the attendance was considered too large for Town to host at the Hawthorns and had to be switched to Lincoln City's Sincil Bank.
However, Brigg Town remained the home team, as far as the Football Association was concerned, and the programme therefore carries the wording 'Brigg Town v Lincoln City'.
There was great excitement in the town when Brigg were drawn at home to Lincoln City in the fourth qualifying round in October 1987.
Hoping to get into the first round proper for the first time in their then 123-year history, the Zebras were playing in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, while Lincoln had been relegated that May from the Football League to the Conference (though they soon returned through promotion).
The Hawthorns ground capacity was then listed as 4,000 by the club (including seating for 250) and the Zebras' all-time record attendance since formation in 1864 of 2,500 against Boston in 1953 looked set to be neared or beaten.
However, ahead of the tie on Saturday, October 24, 1987, concerns were expressed about ground safety. There was also the issue of car parking on nearby streets, with only a limited amount being available at the Hawthorns and the nearby Recreation Ground.
So eventually the derby clash had to be switched to the county capital.
Brigg Town FC explained at the time: "After the initial excitement at the draw, it was quickly realised that the game could not be held at the Hawthorns Ground, mainly because of the essential policing requirements to handle the substantial crowd expected.
"It was most unfortunate for Brigg to surrender home advantage, and the decision was made after much heart searching.
"Lincoln City FC quickly responded to the request to change the venue to Sincil Bank and we are sincerely appreciative of all the help and advice which has been given to the club in making match arrangements."
However, on the day the draw had been announced (Monday, October 12, 1987) Brigg Town were expecting to host the tie at the Hawthorns.
Yet the ground did not have segregated areas for home and away fans, and the subsequent request to play at Sincil Bank followed a committee meeting. 

On a personal level, it was no surprise to be delegated by the Scunthorpe Telegraph to report on this tie - phoning through our 'copy' from the press box for inclusion in that evening's Sports edition and penning a more in-depth one for Monday's Scunthorpe issue.
Recently we discovered that we had kept the match programme - now a collector's item due to these very unusual circumstances.
Lincoln won 4-1 and were drawn at home to Crewe in the first round proper which involved teams from Division Three and Division Four of the Football League.
Brigg Town: Dave Hannay, Selwyn Shelton, Colin Morwood, Gary McKay, Mike Davidson, Tim Harvey, Kev Topliss, Tommy Spall, Baz Shrimpton, Steve Carter, Tony Gale; subs, Gavin McNally and Dave Topliss. Manager - Shaughan Farrow.
Lincoln City: Nigel Batch, Clive Evans, Shane Nicholson, Phil Brown, Trev Matthewson, Andy Moore, Dave Mossman, Bob Cumming, Mick Waitt, Paul Smith, John McGinley; subs, Mark Sertori and Dave Clarke. Manager - Colin Murphy.
Brigg scorer: Carter (77 mins, making it 2-1).
Attendance: 2,032.
Match ball sponsor were Bowness & Gray, electrical contractors. They advertised in the programme alongside other Brigg companies - C. Dawson Mariner Gas Centre, Forrester Street; Allan Watson, butcher, Glebe Road; and John A. Barratt, joiner and building contractor, Railway Street, Barnetby.
Lincoln's managing director, Geoff Davey, said in 1987 this was a "somewhat unique game" in which the 'home' team) (Brigg were away, and the away side (City) were at home.
He stressed that Lincoln City "truly sympathise with the dilemma" Brigg Town had experienced. He described the clubs as "near neighbours" and hoped the tie would "strengthen our relationship."
Brigg Blog is offering to donate the programme to the Zebras to be displayed with the array of memorabilia in its Hawthorns clubhouse.