Woking’s Dutch Goalkeeper Hans Segers signs a match programme before the FA Trophy 3rd round tie against the Magpies.
Referee Mike Reed attracts the attention of the countries sporting media.
The countries sporting media descend on the Avenue Stadium.
On the first of March 1997, coinciding with Saint David’s Day, Dorchester Football Club, known as The Magpies, found themselves matched against Woking in the 3rd round of the FA Trophy. While such fixtures typically garnered local press coverage for the sleepy Dorset outpost, this particular encounter attracted nationwide attention due to the presence of two of the country’s most controversial sporting figures.
Hans Segers, a Dutch goalkeeper with a storied career including stints at Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Sheffield United, Wimbledon, and Wolves, was making his comeback. This marked his first game since being acquitted of match-fixing charges alongside Bruce Grobbelaar and John Fashanu.
The match was officiated by Premier League referee Mike Reed, who had recently overseen the 5th round FA Cup replay between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.
As the game remained deadlocked after 90 minutes, it ventured into extra time. With only three minutes left on the clock, the prospect of a penalty shootout loomed large. Then, a pivotal moment unfolded when Erland Johnsen seized possession of the ball.
The Norwegian center-back surged forward deep into the Leicester half, orchestrating a play with Gianluca Vialli. Johnsen continued his run into the Leicester penalty box, where a controversial incident unfolded. Leicester defender Matt Elliott, attempting to challenge, refrained from making contact, but Johnsen theatrically went down, colliding with Spencer Prior.
Referee Mike Reed, trusting his instincts, believed it to be a foul and promptly blew the whistle. However, subsequent revelations proved Reed’s intuition wrong; Johnsen had indeed dived.
Leicester’s players erupted in fury, chasing after Reed, who dismissed their protests with a dismissive gesture. Elliott, reflecting on the incident, explained that he had pulled out of the challenge, and Johnsen, anticipating contact, took a tumble. The referee’s hasty decision proved costly for Leicester, as Frank Lebouef successfully converted the penalty, leading to their elimination from the competition.
Reed added, ‘A very good friend of mine, who is also a Leicester supporter, rang me and his words were: “At the time I thought what a stupid challenge, then from the eighth replay from behind the corner flag I thought “Mike, you’ve been conned”.’ The match, overshadowed by controversy, etched itself into the annals of football history.
The match at the Avenue Stadium finished with a 3 goals to 2 defeat for the Magpies.
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