adammarc_98
Well-known member
The greatest day in our history.
20 years ago today
- Thread starter adammarc_98
- Start date
guisborough_rob
Well-known member
What a privilege it was to be there. And it seems like only yesterday….
Hap
Well-known member
It was, wasn’t it? Left the stadium dazed and confused, having never left a final as a winning supporter before. Surreal out of body experience
Wilder Times
Active member
I can only describe the train journey back to Bristol as stunned silence, I felt totally drained having spent most of the game watching through my fingers thinking we'll blow it, typical Boro style.
Later on got messy though
That is what I remember too. I stayed in Cardiff and initially in the bar that evening it was really quiet. Boro fans were sitting their in silence. We had celebrated in the stadium but now it was almost a feeling of disbelief. It must have been a dream. It couldn't really have happened could it? Boro don't win these finals... do they?
I also recall one dedicated fan announcing that was it for him. It was mission accomplished. He was going out on a high as a Boro fan and that would be his last match.
I have often wondered whether he changed his mind and embraced the European adventures. Etc.
I have often wondered whether he changed his mind and embraced the European adventures. Etc.
h_m_boro
Well-known member
Exactly that.
Daughter was only 6 months at the time, so was up 3-4-5 times in the night, so didn't even have a boozy celebration.
Definitely a strange feeling.
I was 16 at the time. Me and my Cousin had season tickets and thankfully secured tickers for the final. We got a coach at about 3am from Stockton High Street.
That first 10 minutes still gives me goosebumps. I have never cuddled so many middle aged men who i had never met before.
The coach back was very similar, disbelief, shock - Its actually quiet exhausting experience all that emotion non stop for 90 minutes.
I remember watching the game a couple of days later and there was so much i could not remember happening.
That first 10 minutes still gives me goosebumps. I have never cuddled so many middle aged men who i had never met before.
The coach back was very similar, disbelief, shock - Its actually quiet exhausting experience all that emotion non stop for 90 minutes.
I remember watching the game a couple of days later and there was so much i could not remember happening.
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
I went on a coach the day before with a group of mates and stayed in a hotel outside Bristol. On arrival, there were three weddings taking place at the hotel and they had different buttonhole flowers at the reception for each wedding. Whilst booking in I helped myself to one of the flowers and told everyone that when I got changed I would go into the wedding and have something to eat before going out on the town.
The lads all gathered in the hotel bar and I was all suited and booted and was telling them my plan that I just had to match my buttonhole to the correct wedding and then go in for something to eat. It didn't take long to match my flower to the right wedding and I went in. I opened the door, spoke to one or two people and as I made my way to the buffet the fire alarm went off in the hotel and we all had to evacuate. I am looking at the food with a plate in my hand and everyone makes the way to the door. At this point, I am approached by the bride and I think I've been rumbled. 'Come on greedy she said, we all need to leave and we aren't leaving you' and then she asked me to help her with the train on her brides dress.
So as everyone is leaving and making a mad rush to the door to the muster points, I walk out slowly with the bride, carrying her train over one arm and the bride linking the other. The official photographer greets us at the door and is snapping away along with other guests. We reach our muster point and I hand her over to her new husband.
The lads all shouting 'How cheeky Charlie, get back over here' but I'm having none of it and I am now thinking I am an official guest. The photographer is making the most of having everyone outside and getting people to pose for photographs and I pose with the bride and groom, the best man and woman and both sets of parents on one photograph and then with all the bridesmaids on another.
You can imagine all their faces and expressions when they received the official photographs and asked who I was. 'I thought he was on your side of the family'. No, surely he is on yours. Who is the mystery guest?
The lads all gathered in the hotel bar and I was all suited and booted and was telling them my plan that I just had to match my buttonhole to the correct wedding and then go in for something to eat. It didn't take long to match my flower to the right wedding and I went in. I opened the door, spoke to one or two people and as I made my way to the buffet the fire alarm went off in the hotel and we all had to evacuate. I am looking at the food with a plate in my hand and everyone makes the way to the door. At this point, I am approached by the bride and I think I've been rumbled. 'Come on greedy she said, we all need to leave and we aren't leaving you' and then she asked me to help her with the train on her brides dress.
So as everyone is leaving and making a mad rush to the door to the muster points, I walk out slowly with the bride, carrying her train over one arm and the bride linking the other. The official photographer greets us at the door and is snapping away along with other guests. We reach our muster point and I hand her over to her new husband.
The lads all shouting 'How cheeky Charlie, get back over here' but I'm having none of it and I am now thinking I am an official guest. The photographer is making the most of having everyone outside and getting people to pose for photographs and I pose with the bride and groom, the best man and woman and both sets of parents on one photograph and then with all the bridesmaids on another.
You can imagine all their faces and expressions when they received the official photographs and asked who I was. 'I thought he was on your side of the family'. No, surely he is on yours. Who is the mystery guest?
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chickenrunner
Well-known member
I can only echo the 'stunned silence' comments above. The bus from the park and ride to the ground was all bantz and laughs (probably a cover for nerves) the ride back after the game was conducted in utter silence.
I've still got the tickets and the 'lucky penny' I picked up in the park and ride car park across the road from Ninian Park.
I've still got the tickets and the 'lucky penny' I picked up in the park and ride car park across the road from Ninian Park.
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
When we were in the ground a young blonde haired woman came in with her husband and she was a real stunner. The lads all nudging each other and saying they are going to kiss her if we score.
As we were walking away from the ground one of the lads stopped us all, gestured back to where we had come from and asked 'Did anyone kiss the blonde', No, I replied but I kissed her husband.
As we were walking away from the ground one of the lads stopped us all, gestured back to where we had come from and asked 'Did anyone kiss the blonde', No, I replied but I kissed her husband.
LessoftheLip
Well-known member
I remember us getting the coach from Linthorpe village. It was freezing cold 
YddoC
Member
queued overnight for 18 hours or so to get about 10m away from north stand ticket office for them to announce sold out. Had the right amount of stubs etc to. Hotel was already booked in Bristol so ended up watching the match in a Wetherspoons outside of the ground. Plenty of touts with tickets for Bolton end but not the Boro 
.
.WilliamMunny
Well-known member
Sergeant pepper taught the band to play
Frozen Horse
Well-known member
I remember sitting on the concourse at half time, not really wanting to go back up for the second half.
It felt that we'd won the cup once, then risked throwing it away following Skippy's error. We still were ahead of course, but it felt like they only way was down.
I actually don't recall the second half being much of a problem. We did hang on before half time, but I don't think they mounted the same pressure after and, if there were to be another goal, it was more likely to be for us. I'd have loved TLF to rampage through in the last minute to put the tin lid on it.
It felt that we'd won the cup once, then risked throwing it away following Skippy's error. We still were ahead of course, but it felt like they only way was down.
I actually don't recall the second half being much of a problem. We did hang on before half time, but I don't think they mounted the same pressure after and, if there were to be another goal, it was more likely to be for us. I'd have loved TLF to rampage through in the last minute to put the tin lid on it.
