Iconic games you missed

[King Kev]

Copied and pasted from another thread

Okay was discussing in the tavern before the game on saturday. There were those games that hold legendary status within your fanbase that you didn't attend. It may have happened before your time or it was an away day when you were not quite old enough to travel. The games where every fan over a certain age attended and has his own story to tell and you just wish you could have been there.

Easy one for me

Watford 0-0 Bury 1997

Needing a point to secure a double promotion and to put us in poll position to lift the division 2 (league 1) title little unfancied relegation certs Bury travelled to Watford. Two thousand Shakers travelled down in high hopes. Watford still had a chance of making the playoffs so they had it all to play for. From watching highlights of the game and remembering the commentary on GMR the game seemed end to end with Watford carving out more clear cut opportunities. Game stands at 0-0 heading into injury time and Bury on the verge of achieving the impossible. Then the female liner gave Watford a dubious penalty. Clock ticking down it would have been to late to salavge anything from the game had Watford scored. Tommy Mooney ran up and blasted his powerful spotkick to Kiely's left. Deano dived down and deflected the ball away. The two thousand shaggers went wild at the other end of the ground. One bloke told me he looked away as Mooney stepped up and then everyone just went mental, there are other great stories of fans falling over rows of seats and hugging random people. I am sure what followed was a party that lasted long into the night.
Sadly I was only nine and with three brothers my dad couldn't afford to take us down to the game. Not that the idea of asking him would have entered his mind but it is a question I always ask the older fans who I chat to randomly, 'were you at Watford in 1997?'

Am sure our younger generation of supporters will ask me in years to come 'were you at Chesterfield in 2011, were you at Tranmere 2015?' Pleased to say I was

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

well I'm not in this league but I like the subject.

Main one I missed was Auto-Windscreen Final in 1997 Vs Colchester. I went to every single round of that competition in that season, Home to Rochdale, then home to Hull on a ridiculous foggy night, then away to York and Shrewsbury on cold miserable nights etc, etc Great memorable 2 legged game Vs Stockport..........then had a stupid A-Level Geography trip to Southern France on the weekend. so my only catch-up of that Wembley final was over the phone in middle of no where somewhere near Marseille.

Also missed Chester away in 2000 due to working and that was an enormous game for our FL survival, won the game in injury time when down to 9 men vs the side we had to beat (in the end to survive at their expense)

I very nearly missed Jimmy Glass game as also working, but I talked my boss into letter me finish at 2.50 and rushing by taxi to ground..........bloody lucky, but I did see people leaving ground that day with 5 minutes to go so clearly they missed that moment (why though.......why you leave 5 minutes from time when its 1-1 and you only need 1 goal to survive!)

 

[King Kev]

I remember the Granada Sunday highlights show back in the day and they made a really big deal out of that Chester vs Carlisle game. Great goal to win it at the death, must have been unreal to be a Cumbrian at that game, I would imagine those in the stands would have just been thankful for the point never mind three. A great pitch invasion when the goal went in, looked to be more Carlisle fans there than Chester.
They showed a Chester fan crying in the stands and others heads in their hands, must have been soul destroying for them.

Special mention Boston 0-1 Bury 2007.
16 games without a win and dragged from 9th to 21st. We faced 23rd Boston who were on a revival under Fatty Evans. I had witnessed most of the games during the awful run, home and away and after getting plastered on the Friday and concluding we would get beat I decided not to bother. I caught up on some sleep in the afternoon and awoke to about ten text messages. Alas we had ended the barren run at the most crucial time.
We had been second best all afternoon, Warrington in goal and another lad on loan (Kempson perhaps?) had been huge for us and then in the 85th minute Andy Bishop popped up to win it for us and send 500 odd Shakers mad. Alot of fans still talk about this as a great away day where the scenes of jubilation at FT matched many big wins from down the years.
Sadly I wasn't present to witness it :-(

 

[dedwardp]

Since 1998 when I actually started going, the main one I can think of is winning 7-1 away at Norwich on the opening day of the season. I was actually in Southend that day, walking around Adventure bloody Island. My dad text me at about 3.30pm to say we were 4-0 up or something and I had to sit down for five minutes to go online and work out if he was taking the piss.

 

[LS Bantam]

I've been quiet lucky to catch most if not all our big games of recent years. I missed us beating Chelsea 2-0 at home (it was all downhill from there) during our second season in the Prem, we were on holiday in Portugal and a waiter came up to us (I must have been wearing my City shirt) and asked if we'd seen the score (he probably mentioned we were massive, and all that)

 

[McShambles]

Special mention Boston 0-1 Bury 2007.
16 games without a win and dragged from 9th to 21st. We faced 23rd Boston who were on a revival under Fatty Evans. I had witnessed most of the games during the awful run, home and away and after getting plastered on the Friday and concluding we would get beat I decided not to bother. I caught up on some sleep in the afternoon and awoke to about ten text messages. Alas we had ended the barren run at the most crucial time.
We had been second best all afternoon, Warrington in goal and another lad on loan (Kempson perhaps?) had been huge for us and then in the 85th minute Andy Bishop popped up to win it for us and send 500 odd Shakers mad. Alot of fans still talk about this as a great away day where the scenes of jubilation at FT matched many big wins from down the years.
Sadly I wasn't present to witness it :-(

Not sure if you were at AFC Wimbledon vs Bury in 2013/2014 but the scenes of jubilation were the most I've seen from a Bury manager and coaching team (having missed the 1994/1995 play-off semi win over Preston...) outside of a final day decider when Mayor got a lucky bounce on his run to score in the last minute of injury time.

 

[King Kev]

Not sure if you were at AFC Wimbledon vs Bury in 2013/2014 but the scenes of jubilation were the most I've seen from a Bury manager and coaching team (having missed the 1994/1995 play-off semi win over Preston...) outside of a final day decider when Mayor got a lucky bounce on his run to score in the last minute of injury time.

Sadly not as it was in the annoying year whilst me and my then bird now wife were saving for the house so didn't get to many away games. Mate was there and said it was amazing, tbf I kept refreshing the bbc page and when it said Goal and Danny Mayor I went mental and made the mrs jump

 

[SpireLine]

Missed the entire 1997 cup run. Me and Town were on a break

 

[DH84]

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

I didn't go to Ferencvaros in Budapest. Just couldn't get the time off work. Bah.

 

[1976Bantam]

If by missed we mean didn't actually attend, then for me it's Wolves v City 1998/99 when we won 3-2 to get promoted to the PL on the last day.

I'd been to most games that season home and away but missed the announcement of when tickets went on sale for the Wolves match and they sold out in no time at all, unsurprisingly.

Gutted I couldn't go - had to settle for watching it at a pub in Pudsey with a lot of locals (Leeds fans) looking bemused at the final whistle when my mates and I fell on the floor in a heap going mental!

 

[dannylad01]

The biggest Shrewsbury game that I've missed since I've been going (1991) is when we won 2-1 at Exeter in 2000, Mickey Brown our leading appearance maker of all time scoring the goal to keep us up and send Chester down. I was playing cricket that day, most of us wanted to field as close to the boundary where people were glued to their radios.

I missed the 7-0 home win against Gillingham in 2008 as I was at a mate's wedding. Just before the dessert my dad got a text from his mate at the game saying we were 6 up. Dad thought he was joking so he called him, and was given a live commentary of the 7th goal.

I also missed the away legs of our two recent play off semi finals, but saw them both on tv. The 2-1 win at MK Dons in 2007 I had an exam so couldn't get down there in time. Widely recognised as one of the best atmospheres for a a Shrewsbury away game in recent years. I had unfortunately been to the league game at the Hockey a Stadium when we lost 2-0 during the season. The Bury game in 2009 where Luke Daniels saved everything and we nicked a goal to take it to penalties I missed as I was playing in a cup final. The game got put back so we could watch the shoot out. Lost the cup final 6-0 so wish I went to the game!!!!!

 

[Bartonyellow]

I missed our 5 6 home defeat to Cheltenham when we were winning in injury time.
Thank fuck I did.

 

[Jamo]

Missed our promotion to the Premier League because I was only 5 and didn't know what a Barnsley FC was

Missed every game of our only Premier League season because I was only 6 and didn't know what a Barnsley FC was. Except when my Scouse aunty delightedly told me Liverpool had beaten us 3-2 at Oakwell in the last minute, which meant nothing to me at the time.

Missed our 7-1 bumming of Huddersfield because I had school the next day

Missed our play-off final (the last one at the Old Wembley) vs Ipswich because I was in Cornwall on holiday (cried listening to Ipswich score their fourth on the radio)

Missed our play-off final win at the Millenium Stadium vs Swansea because I was on holiday in Canada

Missed the conclusion of our epic great escape at Huddersfield in 2013 because it sold out in about 2 hours.

On the other hand I was at Anfield in 2008, saw us beat Chelsea in the next round at Oakwell, was one of very few at Birmingham when we beat them 5-0 the other year and at Hillsborough in 2009 when we beat them there for the first time in about 30 years.

TLDR: missed them all prior to 2008, been to most after that

 

[Camborne Gills]

Having been to 'that' play off final, I decided against going the following year, and made do with watching it in a pub in Truro.

I got a few weird looks when I celebrated Thommo's goal, I can tell you

 

[NorthernSoul]

Lucky enough to have seen most of our iconic games. Just some away games that I missed.

Arsenal 1-2 Wigan 16th April 2012
Liverpool 1-2 Wigan 24th March 2012
Everton 0-3 Wigan 9th March 2013 FA Cup Quarters (ended 12 month? unbeaten home run I think)

 

[YouBlues]

I missed our fa cup semi final against boro at old Trafford due to getting excluded for 3 days from school , I was a bit of a clown at school to be honest so it wasn't my first exclusion but my dad decided to punish me for that one for some reason. Even tho it was my fault I still like to bring it up every now and then for banter reasons. Hardly missed a game in the last 20 years and that's the biggest game we've had so it definitely hurt. To be fair he tried to get me a ticket a few days before the game but there was no chance. It was harder to take due to the fact I had mates who had gone who hadn't been to a game before and haven't been to a game since. I went to the replay tho

 

[PUSBCCFC]

That Keane goal is one of the greatest City goals.

 

[Westbars_Spireite]

I was seventeen and didn't manage to get a ticket for our 5th Round FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest in 1997.

I was actually helping out with the BBC Radio stuff back then before I did it 'properly' for a bit and was in the press box at the Baseball Ground to see Derby best West Ham. When the final score was announced the cheer was bigger than when Derby scored and there was a surreal chant of ' We Love You Spireites' from the Derby fans.

 

[blade1889]

Sheffield United 2-1 Burton Albion

29th May 2016

Gutted to have been stuck in a stuffy pub at 12noon watching the Blades finally seal a play-off final win and return to the Championship. Especially after going the other 3 times I was old enough to talk for and having thoroughly dreadful days. But that's the luck of the draw I suppose.

 

[blademan89]

Sheffield United 2-1 Burton Albion

29th May 2016

Gutted to have been stuck in a stuffy pub at 12noon watching the Blades finally seal a play-off final win and return to the Championship. Especially after going the other 3 times I was old enough to talk for and having thoroughly shit days. But that's the luck of the draw I suppose.

Not a cat in hells chance.

 

[Westbars_Spireite]

Not a cat in hells chance.

Burton are going straight up for starters.

 

[blademan89]

Burton are going straight up for starters.

And the fact there is no chance were getting in the playoffs either

 

[blade1889]

Read it in the tea leaves last night. Clough will retain reasonable but not great form with Burton leading to an eventual drop to 4th whilst we finally turn it on from February to make 6th.

 

[Camborne Gills]

Mystic Meg is still alive and well then.

 

[blade1889]

Mystic Meg is still alive and well then.

Rather Mystic Meg than Sticky Vicky

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

I don't know, at least you would have somewhere to put your beers whilst you were strumping it.

 

[Spirederman]

I was seventeen and didn't manage to get a ticket for our 5th Round FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest in 1997.

I was actually helping out with the BBC Radio stuff back then before I did it 'properly' for a bit and was in the press box at the Baseball Ground to see Derby best West Ham. When the final score was announced the cheer was bigger than when Derby scored and there was a surreal chant of ' We Love You Spireites' from the Derby fans.

Also the only game of that cup run that I missed. Bolton away at Burnden Park was incredible, so glad I made that as I'd never been before and it was their last season there. I failed to get tickets for the Forest game, although I can't remember the reason why. I sat in the now sadly closed Angel in Boza, biting my nails as FT edged ever closer.

What memories.