Promotion thread

[kieran_vale]

Yeah I’m chilled, wife was like you’ve been a nightmare and worked up for weeks, why you spending all that money going down there tomorrow if your chilled about it?

Ultimately what will be will be. We almost certainly won’t go up automatically tomorrow (some fans have put bets on which would pay off their mortgage if we do!)

If we don’t make the play offs we won’t have deserved it by losing the last four and clearly weren’t ready and with everything that’s happened this season context must be taken.

I used to follow Vale home and away but since having kids the wife wanted me to cool it so a 4 hour each way road trip to watch the boys tomorrow is a nice novelty and will try and enjoy it regardless.

Still pissed with Exeter for that postponement in 2009ish when I went down on the train for it to be called off as I got to the ground! Finally get to tick it off 13 years later!

Good to see the images of Carol in Exeter and the fans already down there tonight should be a decent atmosphere.

I’ve been mentally exhausted with the stress the last few weeks of it all so after the pathetic effort Monday it just feels like meh let’s just enjoy the game.

Hopefully the experience is similar to when Bernie Slaven scored down there in 93 to take us to the then Autoglass Trophy final. Conversely it was at Exeter that was the start of Smurthwaites breakdown. Think it was that day he wanted to fire Rob Page live on Sky.

It’s been nice to actually look forward to seeing us play for the most part. Mix in with a couple of really memorable games like the Orient 3-2 regardless how the table looks tomorrow this has been a big success.

 

[Gassy]

Yes announced today. I had a feeling he might with the situation to try and rescue the play offs. Crosby has done a phenomenal job really and his stats for caretaker will be ridiculous but he isn’t as proactive with the subs for instance so think it will be a huge help. If we do make the play offs regardless of tomorrow I’d feel more positive of doing something with him back.

I’m delighted for him and you guys, but I will admit it concerns me.

Bit of a fairy tale story really. Got to go up tomorrow even more now

 

[valefan16]

Hopefully the experience is similar to when Bernie Slaven scored down there in 93 to take us to the then Autoglass Trophy final. Conversely it was at Exeter that was the start of Smurthwaites breakdown. Think it was that day he wanted to fire Rob Page live on Sky.

It’s been nice to actually look forward to seeing us play for the most part. Mix in with a couple of really memorable games like the Orient 3-2 regardless how the table looks tomorrow this has been a big success.

Yeah secured our first trip to Wembley at Exeter and probably the reason we are at this level now is due to that cup shock at Exeter in 2016 when Smurf lost it. Page gone and the foreign experiment. That was the game he went on the coaches told the fans he was toast, claims he thought he was having a heart attack and took Page apart on the side line in front of the fans… oh and claimed Vale fans were racist so didn’t employ Hasselbaink.

Guess them drawing Liverpool didn’t help his mood after either… couple of Teslas down the drain in lost revenue!

The season has given so great moments, the Orient game was nuts, a rare win at Swindon, the FGR performance and the FA Cup run, Procs doing a Di Canio but mainly just having a club and team we can finally connect with which has been missing. It’s been a season fans including myself have finally fallen back in love with the club and team after some dark years.

Also took my 7 year old daughter to her first game against Tranmere in August… she’s now a ST holder and was singing “Big James Wilson Vales number 9” in her room despite Mondays loss. It’s been great to get her into it although have probably ruined her life long term!

 

[valefan16]

I’m delighted for him and you guys, but I will admit it concerns me.

Bit of a fairy tale story really. Got to go up tomorrow even more now

When we went 5 clear in third and he came on the pitch for his first public appearance at Hartlepool I thought it was fate we’d go up for him… but then remembered this is Vale!

 

[LordJord]

Just booked my taxi to the station for tomorrow. 5:30am. Absolutely cacking it.

Give those linesmen even more hell than usual! Enjoy it man, ill be cacking it from home sadly!

 

[Indian Dan]

From a purely selfish point of view, I’d like to think we’ll make the POs, win them and stabilise a bit in L1 before storming to the Championship. Hopefully all before they nail the lid down.

 

[Gassy]

From a purely selfish point of view, I’d like to think we’ll make the POs, win them and stabilise a bit in L1 before storming to the Championship. Hopefully all before they nail the lid down.

Swindon and stability are not words that should be used in the same sentence

 

[Spanishstag]

I cant wait until they find a cure for dyslexia, it will be music to my arse.....

 

[chipmunx]

good look to everyone chasing third place and the play offs today.... except Northampton - who can just win the play offs......

 

[Indian Dan]

Swindon and stability are not words that should be used in the same sentence

Thing of the past now, Gassy. Thing of the past!

 

[Agombar stool]

Congratulations Bristol Rovers for pinching that last auto slot in a quite amazing end of the season. I didnt want to play you in the play offs so relatively content you went up!!

 

[AdamStag]

love how we’re at home next saturday at 7-45 or whenever, will be absolutely wankered by the time it kicks off, quality.

Notts police will be shitting themselves, though of course no-one is sure whether northampton will be able to fill the away end given the shambolic attempt a month ago

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Congratulations Bristol Rovers for pinching that last auto slot in a quite amazing end of the season. I didnt want to play you in the play offs so relatively content you went up!!

Likewise fella, likewise..

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

Yep the 3 best have done it, the table does not lie.
I’m quite relaxed about the play offs, it feels like a bonus.
Whichever way we look at it this is a successful season, and every one being within a few points of each other can feel the same.
Now to spend the night thinking about those shitty decisions/last minute spawny equalisers/tossy games when your gaffer decided against taking it to them et cetera.
Great to be involved, any of us could be Oldham with a wanker in charge.
Enjoy folks

 

[Huntsman94]

Congratulations to Bristol Rovers. Absolutely incredible scenes at the Memorial yesterday. Doesn’t matter how you end up in the top 3, anyone that does so fully deserves it. Bristol played some really good football this season and their run in the second half of the season has been outstanding. Enjoy it lads!

 

[Spanishstag]

love how we’re at home next saturday at 7-45 or whenever, will be absolutely wankered by the time it kicks off, quality.

Notts police will be shitting themselves, though of course no-one is sure whether northampton will be able to fill the away end given the shambolic attempt a month ago

Wankered seems quite apt for you

 

[FGR Stroud]

Just wondering but at start of final match of this season Exeter were Champions-elect.
However they lost the title with ten minutes left of game to play.
I'm sure other teams than FGR have won title so late in last match but cannot remember any.
Any ideas guys?

 

[EricSabin]

Just wondering but at start of final match of this season Exeter were Champions-elect.
However they lost the title with ten minutes left of game to play.
I'm sure other teams than FGR have won title so late in last match but cannot remember any.
Any ideas guys?

Man City

 

[FGR Stroud]

Man City

Thanks.
But what year and time of winning goal please.
Ta

 

[EricSabin]

Thanks.
But what year and time of winning goal please.
Ta

2013, 94th minute. Martin Tyler’s famous AGUEROOOOO

 

[kieran_vale]

Just wondering but at start of final match of this season Exeter were Champions-elect.
However they lost the title with ten minutes left of game to play.
I'm sure other teams than FGR have won title so late in last match but cannot remember any.
Any ideas guys?

Don’t know about L2 specifically but 1989 Arsenal won the title at Liverpool with an injury time goal by Michael Thomas.

 

[valefan16]

Didnt Doncaster in L1 a few years ago when Brentford missed an injury time penalty which would have sent them up it rebounded out and they broke and scored into an empty net to take them up instead?

 

[Super_horns]

Didnt Doncaster in L1 a few years ago when Brentford missed an injury time penalty which would have sent them up it rebounded out and they broke and scored into an empty net to take them up instead?

Yes spot on - unlike Trotta of Brentford !

2:30 in.

 

[The Evil Dead]

Pompey a few years ago.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Pompey a few years ago.

That's right we beat Donny 2-1 thanks to a virtuoso sub performance from Devante Rodders to hand Portsmouth the title on GD, we also got relegated that day!

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

John Frain in the 93rd minute of the last game of the season.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Football historians will look back at FGR’s historic title win with a lot of bemusement.
At one stage of season from being best of the rest with a 10 point advantage and called Champions elect FGR just about crawled over the title winning line on their knees.

At start of season the fans were concerned that the squad was too small for a full season should a raft of injuries occur. They were also concerned that leading goalscorer Aaron Collins had been sold to Bristol Rovers and the club had not bought a proven goalscorer to replace him.
As it was manager Rob Edwards only selected from a small group of players throughout the season and two players he inherited: - Matty Stevens & Jamma Matt blossomed into the league’s leading goalscorers.
Yes FGR were fortunate in only having one major injury casualty during season > Matty Stevens in April. But it did show that Rob E did right. A small, well paid and motivated squad outperformed clubs with larger squads of lesser paid players.

From start of season FGR were like a house on fire and at one time had the best away record of the top 92. However during that time FGR suffered an away loss to St Albans City of National League North team in 1st round FA Cup (7th November). That must have been a real wake-up call to the team who then went on a 5 game winning spree and a total 16 games without loss for three months until 19th February. By then they had accrued 65 points and were 10 points clear of Tranmere in 2nd spot.
But fortune then took a step back and FGR only gained another 18 points for rest of season: - 6 losses, 6 draws and just 4 wins [or 18th in form table]. Other clubs better placed than Exeter should have taken advantage but they were all slipping up.

FGR had led table throughout but on last game of season were 2nd with [on paper] a difficult away match against promotion rivals Mansfield while Exeter were playing Port Vale at home.
Therefore Exeter with one point advantage and playing at home were favourites for title. The Cup was sitting in their dark back office waiting to be presented to team at final whistle. Inexplicably Exeter lost game, having won their previous five. Lady Luck had come galloping back to FGR’s rescue. They drew with Mansfield in 80th minute and won title with better GD.
It is not often a Championship winning team gets presented with Cup on a Motorway Service Station.

Highlights of season is obviously the 4-0 away win at Tranmere. Biggest shock was losing 4-0 at Barrow. Most bizarre game was the 5-5 draw at Oldham.