Wembley - 11th anniversary

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon May 25, 2020 9:59 am

I was going to write something for the site but then realised I'd just link last year's piece again.

Hard to believe it is 11 years ago now - I've just read the piece again. At the bottom I make reference to two of my good friends Jo Cunningham and Alan Beecroft. Jo passed away in September 2017 and Beeky at the start of this year. I'll be thinking of both of them today.

But what an incredible day - absolutely amazing. I just wish I could get out to Oddie's now for a Ginger Pele.

https://www.uptheclarets.com/you-cant-r ... embley-win

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:06 am

I might just be tempted to watch the game at 3.00 o'clock this afternoon just to see how we get on, here's hoping it'll be a great day for all Clarets.

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:15 am

The drunkest I have ever been whilst watching a match. Spent a few hours in Kilburn before the match, drinking Long Island Ice Teas in the sunshine, before hopping on the Jubilee Line to Wembley.
Most of my memories of the match are from the DVD later.
Great day out!

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:15 am

What a day that was. Followed within a couple of hours of rumours about OC being a candidate for the Celtic job.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:16 am

Great day out. Approaching Wembley on the tube was special.

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:28 am

A fantastic day...a fantastic result.....a day i didnt want to end.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:31 am

mdd2 wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 10:15 am
What a day that was. Followed within a couple of hours of rumours about OC being a candidate for the Celtic job.

He cleared it all up though didn't he? He told us he hadn't spoken to Celtic and then told us he'd turned them down after speaking to them.

But on 25th May 2009 he was still considered God and his players did him proud that afternoon. None more so than Clarke Carlisle who turned in the performance of his life.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:36 am

same date:
Bank Holiday, Monday 25th May
Superb weather
Brilliant atmosphere
Seeing many former players at service station on way to Wembley...all suited with button holes!
Terrific goal and impossible to describe the memorable occasion to anyone who didn’t attend!
The play-off final heralded a remarkable decade for all Clarets!
UTC

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:52 am

claretblue wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 10:36 am
Seeing many former players at service station on way to Wembley...all suited with button holes!

Was that the coach taking the 1960s players - Elder, Cummings, McIlroy, Pointer, Robson & Pilkington?

ClaretAL · Post by **ClaretAL** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:52 am

an absolutely amazing day/s, still sends shivers down my spine now when i see that goal, and i dont think i have ever heard noise like it at the end when all were whistling for the ref to blow his whistle.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:53 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 10:31 am
None more so than Clarke Carlisle who turned in the performance of his life

Clarke’s post match interview was very inspiring...proud to be Claret!

3 mins into the link:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K2IEZWeClbo

lakedistrictclaret · Post by **lakedistrictclaret** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:58 am

It's fair to say I didn't enjoy Wembley as much as the rest of you.

Six days previously, I'd been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. Foolishly I'd gone on the internet and read that the one year survival rate for my type of cancer was 25%.

I had already booked my match and train tickets, and my hotel, so I still went, but you'll understand that I wasn't fully concentrating on the proceedings.

It wasn't until three days AFTER Wembley that I had my first meeting with my consultant, when he told me that my tumour was operable, and that I could be cured.

Which is what happened ( although not without a scare on the way).

If my diagnosis and consultant's meeting could both have been a week earlier, I 'd have enjoyed Wembley a lot more!

Never mind, I' ve had some great days since; the promotion games against Wigan and QPR, and I'd also include the win at Palace in April 2017, which effectively secured our place in the Premier League for the following season.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:03 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 10:52 am
Was that the coach taking the 1960s players - Elder, Cummings, McIlroy, Pointer, Robson & Pilkington?

yes...they were, deservedly, looked after by the club on a luxury black coach.

My only regret of the day was that I didn’t approach any one on my heroes while they were milling around the service station car park!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:07 am

claretblue wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 11:03 am
yes...they were, deservedly, looked after by the club on a luxury black coach.

My only regret of the day was that I didn’t approach any one on my heroes while they were milling around the service station car park!

It wasn’t the club. A fan organised that for them.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:08 am

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 10:58 am
It's fair to say I didn't enjoy Wembley as much as the rest of you.

Six days previously, I'd been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. Foolishly I'd gone on the internet and read that the one year survival rate for my type of cancer was 25%.

I had already booked my match and train tickets, and my hotel, so I still went, but you'll understand that I wasn't fully concentrating on the proceedings.

It wasn't until three days AFTER Wembley that I had my first meeting with my consultant, when he told me that my tumour was operable, and that I could be cured.

Which is what happened ( although not without a scare on the way).

If my diagnosis and consultant's meeting could both have been a week earlier, I 'd have enjoyed Wembley a lot more!

Never mind, I' ve had some great days since; the promotion games against Wigan and QPR, and I'd also include the win at Palace in April 2017, which effectively secured our place in the Premier League for the following season.

A scare? It was some scare wasn’t it?

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:10 am

Cracking day

But I'll never go there on a bloody bus again.

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:19 am

incredible day, just looking at the clarets in their thousands at wembley in the sunshine. what an occasion, and what a goal.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:19 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 11:07 am
It wasn’t the club. A fan organised that for them.

WOW!
that’s just brilliant + very generous of the fan!

...and very deserving of the players!

Tribesmen · Post by **Tribesmen** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:24 am

Some day i must say .

LeadBelly · Post by **LeadBelly** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:27 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 10:31 am
He cleared it all up though didn't he? He told us he hadn't spoken to Celtic and then told us he'd turned them down after speaking to them.

But on 25th May 2009 he was still considered God and his players did him proud that afternoon. None more so than Clarke Carlisle who turned in the performance of his life.

When you hear sportspeople talking about being "in the zone" - that's where Clarke was that day.

Fantastic goal too, following 2 others in the Reading away semi game. Three sequential goals as good as those in big games and you start to think of some magic at play.

lakedistrictclaret · Post by **lakedistrictclaret** » Mon May 25, 2020 11:57 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 11:08 am
A scare? It was some scare wasn’t it?

Yes it was. I've got the superb Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle to thank for saving me.

As for the match, I've never watched it all the way through since, but I will this afternoon.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:02 pm

LeadBelly wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 11:27 am
Three sequential goals as good as those in big games and you start to think of some magic at play

thought Alexander’s pen in semi-final 1st leg was ever so important!

thank you agent Bikey (codename: Amougou)!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:05 pm

claretblue wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 12:02 pm
thought Alexander’s pen in semi-final 1st leg was ever so important!

thank you agent Bikey (codename: Amougou)!

I’d settle for a draw in the first leg before Bikey handed it to us. First half at Reading was concerning too. Had a Simon Church, who had roasted Kalvenes, been able to cross a ball we might have been in trouble.

Then those two goals leading to this wonderful day at Wembley.

Aclaret · Post by **Aclaret** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:11 pm

Wow what a weekend that was, flew down Manchester to Heathrow with mates and wives,2 nights in hotel. So knackered emotionally after the game could hardly drink that night !!
Still getting goosebumps thinking about the whole occasion especially the sight of all those clarets.

chadders · Post by **chadders** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:12 pm

What a day. Frightening to think it was 11 years ago!
My cousin and Aunty couldn't get tickets so I spent the day on the phone and managed to get another pair for them. Unbelieveably we ended up sitting together with consectutive seat numbers and we'd bought our tickets previously.
Such great memories and very proud to be walking around london days before with so much good humour, banter and singing encountered when bumping into fellow clarets.
Glad you're well Lakedistrict!!

Polesworth · Post by **Polesworth** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:47 pm

Fantastic day! We drove down as far as Warwick Parkway and caught a direct train to Wembley. The train seemed to be full of fellow Clarets and there was a carnival atmosphere. Confidence was sky high and I everyone knew we couldn't loose. I had my camera with me and took some photo's of our party but also a few of those around us. I have no idea who these Clarets were but we were all joined by that special bond. Anyway 11 years......

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mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Mon May 25, 2020 1:26 pm

Superb day out at Wembley.

: D973B8F6-F638-4167-A5D7-75CF7D1CB9F8.jpeg (994.67 KiB) Viewed 3009 times

prettygreenclaret · Post by **prettygreenclaret** » Mon May 25, 2020 1:45 pm

A great day. Listening to Robbie Blake on Under the Cosh podcast on part 2, he said such was the confidence in the team, even in the tunnel coming out they were talking about who they'd be playing next season and all the great grounds they'd visit. He knew we'd beat Blackwell's team. He couldn't stand him and said he,along with Laws, was the worst manager he'd ever played under plus we'd already done the double over them in the league that season.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Mon May 25, 2020 2:44 pm

My middle nephew's 1st ever game,not that he remembers any of it he was only 1 at the time.

Amazingly I've never seen the full game,i was working on the day(bank holiday so double time and a day in lieu was to good torn down).

I was incredibly confident we'd win,maybe it was the Reading games and the luck we got with the late penalty and Bikey's subsequent meltdown,or the 2 worldies we scored in the 2nd game,sometimes you sense fates on your side and that was certainly the case that season.

ClaretAL · Post by **ClaretAL** » Mon May 25, 2020 2:45 pm

Not my video but we were in there....

https://youtu.be/nWUVBffRmDw

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Mon May 25, 2020 2:46 pm

prettygreenclaret wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 1:45 pm

He knew we'd beat Blackwell's team. He couldn't stand him and said he,along with Laws, was the worst manager he'd ever played under plus we'd already done the double over them in the league that season.

It was an interesting listen. He really doesn’t like Blackwell(as does Glen Little).
He didn’t feel the same way about Laws. He thought that, like Blackwell, he was out of his depth, but he did like him.

Dyched · Post by **Dyched** » Mon May 25, 2020 3:04 pm

prettygreenclaret wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 1:45 pm
A great day. Listening to Robbie Blake on Under the Cosh podcast on part 2, he said such was the confidence in the team, even in the tunnel coming out they were talking about who they'd be playing next season and all the great grounds they'd visit. He knew we'd beat Blackwell's team. He couldn't stand him and said he,along with Laws, was the worst manager he'd ever played under plus we'd already done the double over them in the league that season.

They wouldn’t of been talking about who’ll we’ll be playing. That’s more bullshit he’s made up. You only have to look at our celebration to the goal, especially Wade to know that.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon May 25, 2020 3:31 pm

Dyched wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 3:04 pm
They wouldn’t of been talking about who’ll we’ll be playing. That’s more bullshit he’s made up. You only have to look at our celebration to the goal, especially Wade to know that.

There’s no way we would have been talking like that before the game.

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Mon May 25, 2020 4:25 pm

I’d forgotten how close Robbie was to getting a second for us

RalphCoatesComb · Post by **RalphCoatesComb** » Mon May 25, 2020 4:49 pm

The longest 5 minutes... EVER !

Nails have still not fully recovered

COYC !!!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon May 25, 2020 5:33 pm

We still win it then 11 years after - those last few minutes still take far too long

Cajun · Post by **Cajun** » Mon May 25, 2020 5:59 pm

Stunning achievement, never thought I would see us back in the top flight again. Had been back visiting England a few weeks before and saw the Sheff Weds, B'Pool, Palace and Forest games, but just had to fly back again for this final (and thanks to a member of the message board for snaring me a ticket!). Magnificent weekend. Playoff wins at both the old and new Wembley stadiums. Wade's shot soaring towards the net always seems to be in slow motion in my mind

MACCA · Post by **MACCA** » Mon May 25, 2020 6:49 pm

The start of what we have today, fantastic end to a fantastic season, thank you Owen.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Mon May 25, 2020 7:38 pm

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 10:58 am
It's fair to say I didn't enjoy Wembley as much as the rest of you.

Hope you enjoyed it more easily this time round lakedi

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Mon May 25, 2020 7:57 pm

its impossible to watch and not feel nerves when sheff have the ball, even after 11 years. Even found myself yelling at elliot of all people to hoof it out of danger at one point this aft on the you tube coverage.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Mon May 25, 2020 8:02 pm

mikeS wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 1:26 pm
Superb day out at Wembley.
D973B8F6-F638-4167-A5D7-75CF7D1CB9F8.jpeg

Thats a wonderful photo!

FCBurnley · Post by **FCBurnley** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:40 pm

Had moved to Florida in June the previous year. Watched the game in The Cricketers Pub (owned by a Chelsea fan ). Great fish and chips but sadly closed some time ago. Place was packed with Clarets and Blades fans. Remember meeting Whalley Claret there. Never seen the full game since until today. First thought was how much we have improved in the last 11 years. Blades could easily have had a couple of pens. Thanks Mike Dean and we could have scored 3 or 4. I had forgotten the Ward sending off. And Wades goal gets better with age. He basically made it and scored it. And at the end of the day that was the difference between the teams. A 61 game season and a certain Graham Alexander played in every one. So glad I finally got to watch it again 11 years later

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:58 pm

Dyched wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 3:04 pm
They wouldn’t of been talking about who’ll we’ll be playing. That’s more bullshit he’s made up. You only have to look at our celebration to the goal, especially Wade to know that.

I think that he may have been economical with the truth but if you've seen the Caldwell interview in the last week then you'll know that Blake wasn't the only one who thought it was a near formality.

The positive energy from the manager, fans and players was something else that season. It showed up again in the recent Championship winning season.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue May 26, 2020 1:29 am

FCBurnley wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 10:40 pm
Blades could easily have had a couple of pens. Thanks Mike Dean

Every time I see the Kalvenes challenge on Walker in the second half, I'm almost expecting MD to blow.
What a relief it was to see him cross his arms and rule it out.

Seen em given.

Great experience.

exilecanada · Post by **exilecanada** » Tue May 26, 2020 2:22 am

I was following the text version on Sky website at work here in Kitchener. Believe me it was difficult to concentrate on my work duties, I was nervous wreck! I'm sure many Burnley fans doubted they'd ever see us back in the big time, even less would believe what was about to happen in the following 11 years.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue May 26, 2020 9:13 am

No reference yesterday though to the second red card when Hendrie was sent off at the final whistle. Sky never picked it up on the day and I only became aware of it later that night when it was shown on the ITV highlights.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Tue May 26, 2020 9:24 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Tue May 26, 2020 9:13 am
No reference yesterday though to the second red card when Hendrie was sent off at the final whistle. Sky never picked it up on the day and I only became aware of it later that night when it was shown on the ITV highlights.

You saw TV highlights!

We were still in Wembley car park at midnight!

Great day/night!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue May 26, 2020 9:26 am

claretblue wrote: ↑
Tue May 26, 2020 9:24 am
You saw TV highlights!

We were still in Wembley car park at midnight!

Great day/night!

I know people who were still on the Wembley car park when we were back in Lancashire - we drove to the game but didn't take the car anywhere near Wembley. Don't know how they cope now with so much of the car parking space having disappeared.

NottsClaret · Post by **NottsClaret** » Tue May 26, 2020 9:47 am

Ended up watching most of it again, can't believe how good Carlisle is in that game considering the state he looked to be in at Doncaster around Christmas.

Quite a strange Sheff Utd team too, two Prem class full backs and some real carthorses also. We maybe got luck with the penalty shouts but it was a footballing lesson at times from us.

I drove us down on the day so have the added bonus of being able to remember all of it, especially the drive back to Sheffield afterwards..

claretburns · Post by **claretburns** » Tue May 26, 2020 10:28 am

I always thought it was a toss up between Carlisle or Caldwell for MOM but watching it back, every block and headed clearance, it was Carlisle everytime, immense performance.