ARTICLE: We went to York in our thousands

[ClaretTony]

Back to 1992 and a bit of a special night

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/we-went-to ... -thousands

[Vegas Claret]

fabulous evening, can't believe it's 30 years ago. I must have watched the re-run of the highlights 100 times and get goosebumps every single time

[Gunfury]

For me,that season will never be topped

[Oshkoshclaret]

Fabulous night. If I ever need a shot of adrenaline I just remember John Francis' goal. There's a little part off me will forever be hovering a couple of feet above the terrace behind the goal at Bootham Crescent, in a state of complete ecstasy.

[jdrobbo]

Great stuff Tony. Thank you

[ElectroClaret]

Aye, SJF hanging on the fence. Just one of lots of memories of that great night.
An incredible turnout by the fans.

[Acting Claret]

I was at drama school in London at the time. I remember my dad ringing me and putting the phone next to the radio so I could listen to the commentary.

[bfcjg]

Still remember the ecstacy of the moment when SJF scored. Still one of if not my ultimate favourite Claret.

[Billy Balfour]

What a night. My dad and his mates picked me up outside school, and we headed right there. I also remember a car load of Clarets smashing their car up on the way home. We stopped to help, but luckily it was only bumps and bruises. I think they were more upset about having to miss the last orders celebrations in the pub.

[martin_p]

30 years, wow!

To my eternal regret I couldn’t make it that night so had to make do with Radio Lancs. It felt like we’d finally turned a corner and were on our way back. At that time I was targeting establishing ourselves it the 2nd tier at some point as ‘the best we could hope for’. 1992 me would not believe the last ten years!

[Boss Hogg]

Can’t believe it is 30 years. Can still remember it clearly. What a night and atmosphere. The build up outside the ground, when Francis scored and the pitch invasion with Mullen hoisted up in the air. One game I’m glad I didn’t miss.

[ClaretTony]

Unbelievable night wasn't it. We look back on it with so much affection now because, I think, of it bringing those horrible years to an end. The previous season had given us some real hope that we were moving forward and it led to this marvellous night at York.

[gawthorpe_view]

30 years....

Feels like last week, SJF Climbing the railings, shouting myself hoarse, doing a 180 on Centenary Way so we could follow the team bus back to the Turf, hundreds outside Turf Moor at 1am, handshakes and back slapping all round.

Dog rough the day after.

Marvellous!

[Steve1956]

A truly magnificent night..and our long road back to the top,I say it every single time
Cheers Jimmy...an amazing climax to an really enjoyable season.

[Silkyskills1]

It's the hope that kills you. Not this time, though. Incredible night; incredible outpouring of emotion. My son is 42 now but we can still pick him out when John Francis scored that winner. A very excited 12 year old, claret, blue and white hat bouncing up and down on his head as he stood with his nose pressed up against the fence. Priceless memories.

[Stan Tastic]

I was at drama school in London at the time. I remember my dad ringing me and putting the phone next to the radio so I could listen to the commentary.

Apt username.

[Quickenthetempo]

Great day.

I got there very early with my dad and watched the ground fill up from behind the goal. The policeman that kept having to throw the plastic balls back to the ones that got their ladder nicked when they went on the little roof clearing Burnley fans.
What an atmosphere in the ground from around 5.30.

I was straight over the fence at the final whistle, by the time my dad was struggling to get over following me the fence had half collapsed. Luckily the stewards opened the gates so we got to the middle.
I was on my dad's shoulders singing Burnley are back Burnley are back started by Conroy.

Then the nerves kicked in as No Ney Never started ringing around the ground. I was only 14 and had never sworn in front of my dad. Should I risk it. You bet I did. The emotion had got the better of me.

[ClaretMov]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=012jt20U-YY

[Woody9229]

Living in Somerset and with very young children and couldn't get to the game. I spent an absolute fortune on Clubcall as I rang up on 90 minutes by my watch but of course all sorts of delays meant it was nowhere near finished but there was no way I was putting the phone down. I didn't think about it at the time as I went mental when we scored as did my missus when the telephone bill came in.

[Tribesmen]

I think that's the first time i have ever saw that if i am honest , I was in Nepal at the time so kind of out of touch but did have a radio .

[JohnDearyMe]

Great article.

Didn't the Rochdale game take place after the Wrexham one though?

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Great night quite scary it’s 30 years ago!

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Great article.

Didn't the Rochdale game take place after the Wrexham one though?

Yes it was the midweek after. Rochdale had a chance of getting in the play offs still from memory.

[ClaretTony]

Great article.

Didn't the Rochdale game take place after the Wrexham one though?

It did - was postponed again on the Thursday

[JohnDearyMe]

It did - was postponed again on the Thursday

Ah, thanks. Didn't realise it was initially scheduled beforehand.

[mdd2]

Unbelievable night wasn't it. We look back on it with so much affection now because, I think, of it bringing those horrible years to an end. The previous season had given us some real hope that we were moving forward and it led to this marvellous night at York.

Totally agree CT I was 48 standing on the pitch like a young kid cheering on JM and the lads at the end

In fairness the reversal of our decline from the Orient season has been gradual slow progression was it 4 additional years in the bottom tier, apart from one season 6 in the third tier and then 9 in the second tier with ups and downs in the first and second tiers since. For the size of our club our attainments since the 1999-2000 season have been amazing.
I shudder to think where we would have been without Barry Kilby Stan, Coyle and SD with BK at the top of the pile

[Cajun]

Was living in York then, marvelous night, on the pitch with a 'York Clarets' banner at the end. Was in the seething mass of fans behind the goal Unreal that it's 30 years, hope we can pay tribute to the anniversary by staying up! Nice article CT, but isn't the first pic the aftermath of the equalizer rather than the winner as captioned?

[Goody1975]

isn't the first pic the aftermath of the equalizer rather than the winner as captioned?

It is and Robbie Painter is still going down in installments.

[Jimscho]

Remember it like it was yesterday.Scary that it was my 43rd birthday that day and now I am 73 today.What atremendous atmosphere both in the ground and around York after the match.No one slept that night in York for a while with all the car horns going off.One of my favourite away days.

[clansman]

Bitter sweet for me. I was behind the goal just to the left of where John Francis jumped on to the fence.! My son Paul was 11 and so excited to go to an important away match. He made a flag and it can be seen on the video of the match. He died 5 years ago this month. I always remember that night as a moment of joy for father and son but when I see the video and the flag I think of him! We sounded our horn all the way back to Wetherby!

[claret1977]

Full game on Youtube tonight at 7.45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQwXjhItRz4

[longside72]

Why has my post about 30th anniversary this saturday night been removed ?

[Claretitus]

Will never forget driving out of Earby towards Thornton on the A56, “ Div 3 this way “ said the first sign, then “Promotion Party “ with an arrow on the second. Police on every exit off the A59 near Skipton to stop a promotion drink on the way home. 30 years ago? OMG, I remember it like it happened yesterday.

[NL Claret]

I was in my first year at Leicester Poly, had managed to get to a few away games in the second half of the season, Mansfield, Derby x2, Cardiff, Barnet and Gillingham. We were about to set off for the original York game (RIP Ben Lee) when we found out it had been postponed.

I was in the area for the first postponed Rochdale game, think I was at a mates in Norden when the game was called off, couldn't get to Carlisle for one reason or another. Was back in Leicester and in middle of exams so could not make the York game so watched it on Ceefax, oh the front room celebrations when the page changed to show 1-2!! With hindsight I should have gone, didn't do any revision, can't remember if I passed the exam and never used the qualification that I gained anyway!

Drove back home for the next Rochdale game that was postponed, back to Leicester for another exam then back for the Wrexham game. Stayed up here then eventually got to see the Rochdale game. I think that's how it went, 30 years, wow.