Here in Australia, with no vision available, all I had to go on was BBC Radio Tees - and they did a magnificent job of broadcasting the game. A big thanks to Eddie Kyle and his mate for their commentary which transported me to Ashton Gate and carried me through that roller-coaster of emotions. It was 2am here when the game finished.
I got up to read stories of the pitch invasion, which puts a dampener on my celebrations. It’s one thing to be overcome with joy at your team’s success - I remember that from 1968 - but reports speak of fights, can throwing and - absolutely the worst - taunting of some Torquay players in their despair. I thought the Torquay club and fans were wonderful in the way they joined in the 43rd minute commemoration of the gentleman who recently passed away so tragically. I hope that applause ringing round the ground will bring the family some comfort. As a team Torquay have done very well this season and in the final they gave their all - men worthy of respect. To be taunted by some thick yob is disgraceful and the complete opposite of what our club should stand for. I hope the club does not suffer as a result of the actions of these mindless morons. Let’s have the celebrations and the elation, but in a couple of weeks time I hope that the club, in association with the tv company and police, begins a thorough search for these fools that have behaved disgracefully, and ban them for life from Pools games.
Finally, a big round of applause for Brad James. Thrown into the mix with a few games to go, his skills and faults were on very public display, yet he held his nerve after that equaliser blunder to pull off a magnificent penalty serve. No matter whatever else he does in his career he will remember that when he is an old grandad like me.

I'm not defending any of the above, but consider this from the NFL website:-

"This season’s Promotion Final will take place at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium.
With Wembley Stadium unavailable due to hosting Euro 2020 fixtures, the Promotion Final will be held away from London on Sunday 20th June for the first time since 2011.
The 27,000-capacity stadium, home of Bristol City, has undergone major renovation work in recent years, transforming into a leading UK sporting venue."

According to the Mirror:-

"Unfortunately some went overboard, and could be seen winding up a number of Gulls players, who reacted angrily and had to be separated by security.
On loan Sunderland forward Benji Kimpioka was among those involved in confrontations, and he was filmed furiously throwing an object towards somebody who seemed to have provoked him.
There were also reports of both sets of supporters launching bottles at each other, and stewards had to form a cordon to keep them apart."

So in conjunction with the NFL, having charged supporters £41 to watch this game live, the venue can't manage to steward less than 25% of the ground's capacity ?

Agree on both of the above comments.

its the same as usual where the few get all the publicity and the majority never get a mention. possibly the same few who would have caused the problems even if it had been a full house down there. you can have and show passion for your club without any nonsence involved.

I was at the game and although not happy that when asked not to go on the pitch a lot of our younger fans did I didn't see any fighting, thought the stewards did a good job of ushering the fans back across the pitch, and the plastic bottles and cups that were thrown were initially from the frustrated Torquay fans to which some were returned, although no one injured that I'm aware of, the Torquay fans I met were all pleasant, good club, good fans, our fans should not be goading defeated fans and players full stop.

Torquay fans would of happily done it to us. Most teams in the EFL would. Their keeper was a fucking melt and you know if we lost he'd of goaded us.

They kicked our players balls, feet and were generally a cynical team. No sympathy from here.

i dont see anything wrong at all with storming the pitch in yesterdays circumstances. The way in which we could have had it all taken away from us in extra time to see the first 2 penalties saved. fuck it.. get on the pitch and celebrate. we have had 4 shit years pissing about in that tinpot piss poor ran fucking league so to finally get out of it and show some elation fair play to those who did ! yes goading the opposition is wrong and i am all for the culprits being punished thats not what real pool fans are about. but cant see any harm in letting off some steam and celebrating with the lads.

Should note Kimpioka was part of Sunderland's academy and I heard from a good source he and Joel Asoro absolutely hated life here.

sod em. send em somewhere exciting like colchester or scunthorpe.

This.

actually even at my age i might have gone on the pitch yesterday to celebrate. can see nothing wrong with that unlike chucking stuff at other fans. those in charge always seem to have a bigger downer on doing this than most other misdemeanours fans can do. it must be hard for people who have gone through their lives without ever being in a position to have passion and show it.

The Ashton Gate ground is not designed to keep people off the pitch. Remember the play off semi-final when Pools players were trapped in the corner of the ground. The level of stewarding inside the ground was minimal.

I thought we'd cocked up yesterday at the end of the game by using 4 subs, didn't realise you are allowed a 4th in extra time, shrewd move of DC's to bring on Molyneux with a minute left to go for the penalties.