http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/cgi-bin/itmc_view_match.asp?oid=4177

What a night!

I wish I could have gone that night.

I was in bar Paris drunk as a lord.

We had about 12 of us round our house at the time, flags, hats the full works... What a legend Dimi was that night.. and Sir Ritchie with the winning penalty!

Anybody who didn't go that night but then rocked up to Cardiff is a glory hunter. FACT!

That would be me then, i could go due to work but I went to nearly every game that season so I hope that gets the Ripper seal of approval

I had school that night.

Not good enough.

I might have accepted being in the hospital, or in jail, but work? Nah!

P.S. Was your job description getting drunk in Hartlepool?

Night school?

Nope, not buying that one.

If that had been at the weekend, I think we would have travelled up for it.

But because it was a midweek game in the North, we had to settle for watching it on SkySports.

As much as people criticise Sky Sports as a magnet for plastic fans, it is also a lifesaver.

Poor excuses Mr Kent, very poor.

I was there, got a photo with richie humphreys celebrating in the crowd n me in the background. I look better than him obviously.

I was at Niagra Falls that night keeping in touch by text, a bar in Toronto with Satanta sports recorded it for me and I watched it on the Sunday afternoon. Magic.

I was in Vibes down the Marina. I didn't go on purpose cos I knew it would annoy Ripper in 7 years time. I went to Benidorm the day after, won about 1000 Euro betting on horses and Liverpool in the champions league final (The holiday only cost me £500 all in) and flew home a day early to be at Cardiff.

That was a cracking couple of weeks to be young and daft.

I watched this in the travs wth a load of the lads.

Unbelievable night. Looked dead and buried when Tranmere got their second but we dug deep in extra time.
Spent the penalties in the bogs at prenton park, couldn't watch, heard a groan when Tranmere missed their last penalty and just caught Humphreys slamming the ball in and went absolutely ballistic.
Best away game feeling ever

i cant remember much about the game, tranmere battered us for what i do remember.

Scotty putting tinkler at centre back was a bit of a dodgy one.

I think that I was in that picture as well.

Every time there is a penalty shoot out on the telly the cameras seem to pick one person to focus on after each kick, for some reason they chose my brother that night.

We stopped at a pub in Runcorn on the way back to stock up on beer for the way home. Great night and well worth taking a holiday from work

There you go Mr Compo, are you reading this eh, you glory hunter?!

love it.

The team and the bench for that night is a good marker of how far the current squad will have to be developed to become serious play-off contenders.

And John Daly...still only 29, club captain at Dundee United, 22 goals this season, could well join an English Premier League team over the summer...ok, he wasn't the finished article during his time at Pools but isn't it the manager's job to recognise potential and develop it? Nice one, Danny - hope you get beat in the play-off finals.

I was there that night and it was nail biting to say the least.

Jason McAteer crying getting took off after 20 mins

It's no surprise that they scored once Tinkler came on. It was absolutely awful watching him that night, he was all over the shop.

Dimi put in the performance of a lifetime in that night. I said on here a few weeks back it was the best I've ever seen from a Pools goalie.

We should have had a penalty in the last few minutes when Sweeney got tripped in the box. Sadly referees get told they must make at least one awful decision against us in every game we're on the tele.

I wasn't with him but I'm reliably informed that Elvisc wound the window down in the minibus on the way home and asked a Tranmere fan waiting for a bus 'excuse me mate, what's the best way to Cardiff'.

Wasn't a bad night I suppose!

I was there and walking back to the car after the game thinking about a trip to the play-off's was magical. First time have ever thought that Pool's were about to enjoy the glory that only ever came to other clubs.

It was 0-0 and although we'd been under the cosh we'd stood firm, Barron got injured at right back and Scotty's solution was to move Westwood who'd been rock solid alongside Nelson to right back and stick Tinks at centre back. We all know what happened next! In hindsight that should have sounded alarm bells regarding Barry Chuckles management credentials.

Best feeling at a football match ever when Humps penalty went in though, what a moment.

I never understood that either why didnt he put Ben Clark on?

I probably think, in hindsight, it was because he was fucking clueless.

We were only about three rows from the front and couldn't see the penners 'cos the players were lined up along the center circle. We had to judge whether they'd gone in from the Tranmere lot's reaction until Ritchie stepped up and all the Pools players ran for him. I was gobsmacked, literally couldn't speak. Our kid was shouting 'they've done it, they've done it.'

Truth to tell it still sends shivers down my spine.

Haha I remember McAteer crying that night... The big softie!

I had a few tears that night and I don't mind admitting it.
I was getting sick of seeing play off defeats and just to think
that Pools were finally on the verge of winning something.
Definitely right up there with the best Pools memories

I've got tears welling up now just reading this thread!

Yes I'm a 48 year time served glory hunter Mr Ripper, saved our money for the final.

Had to make do with 5 of us bouncing around our living room, when Ritchie put the winning penalty into the net.

we went down and met up with a couple of tranmere fans in the pub at the top of the road and had a bit craic before the game but after the game we thought the better of going back in incase they thought we were gloating, hell of a night and after the paggering we got over the game to win on penalties made up for the year before and the longest drive home ever from cheltenham.

Hmmm, remember Coops missed those nights as well....

And the Millenium.

I wonder if.....

Adam Boyds goal against Tranmere at home to make it 2-0 remains my favourite ever Pools goal. When he charged across the front of Tranmere's area at the Town End, it was only ever going in.

And he knew it.

That video just makes me love Dimi even more...some cracking saves

still havent watched any footage from the final, dont think i ever will.

didnt realise ryan taylor played for tranmere that night, just seen him taking a corner on one of them shots on that video, done well for himself going up to newcastle now.

I can watch it, but I have to pack in after the second goal. Like everyone, I think we didn't lose it. It was taken from us.

Scotty would have been a disaster in the Championship like, so I suppose it's inconsequential. At least we never got laughed at and hopefully we're on the way back and no-one will be surprised.

Apart from the replays of the goals and penalty on Sky when we got to the pub after the match and the following day neither have I. Couldn't bring myself to watch the video or owt like that.

Greatest day of me life so far. I still remember seeing Mr Ripper in the bogs before extra time and saying we could still do it. First time I met Mr Monty as well.

Hopefully it's not an unsurpassable day.

McAteer crying

Who was? Clark? Yeah thats about right! Had to drop down a division to look any good.

it's something I have thought about since... if Cooper had remained we would have done ourselves proud in the Championship, even if we went down.
However, we might not have won more than 3 games under his ex assistant Judas backstabbing little man syndrome-faced wanker of a replacement

I was also another on shifts in Sunderland with radio in pocket sneaking outside to listen thought i was going daft when i finally came back in.

That was pretty much my feeling after the game.


Also found one or two of the Tranmere fans were less than gracious but can't say it spoiled the journey back.

Brilliant video and glad to see the Martin Scott interview just wiped off lol

Was certain Westwood would miss mind.

I thought robson would aswell.

Agreed when he stepped up I though oh god No!

Micky Nelson looked awesome on the tv highlights. And I was a glory hunter at Cardiff. Haven't been to see Pools since.