As I’ve said before, it can be an emotional rollercoaster as a football fan. It can ruin your day/week/month but at times it can be the best feeling in the world. It can leave you screaming at the top of your voice and give you memories that will last a lifetime!! Here are 5 games that left me punching the air.
5) Mansfield Town Vs Macclesfield Town (2018/19)
2nd February 2019 and Macclesfield are the visitors at Field Mill today. Putting the “Super” back in Super Stag, he’s only gone and got me a free ticket!! As Danny Dyer once said: “NICE ONE BRUVVVA!!” It would be rude not too! Mansfield dreaming of automatic promotion whereas Macclesfield battling relegation, home banker?
An early arrival at the ground and a queue of supporters outside the ticket office where the Macclesfield team bus will park looking to get a glimpse of the former Arsenal, Tottenham and England great Sol Campbell! Could this be a photo opportunity for me??
OH YES IT IS!!!! I don’t get many photos with legends of the game. Thank You Sol Campbell!! I hope the Super Stag isn’t too jealous… 2:40pm and here is the Super Stag and in we go! Free Ticket! Thank You again!!
Kick Off! Macclesfield having most of the possession to start with but no real chances as of yet. 8 minutes gone now and Nicky Ajose receives the ball from Neal Bishop and he drives into the box, a tame shot across goal and parried out by the keeper straight into the path of JORGE GRANT!!! IT’S 1-0 TO MANSFIELD!!! Just like that, Mansfield are in front! “YELLOW & BLUE ARMY!!” Now echoing around the ground!
Macclesfield responding well and showing that they don’t really look like a team struggling at the bottom of the league compared to some teams who have visited Field Mill this season. 42 minutes on the clock and Macclesfield have a corner, in it comes, it’s come off Jacob Mellis and falls to CALLUM EVANS… 1-1!! They’ve deserved that with the run of play! Callum Evans in plenty of space to strike home.
Stoppage time in the first half now and Macclesfield come again, Scott Wilson has broken free on the left with no flag, he drive in to the box and shoots… OFF THE POST! It falls to Reece Cole!! WHAT A BLOCK FROM MATT PRESTON!! Big chance there for Macclesfield! 1-1 would be the score line at half time.
Second half, Macclesfield still looking the better team here. 54 minutes and here they come again, the ball played through to Scott Wilson and he’s beaten the offside trap again here, one on one… SAVE!! Jordan Smith with a vital save there! 57 minutes gone and Mansfield have a corner, in it comes, it falls to Krystian Pearce… HE’S BUNDLED IT IN!!! Mansfield have the lead again!!! 2-1!! “CHIIIIEEEEEFFFFF!”
Now it’s Mansfield looking the better and taking the game to Macclesfield. 89 minutes and Mansfield have a corner again, in it comes, Matt Preston heads it down towards TYLER WALKER!!! It’s over the line!!! 3-1! Game, set & Match to MANSFIELD TOWN!!! A fantastic game and day out!!
FT: Mansfield Town 3-1 Macclesfield Town
4) Mansfield Town Vs Chesterfield FC (2017/18)
25th November 2017 and me and Broseph are going to our first Miners Strike Derby. One of the more unknown derby’s in English football respectively but not for us! Mansfield’s fiercest rivals! Just 12 miles apart, a history between the 2 towns of Mining strikes in the 1980s and the first time these teams have met since 2014, this is going to be a big one!
My first trip to Field Mill in 7 years with my last one being the pay what you want game in 2010. £22 to watch this derby! You bet! Kick Off! Mansfield starting very brightly! I have never seen Mansfield score… Surely today is the day I do! This is my third time watching Mansfield with the previous 2 games being defeats to nil, but they are looking very bright in the opening stages here.
6 minutes on the watch and Alex MacDonald has the ball and plays it to Omari Sterling-James in the Chesterfield box, MacDonald gets it back and goes down… “REFEREE!! OH COME ON!!!” Me and 6,000 other Mansfield fans shouting the same thing as the Referee says no. Stone wall Penalty in my book. 10 minutes gone and here is Sterling-James on the edge of the box, Shoots… Wide! Mansfield getting closer…
13 minutes now and here come Mansfield again, this time it’s Mellis and he goes for goal!! Wide again! Surely it’s only a matter of time before Mansfield score here. 14 minutes gone and Chesterfield haven’t been out of their own half, they’re out of their own half now, a miss placed shot falls to Louis Reed who sets up Joe Rowley… Oh and he’s scored… The Chesterfield fans go crazy with their blue pyro and Mansfield are stunned and so is me and Broseph… Against the run of play goal at it’s finest.
Mansfield responding well to going a goal down. 26 minutes and Hayden White wins the ball back for Mansfield and plays it forward to Sterling-James, Sterling-James takes the ball forward and plays in Hayden White!! Is this the moment?? YOU BET IT IS!!!!!! 1-1!!!! Me, Broseph and Field Mill celebrates!! Hayden White fires home one on one with the keeper and it’s game on here!!! Now it’s the turn of the yellow pyro of Mansfield!!
The game fizzled out with both teams having a fair share of possession but with no conviction and the score at half time remained 1-1.
Second half, Chesterfield starting the more brighter of the 2 teams now, 2 minutes into the second half and Krystian Dennis has the ball about 25 yards out in space, why not?? Oh my word he’s hit the bar!! So close for Chesterfield there! Chesterfield starting to dominate the game now and Mansfield having no answer to the constant wave of attacks coming in their direction.
58 minutes gone and here come Chesterfield again, Krystian Dennis with the ball on the left and he’ll measure a cross, Andy Kellett’s there!! They’ve deserved that!! 1-2!! They have the lead! Are Mansfield really going to do this again to me? Andy Kellett heads in from 3 yards out and no one near him, poor defending there!
They’re not finished yet, Chesterfield are still dominating this game. 65 minutes and Krystian Pearce finds himself with the ball, he looks for Jerome Binnom-Williams on the left but he can’t but he still has the ball, he goes for goal 20 yards out… Good save by Conrad Logan!! Chesterfield playing some good football here! Mansfield manager Steve Evans making the changes now and could this save Mansfield from an embarrassing defeat to the bottom of the league?
88 minutes gone and Mansfield have finally got the ball up field. MacDonald receives the ball on the right and crosses, Zander Diamond with the header… HE’S SCORED!!!! IT’S 2-2!!! Would you believe it??? Mansfield did NOT deserve that!!! But I’m not complaining!!! Mansfield are finishing the game strong now but would ultimately not steal the win. A fantastic game it was and finally a day where Mansfield do not lose!!
FT: Mansfield Town 2-2 Chesterfield FC
3) Liverpool Vs Fulham (2006/07)
9th December 2006 and it’s an early Christmas present for me!! My first time watching Liverpool!! The excitement is strong with this one!! Me and My dad in attendance today who is a Man United fan… I won’t tell anyone don’t worry dad! My second visit to Anfield after the Liverpool Legends Vs Celebrities match which was a fundraiser for the Thailand Tsunami disaster in 2005.
“WALK ON! WALK ON! WITH HOPE IN YOUR HEART! AND YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE! YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!” Boy did I enjoy that!!
Kick Off! Liverpool having most of the possession in the first half but no real killer instincts here and Fulham are comfortably hanging on to a point. “We won it 5 times! We won it 5 TIMES! In Istanbul! We won it 5 times!” The atmosphere is strong here!!
35 minutes gone and Jermaine Pennant has the ball on the right, he plays the ball low into the box towards DIRK KUYT… OH NO HE’S MISSED!! He should have scored… He missed the ball totally and it rolls out for a goal kick. That was as good as it got for Liverpool in the first half and the score at half time was 0-0. Big team-talk needed Rafa!
Second half, “OH WHEN THE REDS GO MARCHING IIIIN! I WANNA BEEEE IN THAT NUMBER! OH WHEN THE REDS GO MARCHING IN!!!” I’m going to have sore throat me! 52 minutes gone and Dirk Kuyt with the ball in the Fulham box, he goes for goal… “HANDBALL!” Screamed me and 40,000 other Liverpool fans! The Referee… Has pointed to the spot!!!! Is this going to be the moment I see Liverpool score live? Steven Gerrard steps up… Saved… But he’s there for the rebound… IT’S THERE!!!! 1-0!!! And I couldn’t be happier!!!!
Liverpool started to dominate the game!! 60 minutes on the clock and Liverpool have a corner, in it comes, flicked on towards Jamie Carragher at the far post… WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT? HE’S SCORED!!! Of all people! Jamie Carragher makes it 2-0!!! Liverpool aren’t finished yet as they keep looking for more.
66 minutes gone and Daniel Agger has the ball on the left, the cross comes in, Luis Garcia with the header… WHAT A HEADER!!! It’s 3-0 now!!! Christmas has come early for me!! Thank you Dad for getting these tickets!!!
Liverpool continuing to dominate the game with no answer from Fulham. 90 minutes on the clock and Liverpool have a free kick on the edge of the box. Mark Gonzalez will take it… AND SCORE IT!! 4-0!!! What a day it has been! I hope to come here a lot of times in the future!! My first game at Anfield and I will never forget it!!!
FT: Liverpool 4-0 Fulham
2) Sheffield United Vs Liverpool (2019/20)
28th September 2019 and for the first time in 7 years, I will be watching Liverpool live!! Bramall Lane the destination for this one and I will be sat with the Blades fans for this one. Off to the ground I go to see the team bus come in! Let’s get in the ground! £45 to watch this match! So be it!
The atmosphere building from both sets of fans! “LIVERPOOL LIVERPOOL LIVERPOOL!” couldn’t drown out the noise of the Greasy Chip Butty song of Sheffield United!
Kick Off! Sheffield United starting the brighter of the 2 teams and causing problems for the Liverpool defence but the Liverpool defence stood firm and would not go behind. 34 minutes gone and Virgil Van Dijk receives the ball from Adrian, Van Dijk plays a long ball forward towards Sadio Mane who has broken free, he’s in!! He’s missed… What a chance that was for Liverpool!
44 minutes gone now and John Fleck loses the ball in the Liverpool half and is collected by Gini Wijnaldum who plays it to Mohamed Salah who drives towards the Sheffield United box, he looks for Wijnaldum but the pass is blocked, Salah gets the ball back and plays it to Firmino in the box, Firmino to Mane… OFF THE POST!! The ball rebounds to Firmino… Cleared by Fleck! Another big chance there for Liverpool! Half time the score remained 0-0.
Second half, Sheffield United looking very good here and taking the game to Liverpool! 65 minutes gone and Ollie Norwood with the ball in space 30 yards out, “SHOOT!” Screamed the blades fans! He does… Good Save by Adrian!!! Needed Saving.
70 minutes gone and Liverpool with the ball now in the Blade’s half. The ball with Andy Robertson who passes to Divock Origi, Origi crosses and the ball is headed away, the ball falls to Gini Wijnaldum who goes for goal on the volley!! Straight at Dean Henderson… Wait a moment he’s lost it… It’s rolled in!!! What a howler from Dean Henderson!! Liverpool have the lead and I seriously need to stay calm… “DEANO! DEANO! DEANO!” The Sheffield United fans showing their support of their keeper and me too but not for that reason.
2 minutes later and Mohamed Salah is in… SAVE!! Dean Henderson is back!! Easily could have been 2 there! “You’ll never sing that! You’ll never sing that! Champions of League one! You’ll never sing that!” The travelling Liverpool fans seeing the funny side of that Sheffield United chant and clapping their opponents, who doesn’t love a bit of fan banter?
84 minutes gone and Sheffield United with the ball on the left, John Fleck with the ball and he crosses, IT’S LEON CLARKE!!! OH HE’S MISSED IT!! Heart in my mouth there!! Clarke fires over from close range and he should have scored! The Blades continued to press but would not find the equaliser. I was absolutely delighted with that!! Seeing Liverpool win made my day!! One I won’t forget!!
FT: Sheffield United 0-1 Liverpool
- Mansfield Town Vs Notts County (2018/19)
8th December 2018 and it’s finally here! The one us Mansfield fans had been waiting for!! Notts County at home! Mansfield looking a good bet for automatic promotion whereas Notts County bottom of the league… Could the World’s Oldest professional football club be going out of the football league this season?
£24 to watch this one! Get in! A packed out Field Mill for this one today! And Notts County have failed to fill the 1,600 allocation in the away end… Have things got that bad at the club? “That stand’s too big for you! That stand’s too big for you!” Mansfield fans saw the funny side of that.
Kick Off! An end to end start to the game! Please don’t be a new manager syndrome for Notts… 10 minutes gone and Nathan Thomas with the ball on the right, he cuts inside and goes for goal!! Save by Bobby Olejnik!! “YELLOW AND BLUE ARMY!!” Echoing through the stands now!!
20 minutes on the watch and Will Patching has broken free on the left hand side for Notts, he plays it to Nathan Thomas on the edge of the box, Thomas shoots… Just over!! 24 minutes gone and Jacob Mellis gets the ball from CJ Hamilton, he drives down the right and crosses, the cross goes above the Notts defenders and finds Mal Benning, Benning in space goes for goal… It’s wide!! he should have done better!!
“WHAT DO YOU THINK OF COUNTY? S***! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF S***? COUNTY! THANK YOU! THAT’S ALRIGHT! WE HATE COUNTY! WE HATE COUNTY! WE ARE THE COUNTY HATERS!!!” Getting louder in Block Q now!
36 minutes gone and Will Patchings is through on goal for Notts… SAVE!! Olejnik saves with his legs! Big chance for Notts there, but here come Mansfield on the counter, the ball is played to Tyler Walker on the left, he plays it to Mal Benning who crosses, CJ Hamilton is there… HE SCORES!!!!!! Limbs in the home end!!!!!! Get in!!! The game calmed down towards the end of the first half and Mansfield would go into half time leading 1-0.
Second half, Mansfield coming out strong here, 51 minutes gone and CJ Hamilton is played through again for Mansfield by Tyler Walker, he charges into the box and shoots… OFF THE BAR!!! So close!! 63 minutes gone and Mansfield come again. CJ Hamilton is played through on the right, he cuts inside, shoots… GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!! 2-0 to Mansfield and it’s limbs again in block Q!!
Mansfield continuing to dominate this second half. “CJ’S ON FIRE! YOUR DEFENCE IS TERRIFIED CJ’S ON FIRE! OOOOSSH!! NANANANA NANA NANANA NANA!!!” What an atmosphere this is! It’s Will Griggs song remixed by the Mansfield fans for CJ Hamilton with bouncing in the chorus!!
Notts County began to have more possession of the ball but would not find a way through and the score finished 2-0 to Mansfield. What a game this was! One that I will always look back on with memories with Mansfield and definitely one of the best atmospheres I have been a part of!!
FT: Mansfield Town 2-0 Notts County