25 May 2005
- Thread starter Mamma Mia
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
My Dad came to mine to watch it. I remember hoping at half time that he would go home so I could switch if off and not have to watch the second-half, listening to Phil Thompson saying "You've got to believe" and thinking how naive he was.
My Dad stayed, thank God he did, it might just have been the greatest few hours of my life watching a football match.
And here we are now, on the 20th Anniversary, about to lift the League Trophy in front of our fans for the first time since after the disappointment of not being able to have a proper party last time.
And to bring things full circle with my Dad, I got him a NOW TV subscription a few months back so he could watch the games on Sky at the care home. Every time he watched we were shite, proper shite, and I still don't know whether his dementia-riddled mind really believed me when I told him we were champions.
My Dad stayed, thank God he did, it might just have been the greatest few hours of my life watching a football match.
And here we are now, on the 20th Anniversary, about to lift the League Trophy in front of our fans for the first time since after the disappointment of not being able to have a proper party last time.
And to bring things full circle with my Dad, I got him a NOW TV subscription a few months back so he could watch the games on Sky at the care home. Every time he watched we were shite, proper shite, and I still don't know whether his dementia-riddled mind really believed me when I told him we were champions.
I was 22, at Uni. Watched the entire game alone in my dorm room because I was superstitious. Did the same throughout the competition and we kept winning.
I remember my brother calling me at half time and telling me turn the telly off. I said that we just needed one early goal and we'd be back in it.
I remember posting a similar message in a dejected Koptalk forum too.
How right I was.
Met up with some friends after the game… and then? No clue.
I remember my brother calling me at half time and telling me turn the telly off. I said that we just needed one early goal and we'd be back in it.
I remember posting a similar message in a dejected Koptalk forum too.
How right I was.
Met up with some friends after the game… and then? No clue.
Strangely enough, I went to the pub I watched it in last night and marked to spot where I watched the game and got down on my hands and knees to kiss the ground.
It was called The Keepers Arms and was in North Melbourne.
We were frantically searching for a pub that would open for it - most guys had gone to The Celtic Club, but we couldn’t go as one of our group had just been fired from The Celtic Ckub for punching the manager.
It wasn’t easy because the game kicked off at like 5am when next to no pubs had a license to open - The KA had a reputation for showing games and had applied for a temp licence.
Magical moment… except for another one of our group who said “fuck this” and went home st half time.
There’s always something special about walking out of a pub, smashed, at 8 o’clock in the morning in broad daylight having just seen your team win a major trophy.
It was called The Keepers Arms and was in North Melbourne.
We were frantically searching for a pub that would open for it - most guys had gone to The Celtic Club, but we couldn’t go as one of our group had just been fired from The Celtic Ckub for punching the manager.
It wasn’t easy because the game kicked off at like 5am when next to no pubs had a license to open - The KA had a reputation for showing games and had applied for a temp licence.
Magical moment… except for another one of our group who said “fuck this” and went home st half time.
There’s always something special about walking out of a pub, smashed, at 8 o’clock in the morning in broad daylight having just seen your team win a major trophy.
I was 26.
I remember watching it at home. We got dealt an absolute footballing lesson in the first half, Milan were tearing us apart, humiliating us, it was men vs boys type stuff.
Halftime came, and I went for a smoke feeling utterly gutted. But it had been such a journey getting there - nearly down and out in the group stages until Stevie G's "Oh ya beauty!" goal, the implausibility of beating Juve, but Lil Luis' wondergoal sealing the deal, the 'ghost goal' against Chelsea in the semis (another implausible victory) - even though my brain told me it was over, deep down there was a little part of me that said "but just imagine - imagine - if we pull this back, it's gonna go down as the greatest comeback in history!"
Stevie pulls one back, and gees up the crowd (who were fantastic by the way, the YNWA at halftime was nothing short of amazing) and suddenly you're going "Hello! Wait a minute..." - and it wasn't a minute, but six. The six crazy minutes that changed everything.
When Vladdy Smicer pops up on the edge of the box and puts it in the bottom corner, that's when I started to believe. He may have been Czech, and great, and Paddy Berger's mate, but Vlad was one of those players that never seemed to quite realise his potential with us. Other players regularly said he was one of the most skillful on the training ground, but it never seemed to translate into results on the pitch. But that glorious bastard sent it home from 20 yards out, and it was at that point that my brain went "We're fucking winning this!"
The double save from Dudek just cemented it. By then, I'm going "There is no fucking way we are losing this, this is OUR night!"
It came to the penalties, and I'm screaming at the telly, I'm telling Jerzy to channel Brucie, do the crazy legs, DO THE CRAZY LEGS!!
AND HE DID THE FUCKING CRAZY LEGS!!!
I lost my shit. So did Sheva. We won the fucking cup, I couldn't believe it, I was literally shaking with the adrenaline, it felt like I was on drugs or something, except better than drugs cos there was no comedown.
What a night. What a club.
I remember I'd been having a bit of banter with my boss at work at the time. I think we'd had a little bet on it beforehand. The next day I came in whistling YNWA all casual like, and he grinned and ponied up
I remember watching it at home. We got dealt an absolute footballing lesson in the first half, Milan were tearing us apart, humiliating us, it was men vs boys type stuff.
Halftime came, and I went for a smoke feeling utterly gutted. But it had been such a journey getting there - nearly down and out in the group stages until Stevie G's "Oh ya beauty!" goal, the implausibility of beating Juve, but Lil Luis' wondergoal sealing the deal, the 'ghost goal' against Chelsea in the semis (another implausible victory) - even though my brain told me it was over, deep down there was a little part of me that said "but just imagine - imagine - if we pull this back, it's gonna go down as the greatest comeback in history!"
Stevie pulls one back, and gees up the crowd (who were fantastic by the way, the YNWA at halftime was nothing short of amazing) and suddenly you're going "Hello! Wait a minute..." - and it wasn't a minute, but six. The six crazy minutes that changed everything.
When Vladdy Smicer pops up on the edge of the box and puts it in the bottom corner, that's when I started to believe. He may have been Czech, and great, and Paddy Berger's mate, but Vlad was one of those players that never seemed to quite realise his potential with us. Other players regularly said he was one of the most skillful on the training ground, but it never seemed to translate into results on the pitch. But that glorious bastard sent it home from 20 yards out, and it was at that point that my brain went "We're fucking winning this!"
The double save from Dudek just cemented it. By then, I'm going "There is no fucking way we are losing this, this is OUR night!"
It came to the penalties, and I'm screaming at the telly, I'm telling Jerzy to channel Brucie, do the crazy legs, DO THE CRAZY LEGS!!
AND HE DID THE FUCKING CRAZY LEGS!!!
I lost my shit. So did Sheva. We won the fucking cup, I couldn't believe it, I was literally shaking with the adrenaline, it felt like I was on drugs or something, except better than drugs cos there was no comedown.
What a night. What a club.
I remember I'd been having a bit of banter with my boss at work at the time. I think we'd had a little bet on it beforehand. The next day I came in whistling YNWA all casual like, and he grinned and ponied up
We were on the last flight out of Liverpool, it was bit late so when we arrived they said that rather than take us to Taksin (?) square as originally planned we would be bussed straight to the Ataturk. The flight had been dry & my mate & I faced the real & scary possibility of attending a final sober, for the first time ever. We had 10 minutes before the buses left so we ran around the airport and found a kiosk in a deserted departure area, selling cans. We filled two bin bags and dragged them onto the bus (which was just like the 27). Beers were passed round and the bus was jumping. When we got stuck in the traffic jam a mile or two from the stadium we jumped out, and when we ran out of beer we found some scal selling them out of the back of a coach further up the motorway.
Nearly left at half time, happy we didn't ...
Nearly left at half time, happy we didn't ...
i was 24 ... watching at home with this bird i was trying to woo for ages ... i thought it would be an amazing night.
it was shit at half time, and well, fuck the bird, at least the most important love of my life - at the time at least - did her thing and did it brilliantly.
to think i almost had tickets to the game but was screwed by some stupid 'process' ... oh well ...
it was shit at half time, and well, fuck the bird, at least the most important love of my life - at the time at least - did her thing and did it brilliantly.
to think i almost had tickets to the game but was screwed by some stupid 'process' ... oh well ...
I was on a Uni exchange program in Toronto. Had to get to one of those English-style pubs that thankfully was showing it. Ordered a pint and tried to play it cool and unaffected during half-time (well we're Liverpool right? Not like I really expected anything) then those six crazy minutes... At full time some droll anti-jinxy woman at the back started going off about how Brazillian keepers are really good at penalties so the dream was as good as over.
Anyway, ran out screaming into a street in the middle of the day and realised no one in Canada knew what football was.
Anyway, ran out screaming into a street in the middle of the day and realised no one in Canada knew what football was.
Watched the first half downstairs having my tea. Went upstairs to watch the second half on the late and much lamented Old Faithful. When Stevie's header goes in, Tyldesley's giving it the "Hello! Hello! Here we go!" and I'm thinking "Give over mate, you're just trying to stop folks changing the channel". Six crazy minutes later Xabi knocks in the equaliser and I'm on my feet howling like a banshee. When The Dude saves the last peno I get on the phone to my sister (who caught the bug early because of her big brother) and all I could think to do was holler "Champions League! Champions League!" for two minutes solid. Necked a whole bottle of red that night but woke up fresh as a daisy the next day.
Magic. Unforgettable. A once in a lifetime experience. Not even the Barcelona game at Anfield in 2019 can top it for me.
Magic. Unforgettable. A once in a lifetime experience. Not even the Barcelona game at Anfield in 2019 can top it for me.
Afraid so. I switched the dear old thing on one day early in the 23/24 season, it sighed gently and then it conked out after 46 unbelievable years. I didn't tell everyone straight away but eventually mentioned it in passing earlier this season.
I was 12. I missed like the first 30 mins cos of a badminton tournament and get home and turn on to us 3-0 down so I missed the initial misery somehow and saw us turn it round.
I remember when we won it everyone was running out of their houses and celebrating in the street. it was weird seeing all the neighbors that hated each other hugging like best mates
I remember when we won it everyone was running out of their houses and celebrating in the street. it was weird seeing all the neighbors that hated each other hugging like best mates
I was 33. Only reason I didn’t bugger off at halftime was ‘coz I was surrounded by manc twats, hoping I would, and I was fucked if I was giving them the satisfaction.
Found out 20 minutes after Jerzy bested Sheva, that this eejit was actually on her way, so a late night turned into a fucking all-nighter!
Edit: Can’t get the photo of Alex to upload. 🤦🏻♂️
Found out 20 minutes after Jerzy bested Sheva, that this eejit was actually on her way, so a late night turned into a fucking all-nighter!
Edit: Can’t get the photo of Alex to upload. 🤦🏻♂️
The only thing I can suggest is that maybe they practised penalties beforehand and he did well in the practice session(s). He looked worried as he waited to take it, and not surprisingly as it turned out! Still, all's well that ends well. 😎
I remember been in walkabout and when their 3rd goal went in f Milan I smashed my beer bottle on the floor then others followed suit and the bouncers grabbed them and I sneaked to the bar and the rest was history, I was hammered after that but somehow made it to work the next morning.
It was my first year supporting the club. Still living with my parents while doing uni.
Had the day off, couple mates over. Shock and dismay with the first half. Couldn't even manage to get the beers down, so desolate about the result after so much excitement.
I remember having a cigarette on the deck and just staring out into suburbia, a grey, cool spring day.
And then the second half starts. Just hoping to regain some dignity.
The first goal: just a consolation. The second goal: we couldn't, could we? The third, OMFG IS THIS FOR REAL?!?
Truthfully, not sure I really remember anything between the equalizer and the Dudek double save on Shevchenko. I have the sense that we were getting bombarded and thinking we couldn't possibly hold out. But after the double save I knew the trophy was ours.
Had the day off, couple mates over. Shock and dismay with the first half. Couldn't even manage to get the beers down, so desolate about the result after so much excitement.
I remember having a cigarette on the deck and just staring out into suburbia, a grey, cool spring day.
And then the second half starts. Just hoping to regain some dignity.
The first goal: just a consolation. The second goal: we couldn't, could we? The third, OMFG IS THIS FOR REAL?!?
Truthfully, not sure I really remember anything between the equalizer and the Dudek double save on Shevchenko. I have the sense that we were getting bombarded and thinking we couldn't possibly hold out. But after the double save I knew the trophy was ours.
I am based in the US and I had to travel for work that day. I had no option. I managed to catch the first half in an airport bar and was devastated heading to my flight at half-time. I boarded the plane and then started getting text from my colleagues who were at an Irish bar and supporting Liverpool because they knew how much I loved them (I did have a life size Gerrard decal stuck to my office wall). Unbelievable that we had tied it up in six crazy minutes 😀. But, then, I had to turn off my phone for the flight.
I landed in San Francisco to find out that we had won and then was up almost all night watching highlights and I ordered a CD of the entire match, so I could watch it all later. So gutted that I could not experience it all in real-time.
I landed in San Francisco to find out that we had won and then was up almost all night watching highlights and I ordered a CD of the entire match, so I could watch it all later. So gutted that I could not experience it all in real-time.
I still have the official DVD of that cl season and the entire final. Never watched the whole final mind you again.
We did get everything bar the kitchen sink thrown at us and there were other heroics besides the Dude's. Gerrard recalling his early days in the first team by going to RB (and of course doing it superbly); Carra practically out on his feet but still throwing himself in front of everything and everybody; Djimi Traore, no less, who faced up to one hard shot which was really travelling and headed it off the line and away.
Milan had the stars, but we had the team.
Was the hamster that used to power your internet living in Old Faithful at the time and also went up in smoke
He was, and the smoke was from my barbecue. Hamsters fit just nicely in a ciabatta, I found.
I was 17 and had just been accepted into Liverpool Uni during the Champions League run, so I was already buzzing. I got offered a ticket, but I had an exam the following afternoon and there was no way to get back in time, which was gutting. That said, it helped me get the grade I needed to make the move, and I’ve ended up living here for 20 years because of it.
I also missed Gerrard’s header because I was too busy punching a pillow in my bedroom. I’ve never flown down the stairs so fast in my life.
After Dudek’s double save, I genuinely felt we had it. Not because I believe in fate, but you could just tell their players thought it wasn’t meant to be. After something like that, you’re just running around going through the motions.
I also missed Gerrard’s header because I was too busy punching a pillow in my bedroom. I’ve never flown down the stairs so fast in my life.
After Dudek’s double save, I genuinely felt we had it. Not because I believe in fate, but you could just tell their players thought it wasn’t meant to be. After something like that, you’re just running around going through the motions.
Frimping. Is that like pimping, only for free?
Brilliant lads. I was 33 living in an apartment in Queens, New York. I watched the game by myself on the living room couch and could believe what I was seeing. Called me father at halftime and he had left a restaurant in Spain where he was watching the game, decided it was over Then I called him after we got back 3-3 and he dashed back to this restaurant so he can watch the match.
And I remember going out that night in New York with friends celebrating. I played for a team called 11 united and we played out at the 11th St. bar. Over the years the bar that sponsored us also became the nyc Liverpool fc bar so there was a ton of people there. Good times
And I remember going out that night in New York with friends celebrating. I played for a team called 11 united and we played out at the 11th St. bar. Over the years the bar that sponsored us also became the nyc Liverpool fc bar so there was a ton of people there. Good times
Was in my early 20s and went to the Ataturk Stadium with my dad. Best football related day of my life!
It would be a miracle if that tasted nice.
