The difference between yesterday's final and 1991 for me...

[West Hoathly Seagull]

...was the atmosphere. In 1991, I was so looking forward to the final, but it turned out to be a total anticlimax. From the moment Tommy Johnson scored for Notts County, I knew that was it. I walked back despondently to Wembley Central, thinking that we would probably get relegated next season, which we did. It wasn't only the result, however. The whole atmosphere wasn't what I had thought it would be and left me rather flat. We may have outsung Notts County, but there were twice as many of our fans as theirs there, and I didn't think we were that impressive at all. There seemed to be far more people there with no real interest in the Albion, who if you talked about the season or memories with them, had never been to a game.

Yesterday, however, was completely different, from the sea of blue and white around the stadium, to inside the stadium itself. Everyone, including those for whom it was their only match for a long time, seemed to sing and to be committed to the Albion, and there was solid support whenever Falmer was mentioned. I made up my mind to enjoy myself whatever happened and the result was the proverbial icing on the cake.

I can only presume it was the fact that we have nearly lost the club and had such a battle to get it back and the fact that Falmer is so important, whereas in 1991, the only people who wanted a new ground were the board. What do others think?

 

[crasher]

I think you put your finger on it West Hoathly - there seemed to be a lot in 91 who went beacause it was a relatively short "day out".

The trip to Cardiff is daunting enough to mean you've got to really want to be there.

Also the old Wembley was the worst ground in the world - thank god it's gone.

Yesterday was topped only by Hereford '97 for me.

 

[Gully]

I think the biggest difference for me was the atmosphere, the Millennium stadium delivered for me, whereas Wembley did not. My brother made a good point in saying that he hoped the new Wembley would be more like the Millennium than the old stadium, I am pretty sure there will be no running track thereby bringing the crowd closer to the pitch, it certainly makes a difference. From my seat in the North Stand the Bristol City fans looked like a wall of red and white at the other end of the stadium, at Wembley the County fans were somewhat distant.

I went to the game yesterday determined to enjoy a day out in one of the best settings for a game of football I have been to, given the choice of victory yesterday or the go-ahead for Falmer I would certainly have chosen the latter, but this may sound a little over optimistic or greedy, we have completed one leg of the double and I sense the second will go in our favour too. As a Brighton fan I have never taken success for granted or indeed as a divine right, certainly not in the way that many Premiership fans do, in the run up to kick off I sat in my seat and just thought "It doesn't get better than this as an Albion fan", just over 90 minutes later I realised that it did.

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

I can't understand how anyone can say Hereford was a superior experience - although it was great at the end, it was a nightmare up till then through nerves, and there were still fears about the following season - yesterday was brilliant start to finish, and was easily my new no.1 Albion experience

 

[SK1NT]

for once when stand up if you want falmer was sung, EVERYONE stood up! a quality day

 

[Albion Rob]

Sitting behind the goal and looking round, the place actually reminded me of the Madejski Stadium only a lot bigger.

Wembly 1991 was bad for me as I was only 10 and it was the first time I realised football wasn't fair/

Cardiff 2004 is, at this point, the zenith of my football life. Amazing day, amazing stadium, amazing result. I honestly could not have asked for more from my weekend.

 

[wehatepalace]

for once when stand up if you want falmer was sung, EVERYONE stood up! a quality day

 

[Scotty Mac]

yeah, it beat wembley 91 for me, as i was 3 and all i can remember is being made to wear a ghastly pink shirt embedded with the word nobo and having my face painted red and white

 

[Ernest]

If we lost yesterday it wouldn't have been the end of the world whilst if we had lost at Hereford it would have been the end of the world which is why I enjoyed yesterday more

 

[Mr C]

If we lost yesterday it wouldn't have been the end of the world whilst if we had lost at Hereford it would have been the end of the world which is why I enjoyed yesterday more

Not convinced by it being the end of the world if we'd have lost at Hereford, but yesterday was, quite simply, superb

 

[CP 0 3 BHA]

100% opposite experience in EVERY way.

 

[Curious Orange]

'91 was an odd experience for me, as Dad and I were in the Olympic Gallery with a mixture of fans as opposed to being among the Albion faithful. The things I vividly remember are firstly the noise that hit me as I came out into the ground and then when Clive Walker hit the woodwork for a second time realising that this wasn't going to be our day. I was 16 at the time but I can't remember much else about the game really, apart from Dean Wilkins crying at the end of the game - he wasn't our greatest ever midfielder, but he was, and is, committed to this club. It was all an anti-climax and just seemed to be the mark of things to come.

'04 on the other hand will stick in my mind for a long time. The game was rubbish, but in common with the two Swindon games it'll be memorable as an experience. Dare I say that perhaps this could prove to be another mark of things to come. We've been fantastically successful over the last few years but this event could be the turning point where things really start to come together for us. The fans are united and behind the club as was ably demonstrated by the swathe of blue and white that crossed the south of the country. We were going to enjoy ourselves no-matter what, and we did - that didn't happen in '91. I honestly believe we'd have still enjoyed ourselves if we'd lost, because we were just happy to be there. Even my Dad was singing by the end of the match!!

 

[Rich Suvner]

Yesterday was topped only by Hereford '97 for me.

To me:

Hereford 97:
- most important match as Albion fan

Bristol in Cardiff 04
- best and most enjoyable experience as Albion fan

Before the game, just looking around at the 30,000 Albion following was inspirational to me. As somebody who's only been watching the Albion since 94 it was the realisation of my belief in the potential of this club, but to experience it in such a wonderful football stadium, amidst a quality atmosphere and with the bonus of victory and promotion simply had me lost for words at points, quite often lapsing into laughter because frankly, it was all so amazing. I'm sure that McGhee and the players were thinking similar thoughts at the end, as they seemed just as awestruck at the blue and white end of the ground as I was.

Cardiff 04 was akin to a leisurely walk up on the Downs on a sunny day with a beautiful woman, only to find a secluded spot for a little fun before heading home. Hereford 97 on the other hand was a terrifying scramble up a dangerous rock face, in driving wind and painful hail, only to appreciate a fantastic view at the top when the weather cleared up!

Marvellous Scenes

 

[sbee]

.....and in the latter finding that your sandwiches had been
soaked by your leaking water bottle.

 

[kalinski]

I would add that the singing started in so many different areas of the ground. I would really have loved not have the music playing at the end so we could have given it one more "stand up of you want falmer".

I still can't talk properly today!!!!

 

[Row Z Creased Shirt]

Yesterday was my best day ever in football attending, end of. Cardiff was what this whole game is about. A fantastic stadium, a fantastic crowd, a fantastic and just victory. It was simply the best!

I can't say i've ben a lifelong albion fan, but my top ten all time best footy days are rapidly being filled by the albion and yesterday was in with a f*****g bullet at number one.


I wonder how we'll follow this one up?

 

[Gully]

Funny thing Albion Rob, saying that the Millennium Stadium reminded you of the Madstad, it clearly did for the bloke I was sat next to, at one stage I heard him shout out "Come on Reading!!!"

Fortunately for him I was the only person who heard him, he quantified his call by saying that he had been living there for about 10 years and had somewhat divided loyalties, despite having come from Brighton. I was going to add that I had left Sussex almost 20 years ago and had never suffered from divided or mis-placed loyalties but thought the better of it as he was bloody huge.

 

[Brovion]

Hereford had to be endured, Cardiff was enjoyed.

 

[Kent Seagull]

I think it tops the '83 cup final for me. The FA is a fantastic competition and I would probably have put that occassion above yesterday if we had won it. Yesterday had it all, fantastic support (my ears were still ringing an hour later!), fabulous stadium and a victory celebration!

I also thought the whole matchday experience was so much better. The Cardiff Police handled the occassion really well, there were enough of them about to reasure if anything kicked off but they weren't in your face and riding around menacingly on horseback like the Met.

I spoke to loads of Bristol fans before and after the game and without exception found them to freindly, several I spoke to afterwards wished us luck for next year and were gracious in defeat.

Wembley will have to go a long way to be a better venue than Cardiff. As we probably won't play there again, I have to say that I'm really pleased to have experienced the place.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

As Harty kept saying on the radio throughout the season, it IS the best way to go up. Amazing experience. Much better than '91 (agree with the sentiments of a couple of the posters on this thread for the reasons why).

Terrific stadium, amazing fans. A day that will stay forever in the memory.