4th February 2004 - A Special Match

[Corky]

Loads left at half time due to the problems getting to and from that shit hole on a week night, even without a lot knowing that Barton was sent off as most people stopped watching at that point. I was leaving it until we went 4 down to go myself and go to the Plough pub (now closed).

It was pretty low kryl until the winner, one of those if you win it is a bonus game. Spurs scored every chance they had in the first half, not too much in it other than that. We had scored late om in the replay the round before at Leicester, and it was at the stage where any team scoring stops extra time and you just want a result.

It was a great comeback if James was not cup tied I reckon it could have been 0-0 at half time, or not even gone to a replay. Arason and Ellegaard were nowhere near good enough at the time.

 

[Eds]

Was attending the Spring Fair at NEC which I left mid afternoon telling my boss I had some meetings arranged. Remember the traffic being shit most of the way down so was already pissed off before Anelka did his disappearing act and Barton being a prick. Unbelievable second half and whilst we didn’t have that many there, less than 1500 I reckon though plenty left at half time, we were loud and proud by the end the of the game. Got back to my hotel around 12.30ish, turned on the TV and the game was being shown. Was still buzzing the next day at the show when I paid special visits to all the Spurs fans I could find. One actually ran off his stand refusing to speak to me.

 

[Kakhaber The Great]

16 Years Ago Today............….One of the greatest comebacks of modern times as City recover from 3-0 down with 10-men to beat Tottenham 4-3 at White Hart Lane. After going three behind in the first half and seeing Joey Barton dismissed for a second yellow at the break, the Blues seemed to be heading for defeat in the FA Cup fourth-round replay. Somehow, Kevin Keegan's side clawed their way back into the game and goals from Sylvain Distin, Paul Bosvelt made it 3-2 with just over ten minutes left. Then Shaun Wright-Phillips skipped through to level the scores before Jon Macken connected with Michael Tarnat's cross in the last minute to send the City fans wild and give the Blues a famous victory and passage into the fifth round......I will never forget the night as my lad was fighting his own battle to survive as he was seriously ill in St. Mary's hospital, Paddington with meningococcal septicaemia, a deadly form of Meningitis, he was just 9 months old, I had a ticket for the game but couldn’t leave his bedside where I’d been for two weeks solid as he continued to defy the odds with his quest to live, despite him being given a very slim chance of survival by the doctors who so remarkably cared for him. I recall the Spurs goals flashing up on my Nokia 6410 and cursing City for the performance, the second half comeback felt like it was sent from above to cheer me up, it did the trick as Harvey started his own miracle come back from the dead, despite serval amputations and loss of a third of each foot he made a near full recovery, he’s now 16 years of age and closing in on his 250th attended City match, City have given us so many magical memories to treasure but I will never forget that match and what it meant to me.

Post of the year already. A real treat reading that, particularly after the amount of blue-on-blue malice across this forum the last few days.

Shouldn't need reminding why I'm a Blue but a post like this brings it home. Not ashamed to say I got a little emotional. Thanks for sharing, mate.

 

[KS55]

Just wonderful post. Your lad is obviously a fighter and, judging by the grin in the foto, a guy who loves life. Brilliant.
PS Listened to the game on the radio. When the commentator said "and Macken scores", I didn't really believe it.

 

[Bozo]

One of the greatest comebacks in English football.

 

[JGL07]

I was watching it at home in Edinburgh. Credit to the team for playing on despite the adversity and pulling off an amazing win.

 

[Mike N]

That’s fantastic Mark. Good luck to your lad!

 

[JGL07]

3rd March 1962 City 6 Spurs 2. Peter Dobbing hattrick.
City were having a mediocre season but Spurs were flying with Jimmy Greaves, Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, John White, Bobby Smith et al.
Everyone predicted that City were in for a hiding but we played one of, if not the best matches I've seen in over 60 years.
I was first on the bus home after the match, the conductor asked me the score I replied "6-2". He assumed we'd lost and in sympathy said I could keep the bus fare.

I didn’t manage this match. A year or so later, my second City home match was 1-0 win over Spurs with a goal by Alex Harley. I had nothing but admiration for the Bill Nicholson Spurs side with Blanchflower, Jones, Mackay, Greaves, etc. John White was a great player but was killed after being struck by lighting playing golf. All a bit Spinal Tap?

City were always infuriating but could often beat the best against all odds.

 

[Baggins.mcfc]

Having my kitchen done atm, loads of dust in the air its definitely getting in my eyes. Loved reading that post. I know jon macken so when he scored the winner, it made it just that little bit more special. Good luck to your lad, not that he seems to need it. Top post.

 

[blue44]

What a fantastic post mate !!
Blue 44....i was in Thailand as well....couldnt believe the score when i woke up.

same we me,i couldn't believe it,my dad had been sending short sms's everytime we got 1 back and they become more frequent and excitable,i had about 7 texts from him by the end!