Gillingham v Manchester City 1999

Didsbury Dave said:
I have never known such tension at a football match. It was like the club's entire past and future depended on this one game. This was not a cup final or a title decider, where coming runners up hurts but isn't the end of the world. This was a game where defeat was too awful to contemplate, especially given what had just happened to Man United. Those who weren't emotionally involved with the club at the time can never comprehend what framed this win.

For the last 20 years City had become famous as the Kings of The Cock Up. The bigger the occasion, the higher the likelihood of us crashing and burning. We all knew that, and that's what created the unbearable tension. At 2-0 down it almost felt pre-ordained. City had flushed us with hope for the last five months and were now shitting on us from the greatest of heights. The club was in deep financial trouble and it felt like the tipping point. I remember deciding I couldn't put myself through this any more. I was ready to quit a lifetime's passion.

The way Dickov equalised was the club's rebirth, encapsulated in one magic minute. Stuff like that had stopped happening to city years before. The Gypsy's Curse was lifted in one electrifying strike. Things were never the same again.
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Beautifully put..
 
The book went to a reprint such was demand, so there are more copies out there. It's 17 years today since "It's Dickov again!"

I recent posted a thread to say this is on special offer in the UK. You can get a free copy of my Mancini book with it on my website right now: https://davemooney.co.uk/books/looks-like-scunny-next-season/

If you want to have a listen to the documentary I made with interview clips from all of the squad from that day, that's on the Blue Moon Podcast feed and it's right here: http://bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/podcast/episodes/1999.mp3
 
Watched this game in one of the boxes at Wembley along with the old folks. Ill never forget Dickov's equaliser, ever. There was a radiator behind us that literally fell off the wall when City scored. I like to think it was the shockwave of the crowd celebrating rather than the old Wembley being a s##t hole. What a day! My experiences of watching City up to that point were basically defeat after defeat and 2 relegations that left me really depressed and bewildered as a kid. It cant be stressed enough how much City as a club and its fu##ing amazing supporters needed that win! Thank you legends of 99 (EVEN Michael Brown)

 
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Kevin Horlock strokes the ball home, 1-2, "why are you not cheering dad" says my 7 year old, as I sit there, chin on floor, absolutely gutted. "it's a bit late now son" I reply. Minutes later I am going absolutely mental, son on shoulders jumping on the seats, falling through seats struggling to keep him up there, but doing anyway, and ending up with bruises right up the back of my leg.
The most emotional football match I will ever attend without exception, a true rollercoater. God I love Manchester City
 
Richard Edghill is a legend. Never scored for City and had the guts to step up after the crap he endured from some fans.
 
Remember on the tube back to London after the match, Gillingham fans laughing and joking with City fans. Couldn't get my head round that apart from they were all day trippers of which about 25k were

Don't remember much about the match apart from the goals and the pens and one of my mates in his drunkeness trying unsuccessfully to smash his seat up at 2-0

Drinking in Soho and Covent Garden pre match and all the rumours that Millwall fans were in town looking for City fans

Back in Soho after the match. Couldn't drink. Sat there physically and emotionally knackered. Chucked my guts up and felt great and started again

We were in a hotel way out Hounslow way and were catching the night bus from just off Trafalgar Square. Walking down there you could hear the noise getting louder and louder. Got to the square and there were what appeared to be thousands of blues dancing and singing.
 
chaddblue said:
You're right, but did anyone think he was gonna score? I couldn't watch that pen
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His was the best pen of the lot, edgy is forever a legend who got far too much stick for a true blue and loyal servant to our club.
I got ditched by the lads in the 83rd minute and then wound up on Gilly train into london
 
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