Honest question because although I can look back on it with pride, I honestly can’t say that I didnt enjoy that day at all knowing what was on the line. After the final whistle was a different matter but the lead up to the game, the travel down, the mingling in the stadium beforehand. The nerves. It wasnt a good feeling.


Maybe I take it too serious. Watching todays play off final today made me think ‘I’m glad I’m not them’

Did anyone else feel the same that day?

YES

Yep. All of it…

No, not really.

Six days before the match, I was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. I made the mistake of going.online and reading that the one year survival rate from the date of diagnosis was 25%. I didn't really feel like going to the final, but I'd got my train and match ticket, and my hotel booked, so I went. You can understand that my mind was often elsewhere during the game.

Three days after the match, I had my first meeting with my consultant, who told me that the cancer hadn't spread, and that, with surgery, they could cure me ( which is what happened ).

I could have done with.knowing that at Wembley.

I enjoyed the match because by then there was so much belief and momentum that we were never going to lose.

I didn't enjoy the travelling though. The 2 litres of Gin punch helped on the way down but the f***ing about waiting to get out of Wembley on a coach in that heat was shite.

88 and 94 were better days out, but 09 can't be beaten match wise and for the scale of it.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 27, 2023 10:03 pm

No, not really.

Six days before the match, I was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. I made the mistake of going.online and reading that the one year survival rate from the date of diagnosis was 25%. I didn't really feel like going to the final, but I'd got my train and match ticket, and my hotel booked, so I went. You can understand that my mind was often elsewhere during the game.

Three days after the match, I had my first meeting with my consultant, who told me that the cancer hadn't spread, and that, with surgery, they could cure me ( which is what happened ).

I could have done with.knowing that at Wembley.

I half remember you posting on claretsmad of memory serves me right? (Please correct me if I’m wrong). Congratulations on beating it though. I could not imagine having that burden on your mind.

Didn’t enjoy the second half. I actually felt physically sick during injury time.

Too nervous to enjoy it.

And can I add that it’s brilliant news that lakedistrictclaret is still here to tell his own story. That’s far more important than any football match.

Had too much to drink before the game which I regret now, it was all a bit of a blur.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 27, 2023 10:03 pm

No, not really.

Six days before the match, I was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. I made the mistake of going.online and reading that the one year survival rate from the date of diagnosis was 25%. I didn't really feel like going to the final, but I'd got my train and match ticket, and my hotel booked, so I went. You can understand that my mind was often elsewhere during the game.

Three days after the match, I had my first meeting with my consultant, who told me that the cancer hadn't spread, and that, with surgery, they could cure me ( which is what happened ).

I could have done with.knowing that at Wembley.

I can understand fully why your mind would be elsewhere, both prior, at the match and those nervous worrying few days before your visit with the consultant. Two brilliant results though lakedistrict thank goodness. Hope you’re continuing to be in good health.

Remember thinking when Kyle Walker made a miraculous recovery to stop Robbie Blake netting what would have been a decisive second goal that they would go up the other end a score

And but for Mike Dean they might well have done

Huge sense of relief when it was all over

Enjoyed the whole day until Wade scored, then hated every second until the final whistle. I did feel for those fans there today when it went to pens.

Thanks for your good wishes everyone.
Yes, I did post on Clarets Mad, and I will always remember the kindness of people on there ( and this includes you CT!) at the time.
The cancer came back in 2017, but was caught even earlier, and I was again cured, this time by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which was absolutely brutal.
I now have an endoscopy every September. They've all been negative.
Going back to play-off finals, I was quite happy earlier today sitting on my settee in front of the television, being able to look out into my garden, with a cup of tea in my hand and 101 points in my pocket.

Loved it. Days like that are the point of being a football fan.

The whole day was like a dream. It’s one of the best days of my life, but I’d only classify it as ‘enjoyable’ after the final whistle. Too tense to enjoy the actual game.

Of a fashion.

Great day out and the feeling at full time was awesome. Game was nerve-wracking though.

Loved it.

Took on a young teenage relative who had never been to Burnley but because he looked up to us he became a Claret and we took him to Wembley.

After the win we were sat on the lions in Trafalgar Square waving flags and swigging champagne. He loved it.

A few years later there was a tragic event and he died.

Will always remember the joy we gave him in that moment, and of course, gave us too. None of us are here forever, the joys we get during our time here are worth their weight in gold. So yes, very enjoyable, what’s the point otherwise?

I enjoyed all of it, mainly I suppose because I wasn't expecting us to win, that sort of thing just didn't happen to Burnley. It was all part of a fun weekend in London, the win was a massive bonus and a massive surprise.

I was actually pretty confident about the game as we’d beat them home and away that season. Perhaps if I’d had a better idea of the financial predicament we were in if we didn’t go up I might’ve been more nervous.

The only downside to the day was not being able to celebrate with my dad who wasn’t well enough to travel.

Yes, loved it, the first time I'd ever spent more than £3 for a pint, the first time I'd seen one of those machines that can pour half a dozen pints at once, and the closest I've ever been to crying at a football match until Birmingham away 2016 when Andre Gray scored and the bloke in front of me elbowed me in mi nuts.

Loved every second of it last few minutes were so nervous but what a burst of emotion at the end.

I don't know that "enjoy" is the right word. I was back over in England for a visit in March and saw 4 games - I enjoyed those, well 3 of them anyway - and just had to fly back again to see the lads play at the new Wembley. But as others have said above I was too nervous to "enjoy" it. It was being part of the occasion, it was the experience, it was living every kick of the damn ball, it was thinking that time was going backwards at one stage, it was a sense of disbelief that the Clarets were actually back in the top flight - something I never expected to see again, and when all was said and done it was wishing that my dad had still been here to witness it with me. The enjoyment came later when I reflected on the day and savored all those sights, sounds and emotions that had contributed to it.

Endured rather than enjoyed, although it all turned out alright in the end ...

Yeah strange day. Though obviously really happy I was emotionally spent ha ha. Was living in London at the time and thought I’d be on a bender afterwards. Had a quiet pint at the local then went to bed!

Remember the goal and then everything after the full time whistle including Robbie Blake skipping around our end flashing his bad beat bob keks.

The game itself was a blur though.

Yep, all of it. No nerves whatsoever, seriously. My heartbreak went at the Semi Final vs Spurs in the cup. We were with touching distance of Wembley then bang. This time we were there. So I made sure I enjoyed it, imagine being a nervous reck all day and then losing.

Nope, horrible day, felt drained at the end of it.

I always assumed we would fail. Loved the buildup as it was my first visit to new Wembley. Loved that we were competitive. Then we scored and for the first time I felt we could win. I became a bag of nerves and kept thinking it would be Spurs mark 2 having been so close a few weeks before. I simply exploded with joy and relief at the final whistle.

I enjoyed the build up to the game, the celebrations at the end, the journey home, the parade and the anticipation of what was to come, but other than the goal I hated the game, especially the last 10 mins

It drained me. I remember after the game at the end of Wembley Way the police were holding back hundreds of Burnley Fans. I looked around and nearly everyone was really quite quiet. A copper said, what's wrong with you lot you would think you had just lost. Pretty sure everyone was exhausted physically and emotionally. It was a full on day but I did love it. Can't imagine what s defeat would have felt like.

I was travelling in Asia from the March, actually landed on the night of the 4-2 comeback win against Palace.

The final day of the season against Bristol City I was in a bar on one of the Thailand islands, and started to seriously deliberate what I’d do if we made it to Wembley. The first semi final was the night of the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, and the second leg I was in Bali.

My mate asked me what I would prefer - flying back and watching them lose, or staying in Bali and watching them win on tele - having been a supporter since the Fourth Division in the 80s, I’d have kicked myself if they’d won and I’d not been there.

I had my visas for Australia, New Zealand etc, but instead I flew back, nearly 8,000 miles, and three flights totalling 19 hours (including sitting next to a Sheffield Utd fan for eight hours from Abu Dhabi to Manchester who was doing the same thing)

Would I have regretted it if we’d lost? Would I hell. Would I have flown back had we lost? Probably. Would my life have mapped out the same way had we lost, or even got to Wembley? I suggest not.

Did I enjoy it? Absolutely

Was steadfastly refusing to go..told the wife and kids I just couldn't face the prospect of going all that way and watching us lose.

Wife took it upon herself to buy 4 tickets and presented me with them as a fait accompli on the night before the game.

One of the best days of my life...up there in the top ten anyway....the journey back to Somerset was just surreal.

Took my grandson down... Remember it being a really hot day and feeling glad that we weren't in the other end in the sun ☀.

Beautiful occasion, great memories and photos, even coped with the air conditioning on the coach not working.

And what a beautiful goal.


Up the Clarets.

Longsider wrote: ↑

Sun May 28, 2023 7:05 am

It drained me. I remember after the game at the end of Wembley Way the police were holding back hundreds of Burnley Fans. I looked around and nearly everyone was really quite quiet. A copper said, what's wrong with you lot you would think you had just lost. Pretty sure everyone was exhausted physically and emotionally. It was a full on day but I did love it. Can't imagine what s defeat would have felt like.

That’s the curious thing, a few Sheffield United fans said the same to us as we travelled back up. You’ve pretty much used up all your emotion by the end if you win. We got back and just had a brew. A truly great day though.

A mate who supports Barnsley said it was like that when they lost to Ipswich. Their lot were having a laugh later on and the Ipswich fans were actually really quiet.

I definitely enjoyed the whole thing, despite the nerves. Travelled with my old man and DCWat, as we do for every home game, which is the main thing I love about going to the football.

Stood at the game with the aforementioned plus my mates that I travel to away games with.

It was the first time I’d been to Wembley too.

Loved it.

Went down the day before with around 10 friends, soaked up the atmosphere in London (Millwall had played the Play Off and lost that day from memory) West End, Camden then a party in the apartment we rented.

Day of the game, no nerves as we thought we'd win, champagne for breakfast and then towards Baker St before meeting more friends near the ground.

Emotional at the end, lots of friends had bought tickets in the same blocks and we enjoyed the celebrations.

The only down part of the day was racing back to Euston for an early train, we celebrated all the way back and were jubilant at Piccadilly. Got back to Burnley where it was as flat as a pancake. We hit the time between those who'd watched in town leaving the pubs and the coaches (stuck in the car park) coming home. The after party at XS/MODE or whatever it was called at the time was good as different groups arrived back throughout the night to celebrate.

Reading away before it was a different story. When the goal went in, thought i was going collapse - I was passed feeling sick

It was a bit of a strange day for me. I had to work that day. But as it was in an office in Rathbone Place, just off Oxford street, I arranged for a colleague to cover for me for a few hours so I could go to the match. So it was almost a surreal event. On the one hand quite normal; walk down Oxford Street get the tube to Wembley and watch a football match and then go back to work. But on the other hand it was almost like a dream and quite unbelievable. I just kept thinking we are in the Premier League, how did that happen. Didn't do a stroke of work when I got back, I think I was in shock. The guard on the train going home that evening was a Bournemouth fan and I ended up chatting to him for a while as he was pleased that Wade Elliott had scored.

Went down on the coach from Burnley bus station - so busy it reminded me of the Wakes Weeks holidays when the whole town went to Blackpool.
Apart from the hour queue to get off the car park at Wembley, it had been,
A grand day out.

Loved the whole day and enjoyed the game when we scored so early.
However as the game went on and we missed so many good chances it became less and less enjoyable. By the last 20 minutes or so I was a mess and spent most of it in the concourse waiting for the final whistle to blow. When it did I returned to loving the whole day !!

Watched the highlights back on sky many many times and we were by some distance the better team but if there would have been VAR like yesterday I think there would have been at least one and possibly two penalties given to Sheff United.

No didn't enjoy it as I wasn't there and didn't even get to watch the game live

Was on a cruise to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary booked a year previously and consequently was stuck in the middle of the sodding ocean somewhere between the USA and Bermuda.

No mobile signal, no coverage of the game anywhere on board, wasn't even mentioned on the one news channel on the TV in our cabin!

Only found out the result next day when the ship was close to shore and I could use the internet cafe to access Clarets Mad (best $1 a minute I ever spent)

We're hoping to be on a cruise May next year to celebrate our 40th anniversary but I need to check the date of the 2024 FA Cup final just in case )

Wasted money on Club Wembley tickets, £100 each, what a waste of money. But Enjoyed the day until the 65th minute, at which point the woman sat next to me started with… “25 minutes to the premier league” “24 minutes to the premier league” and so on………..

Being a naturally grumpy, pessimistic kind of person, all I could think about on the way down there was what the journey home would be like if we lost. Its a long way to go to come back empty handed from the biggest game since 1987. Going one-up made me more nervous and left me feeling sick for the remainder of the match.

No. We were in Greece and having made arrangments with a Taverna to eat a meal there and watch the game, they subsequently realised that it clashed with some major Greek basketball match and told us we'll turn it over when the basketball finishes (probably allowing us to see the final 15 minutes) then got surprised/offended that we didn't stay for the meal we'd booked. We didn't manage to watch it anywhere, it seemed every TV in Greece was showing basketball that afternoon.

A wonderful weekend - ten of us from two families. Enjoyed the match feeling strangely confident in spite of penalty appeals. Wonderful Italian meal in Bloomsbury - spending more on Peroni than pizza/pasta and back in time for the victory parade

I thought the 2009 Play Off final was great. I had seen us lose the Sherpa Van Trophy,(my first Wembly experience) and enjoyed the play off final against Stockport, but this was better. My son in law had asked me to join him in supporting his team, Bristol City, and treated me to tickets in the 2008 final for them against Hull. I had seen how quickly the stadium clears for the losing side. The next year he treated me to the Burnly v Sheffield Utd final. I had thought beforehand it was our Sunderland v Leeds moment which it turned out to be. A special day and we were the ones to stay a savour it. It was also very exciting to meet the team when they came on their American tour which would not have been possible without that win.

I thought the 2009 Play Off final was great. I had seen us lose the Sherpa Van Trophy,(my first Wembly experience) and enjoyed the play off final against Stockport, but this was better. My son in law had asked me to join him in supporting his team, Bristol City, and treated me to tickets in the 2008 final for them against Hull. I had seen how quickly the stadium clears for the losing side. The next year he treated me to the Burnley v Sheffield Utd final. I had thought beforehand it was our Sunderland v Leeds moment which it turned out to be. A special day and we were the ones to stay a savour it. It was also very exciting to meet the team when they came on their American tour which would not have been possible without that win.

Living in Reading I enjoyed the playoff semi win
Wades goal was awesome but the final was a nervy affair , the best part was the final whistle.