Those recollections were actually culled from the ToffeeNet mailing list and published on TW in early 1995 (I *think*).

Back then, the site, run by Michael and Marko Poutiainen, didn't have a comments facility — it probably didn't even have images by that point! — but feel free to reminisce here on this thread. I'm sure most Evertonians can remember it like it was yesterday!

I cried like a baby at the end

I got in the car mid morning-ish and set off from the welsh borders. Drove across the midlands, through Wiltshire down to the M4 at Swindon across to Bristol eventually ending up in Weston Super Mare.

I visited museums, went shopping with the missus (never been since), did absolutely everything to avoid radio, tv etc.

Ended up with a take away roast dinner in a carton from the pub grub shop (surprisingly very nice) and parked on the beach at weston at about 4.30pm watching wind surfers.

Switched the radio on at 4.55pm - the missus knows when I have something in my eye and went for a stroll on the beach as I cleared whatever it was - must have been in both eyes as well, how strange.

I think that day has the single biggest influence on the physche of Evertonians to this day.

(I was living down south at the time - was like a bear with a sore-head all week

Couldn't get a ticket - not sure i would have gone if I had - didn't know what to do Sat afternoon.

Left the house at 130pm and went to the shooting range - went on the point at 255 and put a picture of Vinny Jones up 25 yards away and stayed there until 1715 - put just under 800 .44mag rounds down and it cost me a fortune. Wasn't much left of the pic I can tell you!

Went back to the car at 5 o'clock - took me 15 mins to pluck up the courage to put radio on only to hear that 'we are now leaving these amazing scenes at Goodison' - another 5 mins before I found out what had happened and not ashamed to admit I cried like a baby.

Never ever want to go through again but of course we did - but that's another story of the Bold hotel in Southport (only place I could find without a tv or radio!!!)

I was 14 or 15 and thought we were safe when Barry Horne hit that screamer. Remember just being so happy. I recall at half time foolishingly saying what a dive for the pen had about a dozen animated strangers telling me it was a blatant penalty! I shut my mouth up immediately then. Atmosphere was unbelievable, never known anything like it

The Wimbledon game in 1994 (everton shirt on) I was 13 doing my paper round. Put the Echo through the door at a house on Lovelace Road in Garston, a builder was standing on scaffolding at the house shouted down to me that Stuart had just scored and we were staying up. Needless to say, I went off on one'. I didn't cry (thought I was too hard back them, haha) but I went off on one running up and down the street singing the blues!

And don't forget Coventry '98 ...

I'd just started going out with my girlfriend (now wife) and took her to this game, which was her first ever match. We were 2-0 down and I was actually crying. She turned round and, in a big loud voice, said "Why are you crying? I don't understand what all the fuss is about, it's only a game." By he end of the game, she understood.

12 years old.

Cried almost all the way through.

That day I realised just how much Everton means to me.

A fuckin' pillar in the Bullens Road blocked our view of "Diamond" scoring the winner. My Dad thought Cottee had scored at first.

Stephen Kenny - I think you made a very good point. I've always viewed us as underdogs,battlers,etc probably because of that game.

I'd never say "knife to a gunfight" though.

Anders Limpar - could have killed him, could have kissed him.

I can remember it was a sunny day, had fish and chips from the Goodison Superbar.

Everyone was honking their horns after the match when we drove home. Was going through an old cd box on friday and found the programme of the day - big Brett angel on the front.

I usedmy lucky jinx that day - bet on everton to go down knowing that my football luck with the bookies would seem through. Best £14 quid I ever spent.

Facts that season

Cottee scored 19 goals
We got stuffed 5-1 by Norwich
Previous season we had lost 5-3 to a les Ferdinand inspired qpr. I was the jinx at both
The average everton gate was 22481
Unsey was in the first team squad as was bob the pole and pie man joe Parkinson.
We had beaten Liverpool home and away
The yts players produced no one of note

I didn't sleep the night before - nightmares. Vinnie Jones scored from a corner on 89 minutes and Clive Thomas waved away a blatant penalty as John Gidman was scythed down whilst dribbling into the box... it was just a dream - my stomach sank as I awoke an embraced the reality... today was the day we could go down.

The mini-bus to the game was muted - there was always banter and ribbing and even the odd song breaking out... but on that day nothing. One teenager broke the silence saying that if we got beat he was 'on the pitch to twat Mike Walker'... we ignored him... but I can assure you, there'd have been a few to hold his coat. We disembarked from the mini-bus and all headed straight into The Spellow. Again the atmosphere was one of quiet desperation; blokes who I'd normally swap stories with were afraid to catch each other's eyes and I've never seen so many people staring into empty pint glasses.

Outside the ground and a bunch of lads were congregated asking for 'any spares' ... for a moment I thought 'I don't have to do this... I can sell my ticket and go back on the ale and win lose or draw I'll be too pissed to care' but I kept on walking.

5 minutes before kick-off, some lads were trying to start up a song, all around me people were looking into the distance, worried faces, trying not to catch each other's eyes, trying to avoid conversation on what might happen...

The teams came out, the whistle blew... and that was that... 0-1... 0-2...

Now, I've been at games were the atmosphere was electric as they say... I've been at games were the crowd were on the team's back, I've seen crowds roar in triumph and in anguish when a decision has been blatantly unfair - but I've never before or since been at a match where the crowd were a bawling seething mass of absolute anger, disappointment, rage and hatred all rolled into one and I really did think that it got to the players - both Everton and Wimbledon players alike.

2-1... come on... come on... COME ON and then that majestic strike by Barry Horne... and we erupted and I mean went absolutely riot squad barking mad... but then came the third.

I don't believe for one moment Sagers was paid to jump over that ball - I do believe that the Bear pit cauldron of the Street End scared the bejaysus out of him...

The final whistle and blokes embraced each other like long lost brothers and the tears began as did the celebrations that were more lasting and heartfelt than they were when we won the league or the cup - at my local the floor was covered in diamonds of broken glass and the sticky carpet of spilt booze where the riot had started as the blues who'd not game the match and kopites clashed as the second Wimbledon goal went in...The pub manger, a mate, said that he was shutting the pub on match days from then on...

'It's only football' said the ex missus when I eventually got home that night... 'only football' and it's true.

Do I remember that day? - do I ever... and I never want to go through another day like it... never.

I was sat in the extreme side of the Main Stand. A dead pigeon had somehow got itself wedged down the side between the seats and the wall. Didn't seem like a good omen.

I remember walking down Goodison Road and there was a young bloke (shaven head, tattoos, the works) and he was bouncing a baby up and down in the air with one hand. I was terrified I was going to see a child killed before my eyes.

The Coventry game was in some ways worse. If I recall correctly it was out of our hands - if Bolton won at Chelsea we were down, whatever happened at Goodison. Can anyone confirm that?

Bouncing baby was AFTER the game I hasten to add.

Kevin 525

Amazing description, mate, absolutely down to the bone raw.

Yeah Brian, I think we were a point behind Notlob so if they'd have won we'd have gone down whatever. As it turned out, even if they'd have drawn we'd have gone down (as we failed to beat Coventry).

Kevin Sparke, you've summed up perfectly.

Wimbledon game I was one of those in the trees in Stanley Park.

Puts our current "struggles" into perspective.

Like many on here say they have done in recent years, I refused to renew my season ticket for that year out of "protest" and also because I was working away. By the time "that" game came I had already attended every home game anyway and paid out more for the privilege so I was going to renew.

For the first time ever, I was queuing to pay at the turnstiles for the Paddock with my uncle and my RS mate (who wasn't coming to gloat, he was a genuine football supporter). The queue snaked round and then I heard rumours that there were only 600 places left. So I just jumped across the curve of the line and dragged the others with me. No-one noticed and when we were about three from the turnstile it started getting really nasty behind as it was obvious there was going to be a lockout.

We got in and about 20 mins later I wished we hadn't. It turned to morbid curiosity as I recall because I couldn't imagine Everton being relegated ? but we were gone, it was obvious.

I think it even got worse in terms of disbelief when Barry Horne walloped that shot in. What on earth was happening? By the end, I was drained and I never wanted to go through that again...

But we did of course and I'm always curious why our last day escape against Coventry is never mentioned the same way. Especially since I think that was the season we escaped with a draw at the Reebok Stadium with a clear Bolton goal disallowed, and Bolton went down that year. Had it stood, those positions would have been reversed.

I've never been close to giving up my season ticket since, even though I have worked away a lot and given the tickets for quite a few games to family members.

I was 12 or 13 and spent all afternoon locked in my bedroom (my mam knew it was serious for me to be at home on Saturday atfernoon!) listening to Radio 5 crying my eyes out, for different reasons all throughout the match!!

I'll never forget the feeling of going 2 down, of Barry Horne scoring and the final whistle going...I've never been the same since that day!

Who's up for a Barrrrrrry Horrrrrrrrne!!!! Who needs Cantona when we've got Barry Horne chant to kick off tomorrow's game, get the Gwladdy bouncin'. Can't wait for the match now... Everton always seem to do well when the sun's beaming down on the Old Lady, COYB! Jela brace to sink the Magpies!!!

A school mate of mine at the time got me a ticket at the away end at Upton Park that year, a couple of games before the season ended. We got absolutely battered from pillar to post by West Ham, but I just remember Tiny Tot Super Cot scoring the winner in front of us.

Looking at how the season turned out, that was a crucial 3 points we picked up as many I'd spoken to after the game felt we'd done enough to be safe... how things very nearly went horribly wrong.

I can remember being nervous as a kitten till I met up with the lads in Orry's on County Road and sank a few lagers and shared our thoughts.

I also remember having a laugh about the Wimbledon coach being set on fire at the Daresbury in Runcorn the night before the match.

I can also remember that footy commentator from the TV, Barry Davies being in Orry's trying to have his lunch, strange for Orry's at the time!!

Watching the match from the Upper Gwladys over by the church was an absolute nightmare. Once the winner went in, it was celebrated more than any other goal I've witnessed apart from Andy is our King in 78.

Back to Orry's after the game the atmosphere was electric, big hangover next day, its funny but many RS work colleagues try to rip me about that day and how it was celebrated, I just say to them that until you've been in that position and escaped, you'll never understand. Hopefully one day they will find out!!!!!

All of the above and more. What did stick out to me was watching the replay on MotD was how the players were crapping them selves and just plain nervous at 0-1 and 0-2, everytime the ball came near our goal and how they seemed to calm down when it was 1-2.

I was working in charge on a night shift in Melbourne, back then, one of the world service channels used to give live broadcasts on radio. Fortunately one of the nurses on that night had enough insight to see that I was fecking useless on the ward after we'd gone 2-0 down so sent me off to the tea room to see out the rest of the match..... what a night... I prefer to recall on the memory of memory of THAT night against Bayern.... was a student nurse in Walton Hospital, working a late that night but got up there for 3/4 time.... oh happy days

My Dad took me to 'Pleasure Island' for my birthday THAT day with some pals. I was only 12 years old. I was wearing my Everton shirt and some girls told me 'Everton are going down. Your losing 2-0!' whilst we queued up for Quasar. I recall going about my day enjoying it, messing round with my mates but with Everton at the back of my mind throughout.

Word got around that it had gone 2-1, and then that Barry Horne had scored to make it 2-2. Me and my mate Louis - the only other blue amongst us - grabbed the car keys from my Dad and legged it back to the car to listen to the remainder of the game on the radio. When we heard that Graham Stuart had scored we just went mental, the car must have been bouncing up and down, and we listened to the remainder of the game, hearing the other scores come in...and that was it we were safe. I recall Dad driving us home and the traffic ridiculous, me waving and fist-pumping at Everton fans walking past. I remember it like it was just yesterday...and then the next season we won the FA Cup...it's criminal we didn't build on that really.

More importantly, what did happen to Pleasure Island?

Joe - we were in the paddock. I forgot we paid on the gate and nearly didn't get in.

It's strange... I had a better night on the beer after the Wimbledon game than any of the league titles, FA Cups and Cup Winners Cup we won. I ended up in Yates Wine Lodge and it was bouncing; we were singing the Great Escape tune till the early hours... ha ha!

After the game I shook hands and chatted with Bill on the train back to London.

(if I met the slippery shit-house now, I'd shake more than his fucking hand).

You'd give him a wank? Horrible that Eugene.

Joe @ 535 you said,
But we did of course and I'm always curious why our last day escape against Coventry is never mentioned the same way. Especially since I think that was the season we escaped with a draw at the Reebok Stadium with a clear Bolton goal disallowed, and Bolton went down that year. Had it stood, those positions would have been reversed.



Yes your right Joe, the ball at Bolton did cross the line, but if it had of been given we would have been the one's complaining because as Big Nev was trying to catch the cross he had his arms pulled apart by one of the Bolton players for what was a blatant foul. As usual the ref bottled it and gave neither.

Season ticket holder in the main stand, salmon and blue stripes away shirt on (to this day the best away kit), sunny day, at 2-0 down I went to the toilet to recycle the lager but I couldn't 'go I must?ve lost control of my bodily functions, but I was numb.

The Barry Horne goal, weirdly enough I can remember that goal better than any goal this season-pandemonium (in the main stand!!) I had about 12 people on top of me, one of them probably in his 80's, but I didn't care blow the fuckin whistle. A near miss by Dean Holdsworth who was a fairly useful but typical Wimbledon CF

Game over ever body hugging each other, I set off down Walton Road adrenaline surging through my veins running at top speed like I?d just scored the winning goal arms in the air; I must?ve looked like David Pleat or Bob Stokoe, but did I care (incidentally the lads I was with left early because they couldn?t take it anymore)

Getting home after a fair few bevvies, to watch MOTD, the image that sticks out in my mind were two lads probably 10-12 years old on the pitch on their knees hugging each other, and me like a big soft bastard had an alcohol fuelled weep of relief.

Happy memories? GTF!!

I sat in the upper bullens awaiting kick off when up the steps walked two kopites Who drank in my local, the pricks went white.
They sat behind us and when we went one down I could not helped myself, the whole of the bullens glared at them when I screamed my anger and they fucked off when the second one went in no doubt laughing we were going down , how wrong they were.
I see one of them occasionally and just offer the beaut a smug grin.
I partied that night more than anything as the tension that had lasted for weeks warranted the party, I will never forget the feeling in the morning of the game, it was horrid, but we laughed last, my mate even received mail on the Monday with relegation shit in it from someone expecting it to happen, we laughed last COYB

Mark (621) That's quite a..um..revealing interpretation.

You had the choice of neck, which, in the context, I assumed everyone would have thought was the body-part I was referring to.

To be fair, I suppose there was the very slim chance one or two may have thought I meant some other body part (legs, arms, head etc).

But incredibly, you chose the penis.

NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!

I should point out though that 'shaking' a/one's penis doesn't really constitute a wank and the only 'result' will be a worn out wrist.

(by the way, if you lie on your arm for 15 minutes, then press 'submit comment', it feels like someone else's post..probably)

Eugene, 628

Class, click submit....haha

I too met Bill after the game outside the wilmslow, me and Paul Flynn,

We had are arms around him, and him us,

He said it will never happen again,.....err Coventry?

I said, who we gonna buy?

Bill, Chris Sutton... Done deal...

Great i said, and told everyone i knew...

couple of weeks later , he joined Blackburn for 5mill i think,

Bill must of thought we were deffo signing him because he would,nt tell an evertonian a lie!

Would he.:)

There's still a bit of Goodison Park growing in me mum's garden from that day. A reminder of a day of fear and ecstasy.

Does anyone else think Hans Seggars was a bit suspect for that last goal by Stuart? I've always thought he didn't really try to save it but made enough effort to try and make it look like he did. If it was his intention, he never told Holdsworth, did he?

That and the Coventry game have probably knocked a couple of years of my life but it's all part of the course of being a blue.

The final game of the season invariably brings back memories of any club no matter who you support, 1994 was no different.

I remember the day like yesterday, in 1998 a draw was enough but after Holdsworth had scored the penalty and Ablett put through the own goal, panic had just taken over and then I felt numb, I went through the experiences of a whole lifetime in the duration of one afternoon that day, as did many others. We get back into it from a nothing penalty on Limpar, Stuart keeps his nerve, then the Horne strike, and Stuart again, after a Hans Segers 'error' with nine minutes left in change, and we turn it all around and save our hides. Not only did we survive when it all seemed lost and our first drop into the second division since the mid 1950s, but we went on to be FA cup winners the very next season. An amazing last day of action that will live with me forever.

Turned the radio off at 2-0 & contemplated life outside the elite while doing some menial task to avoid speaking to anyone. Turned it back on & we'd got one back so turned it off to see if the trick could be repeated. Sure enough it was & then just as I was about to switch off, the 3rd went in. Cue scenes from Fever Pitch!

Wimbledon game, couldn't go, didn't want to and saw on Ceefax that it was two - nil and though "Well that's it then!", switched off the telly, kicked the cat a few times and started to think about following Rugby or cricket instead.

Out of morbid fascination, put the telly back on a 4:55pm, cue me apologising to the cat and thinking all was well again.

Fast forward to the Coerntry game, I was working in Magalluf and had just arrived and was watching the game on telly, told the boss that no matter what the score was I wouldn't be working that night, as I intended to get leathered..... some of the longest minutes of my life watching the last 5. Whistle blows and I was out all night. You knew an Evertonian straight away, as we all had the same look in our eyes and the the same stupid grin on our faces.