... was that the best atmosphere at SJP since the Manure match? I had an excellent time, and for the first time (ever?) wasn't worried when we went behind. I just knew we'd get back into it. And I'm the worst pessimist in the stadium!

We all sung our hearts out, had a great time booing the 'dirty Leeds' antics and went wild when we scored. Four hours later, still on my journey home, I had a smile a yard wide. This is why football will forever be in my heart.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Answers

AP

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

You should have popped into the Strawberry nick. Someone actually commented that there were 8 of us standing in a circle with big daft bloody grins on our faces.

We seem to have extreme highs or extreme lows, and nowt in between!

Got to admit mind, when that first goal went in I thought we'd blown it - and I'm still concerned that we just can't keep giving these top teams a goal start before we get our game going. Right now mind - life is sweet!

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Al, I wish I could have shared the moment in the Strawberry. I was rushing home as we had a 'do' on and I promised I would be home for 9. When I finally got back (late), then rushed to the 'do', no-one could really appreciate my mood. I got, especially from some women, that almost 'sorry for you, poor thing' look when I told of my happiness.

The thought of football becoming a 'middle class game' has never been contemplated in some circles; they still look at us as though we are hooligans from a council estate. I doubt they've ever in their lives had the same feeling of elation that goes with a good win, nor the downs either, and in my eyes they've never lived.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

It's amazing how many people you haven't heard from in months call you on the Sunday, isn't it? Even Marcelino has got back in touch with Tommy Craig...

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

After 15 minutes, still one goal behind, I turned to my mate and said 'who would you rather be just now, a Leeds fan 1 goal up, or us'? There was no way we weren't going to stuff them big time, and they knew it. That's why they tried to kick us off the pitch. We've all been to Toon games when we've been a goal up and we knew, just knew, that we still wouldn't win, just waiting for the inevitable sucker punch. Saturday was like the Blackburn game for me, insomuch as we always looked like we would score at least two. I'm the eternal pessimist, and yet I had no doubt on Saturday after the kick-off (before kick-off I honestly thought it could go either way) that it was a home win. And I thought the atmosphere was better than Manure, in fact best all season. After their goal the crowd were superb, and the lads responded to it. Felt a million dollars all night.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Have to agree, Nick. To quote from a conversation my much sufering wife had with a male friend (not that it should make any difference):

Wife: "At least Pete will be in a good mood this evening"
Very annoying, self satisfied, egg chasing friend: "Ho Ho. It doesn't really affect his mood does it?"

Err yes. Just ever so slightly. F@ckw@t.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

There was one point where everyone was singing 'Only one Bobby Robson' in unison around the ground that was very reminiscent of the volume levels when we'd just scored the third against Barcelona !! Unfortunately I had to stop singing at that point and just soak up the atmosphere. I even lost track of the game for minute or two ! Sends a tingle down my spine just thinking of it !!! `8¬)

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

If you can't get passionate about football, you can't get passionate about anything.

As was pointed out in the Strawberry, better than sex cos it lasts 360 times as long. :-{E}

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

The atmosphere on Saturday was the best I've heard at SJP all season. Anyone know the attendance ? The seat next to mine is one on general sale. The bloke that had it told me it was the only seat he could get !

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

You do realise that we are all completely barking don't you?

Woof, woof.....black & white army!

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Kats, did he know it was next to you before he bought it? Attendance was 52000 plus a balance of another 200 I think (thought I heard them announce 52,196)

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Would it feel as good if we hadn't suffered the Dalglish and Gullit years? Let alone Ardiles, Smith, Charlton, Cox etc (jeez the yardstick was different then).

There'll be a fair few contenders for Best Match this season, that's for sure and it's already had an effect on St James's atmosphere and ticket availibility, by all accounts.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

To be fair he was with his Son and maybe they were the only two seats in close proximity.

It's a bit of a pain as I've only once this season sat in my actual seat. I'm always moving so that people can sit together, it's always "eeh love are you on your own, do you mind moving so us people with mates can sit together ??" ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

It's down as 52,130 officially.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Once we equalised, I was in big smile mode, as I knew it was game over for Leeds. Not in the last few years have I ever been so confident of getting a result.

I thought the atmosphere was possibly better than the Manure match, basically because there was no "oh sh!t" period when the opposition came back into the game.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

As soon as they scored and their fans started gloating it seemed that the sleeping Geordie dragon who had only just got in it's seat decided it didn't like this and roared like never before this season. Even louder than against Man ure (oops typo).

Certainly I enjoyed it and it took several pints to sooth my soar throat that I got from singing.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Aye but did the camelcoat and barbour jacket brigades actually sing in the upper tier and platinum club libraries ?? Doubt it somehow

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

they may well have done, the Blaydon Races did seem to have people moving all over the place

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Biggest gate of the season by 3.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002