There tends to be a lot of lists that pop up at this time of year, usually covering subjects such as best- and worst-ever signings, top 10 Boxing Day games and greatest FA Cup third-round shocks.
They’re all well and good but they can get a bit ‘samey’. Reading some of these articles, though, it did set me off into a bit of a daydream, which eventually led to the question, ‘What’s the best game I’ve ever been to?’
The answer turned out to be Doncaster Rovers vs. Chester City in the first leg of the 2002-2003 Conference play-off semi-final at Belle Vue, Doncaster’s old ground. Yes, it was a game full of drama and tension, finished off with a climactic injury-time equaliser from Tristram Whitman but that’s not why I’d claim it’s the best match I’ve ever been to.
Read through sites offering betting tips such as bluesq and you’ll find loads of articles covering some of the biggest games on the planet. This relatively small match, taking place back in May 2003, certainly felt massive for me and my mates as we walked to the ground. We were hoping for a few goals (almost, we saw two), perhaps the odd red card (we got that), maybe even a penalty (nope, but two out of three ain’t bad) and, most importantly, we were looking forward to an evening spent among mates. We certainly weren’t disappointed there.
You see, although the match definitely helped matters, we were only about 15-years-old at the time. The youthful enthusiasm that came with being that age felt as though it permeated the entire crowd gathered together in the Pop Stand. Scaffolding held up the rickety old roof, seating hadn’t found its way to the ground and cigarette smoke filled the air, as did the smell of burgers coming from the food hut nestled at the back of the terraces. The combination of being surrounded by your best mates, those factors I’ve just highlighted and a late equaliser – followed by the obligatory pitch invasion – made the match special and the evening one I’ll never forget.
We can get carried away by all the high-profile derbies, Champions League football and showboating prima donnas that generally steal the limelight, but sometimes mates, soggy chips and a bit of lower-tier football is all it takes to create a night that lives on long in the memory. I think that’s something football fans should never forget.