My Wembley Experience 5

This time it is the turn of Paul Marsh.

The day started poorly, I felt sick and faced a 3hr bus replacement service into london but I wasn’t about to miss this. I met my Mum, Aunt and Uncle (Arsenal fan) at Wembley Park. We made our way to Wembley, soaking up both
the atmosphere of the Blues fans and the rain.

After taking part in Wembley’s answer to a Step Class we reached level 5 and took our seats. Already the west side was filling with Blue noses with hardly an Arsenal fan in sight, too used to it I guess? The big screen played a rousing, ‘we are Birmingham’ film. We were ready, we were going to enjoy this day…just prayed it wasn’t going to be a cricket score. The teams were announced with the players position indicated under giant black balloons…ok.

National anthem sung, off we go. KRO sang out, time to do our bit. Everyone was suddenly on their feet as Bowyer was through…keepers brought him down, whistle, penalty! No, flag. The game seemed pretty open, Arsenal look threatening on the attack, but far from convincing at the  back, we were in this match. Then the moment of disbelief, one corner, Johnson header back, Zigic header, GOAL! We couldn’t believe it. We jumped  up and down hugging each other and anyone near us. We were in the lead. I started to clock watch, half time couldn’t come quick enough. Sure enough a great goal from van Persie saw Arsenal level. The girl in front of us turned around, wide eyed with a look of dispare, which was reflected in my face. Oh well 1/2 time and one-all, I’d have taken that at the start.

To be honest I don’t remember a lot about the 2nd half, chances at both ends, Foster stopping every shot that I was sure was a goal. I do remember one point when almost the whole defence was on the ground, they looked shot…but they kept going. Then, that moment.

It was like a slow motion replay. Koscielny and Szczesny far too close, but no real threat…the ball squirmed out from beneath them. WHAT! They’ll clear it. No, Martins is closer…it’s an open goal…no-one near him…he’s going to miss…we don’t get luck like this…he’s going to miss…he passes it, not blasts it…it’s…IN!

We go mad, this can’t be happening, disbelief, joy, hugging, shouting, jumping. 1 min on the clock, surely no coming back now? A couple of nervous mins to go. Ah what a weak header out. Here they come again. No it’s cleared to Martins, the keepers out…aaaah. CJ has it in the corner. Another counter, cleared…Martins has it again, around the keeper…ooooh.

Whistle goes…ah booking.

Whistle goes, IT’S ALL OVER…cue more hugging, it’s amazing, no-one can quite believe it, stunning. We’ve won, and through good football too, so proud.

Lots of singing, cup raised, hurray, Mr Blue Sky, KRO, all a bit of a blur. Eventually we make our way out, practically the last ones out.

The walk back to the tube interrupted with helping people take group photos of beaming fans. The ride back to station talking about the goals, the amount of effort displayed and…playing in Europe! Not even a war eh Carrot?

We got to Victoria and waited for my Mum’s train to arrive. An Arsenal supporter came over to us and congratulated us, said we’d deserved it and said how friendly the fans were when she was in Brum last, really nice.

 What an amazing day. Back home to watch the highlights. Watched the full match on iPlayer last night. Still grinning.