Who knows?

My article from the FA Cup game against Stevenage 22nd October 2005

The pictures of those who went to Crawley last weekend celebrating the late goals from Jon Challinor that won us the game brought to my mind some of the great City away games I’ve been to in recent years. Away games seem to rank high in my list of most memorable City games. In fact, my top two all-time favourite City games are away ones, both coming in the same season.

In second place we have a wonderful trip to York City. I’ve been to York a couple of times and always seen us win. The one that takes the runner-up spot is the 3-0 win in February 2001, with a goal from Christian Roberts and two from Steve Flack. (Incidentally a certain Alex Inglethorpe scored the winner for us the following Tuesday, at home against Barnet.) A friend and I travelled up the night before to stay with his brother in Nottingham. We took the train, which was supposed to take about four and a half hours. Over 9 hours after leaving Exeter we finally arrived. Our return journey on the Sunday was equally bad. But I won’t dwell on that. Needless to say the trip was worth it.

City were, surprisingly, involved in a relegation battle at the time and desperately needed points. We got them in some style. The game had been designated a “purple away day”, so there were purple shirts, purple wigs, purple faces, purple balloons and, of course, purple pineapples, everywhere. A good 300 fans had made the trek up there and had a great time. As always seems to be the case at away matches, we were in good voice and thoroughly enjoyed the excellent performance Flacky and the lads put on for us. My friend was so impressed he wrote to our then manager Noel Blake to thank him and the team for making up for our terrible journey. It was a great weekend despite the best efforts of a train company who shall remain nameless.

In first place though is a game from a few weeks later in the season. It was the penultimate weekend and we faced a trip to Scunthorpe United. They were challenging for a play-off spot while we still needed a win to be safe from relegation. There seemed little chance that we’d get anything but a sound hammering out of the game. I made a late decision to go and hopped on the supporters’ coach early on Saturday morning. About 200 City fans made their way there and took over the pub just next door to the ground.

Totally unexpectedly we beat them 2-0, with goals from Christian Roberts (again) and Gary Birch. The celebrations at the end of the game were amazing. The fans ran to the front of the stand to mob the players who came running over. We chanted Blakey’s name, we chanted Steve Perryman’s name. It was like we’d won promotion. I think it’s the combination of the fact we were safe from the drop and that we’d won a game few could have thought we would that makes this game my all-time favourite. It was a great day.

There is certainly something extra special about away games, whatever the result. This must be to do with the journey and the fact that the atmosphere is always so much better than for home games. No matter how many make the trip, City fans always make themselves heard. Perhaps we could try this at home games too? Just a thought.