Awayday Memories 

ITS RAINING MEN

York City versus Exeter City,

6th October 2001

York City 2 Exeter City 3.

Referee: J Ross

Att: 2054 with 77 City fans.

It was 6.30 am. on a drizzly, misty morning and two Grecian Exiles were standing at Cheltenham Spa railway station awaiting the train to York. The journey north was uneventful and we were glad that we arrived only 15 minutes late.

We made our way to the prearranged pub, just in time for opening and met some other Grecians who had made the journey. York is always a wonderful place to visit, with its winding streets, ancient Cathedral and excellent pubs. We had made the same journey the previous year for the 'purple away day, where of course we cruised to a 3-0 win.

We entered the ground just before 1 p.m. (early kick off due to the England vs Greece game), feeling quite happy. having introduced my fellow Grecian to the Cider Armadillo (Cider and Sherry), a favourite drink for the away day Exeter City fan

With 40 or so City fans enjoying the luxury of the York sponsors lounge and an early downpour meaning the majority of the travelling fans transferring to the seated section, resulted in only 20 odd fans left on the away terrace.

The first half was pretty even with both sides enjoying good opportunities, until Sean McCarthy capitalised when the York keeper hesitated, to lob the ball into an empty net, to the delight of 20 of us behind the goal. It really is an odd experience when you can hear your own screams of delight.

A few minutes later with a free kick on the edge York area, the away fans were mocking the York keeper Alan Fettis to watch his near post. only for Christian Roberts to drill the ball low and hard just inside the near post, cue mayhem amongst the wet travelling contingent

Half time came with the boos of the home fans and enter the local girls dancing troupe. To the tune of Geri Halliwell's. 'Its Raining Men." We copied their routine to a tee, despite dodgy terracing,

crush barriers and a lack of pom poms and rehearsal. The routine concluded with a pyramid of people, copied with perfection by us (well almost!). As the girls returned to their changing rooms the away fans somewhat embarrassed returned to the barriers, to the obvious delight of the rest of the ground who gave us a standing ovation.

The second half got underway with York on a mission. 15 minutes in and they seemed to walk through our midfield then defence to pull a goal back. This was followed by a nervy 10 minutes before City got back in the game. Then in the 70th minute Christian Roberts stormed down the right wing. before cutting in, rounding the keeper and rolling the ball into an unguarded net, again to the obvious delight of the travelling fans.

We had one or two chances to put the game beyond doubt, but inevitably didn't. As the York crowd slipped away early they scrambled a goal in the 90th minute. We were all utterly hoarse but still I urging the ref to blow the final whistle. York surged forward for an undeserved equaliser.

A corner and a superb save from Van Heusden resulted in another corner in the 94th minute. The kick was headed away by our commanding defence, only to be chested down by a York player and drilled towards the corner of the City goal. The ref blew his whistle and by the time he finished the ball was nestling in the net in front of us. The home fans celebrated, but the ref shook his head, we had scraped through 2-3. We celebrated like we had won the league, in fact it was our first away win of the season.

It was nearly a perfect day two Greece goals, a Sheringham header and a Beckham 93rd minute stunner resulted in that perfect day. which only required a five hour train journey home.