A few days a go I decided to spend an hour or two clearing out all the folders in my hotmail account to get rid of any e-mails I no longer needed. Now I knew I had a Man Utd folder in which I keep ticket news and old pictures etc, but as I scrolled down to the bottom and came across an e-mail entitled “Name on the Trophy!”.
Now I vaguely remember it, but couldn’t quite think what exactly it was. I opened it and it was an e-mail from my old work e-mail address from when I lived in London for three years to my hotmail account. The date that I’d sent it too was 26th May 2004, exactly five years to the day after United won the Champions League and of course the treble!
As it turns out, I’d e-mailed myself various quotes from the world of TV commentary from the day, as well as various newspaper reports from the days after the event. In total I’d sent myself three e-mails as there was that much information. Therefore as it’s 20 years this year since our famous treble campaign, over time I’m going to publish all of these quotes. Starting today with Clive Tyldesley and Ron Atkinson’s famous commentary. Goosebumps!!! Not that I heard it first time around as I was one of the 50,000 or so able to say ‘I WAS THERE.
“Is it going to happen *they need more* is there a hero in Red out there waiting to be revered *they’re now creating chances for fun* what we need now is the fourth official to hold up aboard with about 20 in it *we’re in the last of the ninety minutes* it’s not over until it’s over *the last final assault* deflected.
“Time for a corner. Can Manchester United score? They always score. Peter Schmeichel is forward. Beckham in towards Schmeichel, it’s come for Dwight Yorke, cleared, Giggs with a shot. SHERINGHAM!**..
“Name on the trophy. Teddy Sheringham with 30 seconds of added time played has equalised. They are still in the European Cup. Oh Teddy, Teddy. Extraordinary climax in the Nou Camp stadium *as things stand we will go into extra-time with the golden goal hanging like a massive shadow over this final.
“Unless Ole Solskjaer can conjure up another. You have to feel this is their year. Is this their moment? Beckham, into Sheringham and Solskjaer has won it! MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE REACHED THE PROMISED LAND* and the Treble looms large.
“We’ve needed a good European Cup Final for a while *what must Mattheus be thinking. With the greatest of respect, who cares? Now is that it – or is there something more* history is made.
“Manchester United are the Champions of Europe again and nobody will ever win a European Cup Final more dramatically than this. Champions of Europe, Champions of England, winners of the FA Cup – everything their hearts desired. Down and out? Not a bit of it. They are NEVER out.
“Memories are made of this forever and a day. United fans will ask ‘Where did you watch the 1999 European Cup Final? Where did you see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer win it with virtually the last kick of the final?’ And 50,000 or so will be able to say ‘I WAS THERE.’ What a party*”
There will be much more to follow…
Leave a Reply