When striker Cedwyn Scott fired home the winning penalty to send 22,000 Notts County fans into ecstasy one word stood out - redemption. Redemption that the same player had a last-kick-of-the-game spot kick saved at Wrexham a few weeks back pretty much condemning us to the dreaded play-offs where we had failed for the past three seasons, had taken us back to the Football League.
It had been a momentous campaign, the team and individual players broke a number of long-standing records and we’d finished so far ahead of Chesterfield if it had been a boxing bout the trainer in the blue and white corner would have thrown in the towel before a punch had been thrown.
But it wasn’t, it was a one-off, winner takes all football game and the prize was the back to the promised land of league football, something both clubs have been without for too long. And as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes the vast majority of Notts fans, like me and all of my mates who had travelled to London, were mentally preparing our away trips to Halifax, York and Gateshead again.
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Then, just one piece of quick thinking from man-of-the-match John Bostock sent us all into raptures as his early shot slid under the body of former Magpies stopper Ross Fitsimmons and into the back of the net. Scenes and limbs, as the youth say.
Of course this is Notts and we never do things the easy way. Chesterfield took the lead a second time as any fans reading this will know but then some magical work down the left from captain fantastic Kyle Cameron and a shot from Ruben Rodrigues sent us level again.
From my seat at the famous stadium I was in line with the ball as it left his right boot and thudded into the turf. I’ll level with you, it seemed to hang in the air so long I felt I had time to put the kettle on and make myself a cuppa before it nestled into the back of the onion bag.
Further scenes and further limbs.
After the full-time whistle sounded I looked around at the 14 of us who had travelled down on Friday having decided to make a weekend of our first (fan allowed) play-off final at Wembley since 1996.
Barney was aged just one then and his younger brothers Stan and Albert weren’t even born. Oscar, the son of mate Steve (more on him later) was also still a twinkle in his father's eye.
They had never seen Notts County play at Wembley, all of them, along with their dads, were crying.
I have known each of the youngsters almost since the day they were born and I’ve sat with their fathers - and my other mates there - at Meadow Lane for more years than I care to remember.
This morning, as we walked towards the tube station at Paddington to catch the underground back to Kings Cross and home, Albert looked at me, still emotionally drained from the match the day before, and said “this has been the best weekend of my life”.
So, back to Steve, who I might add is not only one of my closest mates but also a former chairman of Notts County. Since yesterday he’s become something of an internet star among the ‘pies fans who went to the game.
Why? Because, simply for a laugh following last weekend’s equally incredible play-off semi-final at Meadow Lane against Boreham Wood, he made a not altogether sober decision to attend the final dressed as The Pope.
From the moment we left our Airbnb and got on the tube to head to the famous stadium, scores of people asked to either have their photos taken with him or for him to bless them and the team for a win.
In the incredible pre and post match atmosphere of the Notts fans-only Wembley BOXPARK he made even more friends. I was standing mouth open with his son as his father suddenly appeared on the stage and big screen to lead the crowd on a deafening rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Oscar looked at and said: “He’s your mate,” to which I responded: “He’s your dad.”
Stories of Notts fans from across the globe who have spent thousands to come and cheer Luke Williams' team on to victory and promotion back to the football league have filled my heart this week.
I met old friends I’ve not seen for many years yesterday, hugged and danced with strangers inside the stadium and told my friends how much I love them.
Football and Notts County, eh? I love both of those too.
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