They'd waited a long time for this moment in Stockport and they weren't going to wait a second longer than necessary. With five minutes of their 2021/22 season to go hundreds of supporters ringed the edge of the Edgeley Park pitch. It was time to get the party started.
In the home team's technical area Dave Challinor looked like the calmest man inside the ground. He shared handshakes with his backroom staff, asked the fourth official if it was worth playing added time and offered a thumbs-up to the fans who had gathered behind the dugout.
When referee Matthew Dicicco signalled for his linesman to begin the sprint for the tunnel Challinor was engulfed. Eleven years of pain, of frustration and of wondering if this moment would ever come were over.
