Since the play-off final at Wembley there seems to have been a sort of bond between our 2 clubs. On the day of course you experienced the absolute high of winning and going to the Premier League. For us it was a desolate feeling. The goal that beat us was an amazing strike and worthy of winning any game. One of my memories of that day is how well the fans got on both before the game and the months after the game. I know many Bristol City fans followed your Premiership adventure with a bit of envy, but wanting you to do well. We cross swords again this Saturday - we have a massive defensive injury crisis this week, so I am not confident! I thought you looked a decent side at Ashton Gate (I have always liked Koren). Anyway, all the best for the rest of the season (apart form Saturday!)
It's ok we've got an injury crisis up front as well, unfortunately for us none of them are injured so we'll be playing someone with no strength as the lone striker again. I'm sure one of these days it'll work, it's just rather irritating that if they don't get one on Saturday our first two strikers won't have scored a league goal between them for over 2 months.
There's been a good bond between the 2 sets of fans since that day at Wembley, even at the end of the game when there was contrasting emotions between the sets of fans the good feeling continued amongst us. I can remember the Bristol fans being magnanimous in defeat, and we as Hull fans knowing we'd seen a close game which took a goal like Windass' to win it and amongst our euphoria we could empaphise with how the Robins fans felt. Should be a good game on Saturday, good luck for the rest of the season (except this weekend of course) and hope you can stay up
It really was quite amazing that day. I remember walking back down "wembley way" to the station, and having Bristol City fans on both sides clapping the Hull fans as we went. Weird. But brilliant. And I will cherish you Robins for it for the rest of my days.
The Bristol fans were brilliant in defeat, although I do remember one old bloke sculking around near the coaches, muttering 'You're going down with the Stoke'
What a refreshingly great post (OP)... Puts all this Leicester gibbering into perspective. Sport should always be about loyalty and winning, but after the whistle blows it should be about friendship and respect. I've never done the hatred thing. I've always liked the way LFC would clap a team off the pitch that beat them fair and square. One of the reasons I love going to Twickenham is the intense, passionate support coupled with the ability to sit next to a rival and still shake their hands after the game. Looking forward to being there Saturday - weather and commute permitting!
Great post ^^^^^^^ this. I echo the words of the other posters on this thread above mine. Wembley was one of those games where it was going to take a wonder strike (which it did - thanks Deano) or a clumsy own goal. Deano's strike indeed was worthy of winning any game and what made that day even greater for me was the Bristol City fans after the game. Whilst upset for there own team they wished us all the best and hoped we stayed up which we did. The past 2 years going back to Ashton Gate for the 3-0 loss last season and the 1-1 draw this season have been brilliant. Great banter and shared memories of that Wembley day. Good luck after Saturday Bristol City fans you should be ok. Thanks again for making Wembley May 2008 one of the best days days of my life.
Great response,great but bitter-sweet memories,great goal scored and a sad journey home... Oh - we were clapping you on the way out but you were also clapping us back,as I said great response. Respect to you all Hull City fans....
The weird thing about the goal is that Sky helped to make it happen. When I got home from the weekend in London and watched the programme back off my Sky+. In the build up to the game they had Windass and Beagrie (as a team mate of Windass at Bradford) doing a piece, I think it was at North Ferriby where Windass was playing when we resigned him the first time. During the interview they were having a kick about with Beagrie pulling balls back from the goalline for Windass to volley in. It was an almost identical setup to the goal he got on the day. Who knows, without the extra practice Sky gave him he might have mistimed his shot a bit at Wembley and the result ended up going the other way. Oh and on the fans' reaction after the game. I was quite proud of us as a group that having won the game, even when it got to 7 or 8 and people had had a few, when Bristol fans came into pubs the first thing that tended to be said was someone would ask if there was any news about Orr's injury.
One of my favourite memories from that day at wembley was the bristol fans, before the game mingling in that McDonald's car park and after on the tube etc they were outstanding all day long. Nice to hear the sentiment remains to a large extent, as well so fair play.
Agree entirely--me and the missus was on a tube and were the only tigers amongst a carraige full of reds--great banter and friendliness on the way to wembley--relatives live near Bristol so all the more of a bond
I remember heading back to the coach in the car park that day and as the coaches passed with the Bristol City fans on past, we, our fans, stopped and applauded the Bristol City fans, and they acknowledged and applauded back. Every fan we passed in person wished us luck on our new journey and we thanked back. True mutual respect for one of the cage-iest Play Off Finals in recent time.
I remember some Bristol City fans who were a little bit more negative. Having just left the stadium (after what seemed like about 30 minutes of celebrating and singing myself hoarse), some of their fans (not sure why they were still near the stadium so long after departing unless they were taking in the statues / ambience etc.) said "You'd think they'd look a bit happier. We'd be going mental if we'd won." I don't know if it's the shock of getting to the top flight or the previous celebrating but... A further anecdote: Due some odd circumstances, I found myself standing at a bus stop on the north circular just after the Blackpool v Cardiff playoff had finished. Whilst waiting for my bus I saw numerous coaches full of both sets of fans going past. Everyone looked as miserable as sin! Or at least shellshocked. Not one of the several hundred fans I saw go past gave any hint of having watched their team win the playoff final. On the bus home I saw one Cardiff fan waving a flag outside the Travelodge in Wembley and assumed that must mean that they had won. How wrong I was.
Just my own story even though i was not there on the day.Was in a local pub over here and someone introduced me to a chap from Bristol etc.He was a Bristol City fan, with trepidation i told him i was a City fan, he said you broke my heart that day but being beaten by such a goal made up for it. And yes i am still jealous that i was not there!
Was a great day for football, fans on both sides where so friendly, before, during & after the game, shame for us Robins that our dream never came true that day, but I can honestly say, we could not have lost to a better club than Hull City. Lets us win on Saturday, you owe us one for that day at Wembley!! Lol.