Play off Final Torquay V Cambridge 17th May 2009

It’s been a couple of days but the joy has not diminished one bit. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has the widest grin on their face and keeps saying “Get in there”. ;D

We watched the game in its entirety again on Monday night and last night we watched the goals again, and again, and again. I’m still not bored of watching them and it still sends shivers down the spine. Get in there.

There isn’t much to say that hasn’t been said already especially the post by Jon that pretty much summed it up, but there are a couple of things I would like to add.

The journey up was strange, M5/M4 full of cars and buses carrying Torquay supporters with lots of flags and scarf’s in/out of windows, yet a subdue, almost anxious, look on their faces. It was the same on the way to and around the ground, the Torquay supporters passive whilst the Cambridge supporters very vocal in assurance that they were going up, to the point that I got the impression from most that they thought they were already there and the game was just a formality, a celebratory party. It was then that I realised that not only had Paul Buckle got his team/squad well prepared for the game but it had also rubbed off on the fans. We seemed to have the mentality that it was a just game of football, no gimmicks, no assumptions, no new shirts, no suits, focus on the game, just another game. An example that I’m sure more teams will follow in future.

Dave you should rightly be very proud of yourself. You almost single handedly instigated Lewis as a mascot, which the club then took further and made him the mascot on the day. Whilst watching him lead the team out we did spare a thought for you as well as Lewis. No tears here for me, just an overriding sense of joy. Well Done mate.

Strangely enough I actually enjoyed the game, well apart form the first 15 minutes. I was quietly confident before and from what I saw of Cambridge I wasn’t impressed, I sort of got the feeling that they were not going to score. So once Hargreaves had banged in the first I relaxed even more and found it very enjoyable. Then when Sills scored it was time for the party to begin. (note to Cambridge fans, party begins at 2-0 up or at the final whistle, NOT before the game, NOT after a semi-final).

I didn’t envy the guy who had to choose a man of the match, I could have given it to all of them, but a couple of highlights for me;

Carlisle: Awesome game and so pleased for him. He has taken a bit of stick but got stuck in and put in some great performances towards the end of the season, culminating in a magnificent performance on Sunday. What a ball for Sillsy, I’ve seen it literally hundreds of times now and it gets better the more you see it.

Hargreaves: Truly magnificent, words fail to describe the game he had and to see the joy on his face when he scored was absolutely priceless. It also brought the first of many lumps in the throat. If you get chance watch the goal and celebrations on slow motion, see the obvious pain of last season disappear as the ball crashes into the back of the net and then watch as he passes Bucks, who tries to calm him down, and the way he manages to switch right back into game mode. Also look at what it says on the captains armband as he rips it off his arm, RESPECT, enough said. Also the way he has conducted himself these last few months, not knowing whether he was going to be given a new contract, yet he knuckled down and gave some of his best performances, just when they were needed most, a shining example to others. Top bloke and as much as I would like to see him in the centre of midfield next year, in a way I feel that he deserves to quit now, at the top after playing in what is probably his most important game ever.

Poke: On Sunday I thought that his save was OK, it looked more like he intercepted a cross. The replays on the big screen also made it look like this. Having seen the replay from behind the goal I now appreciate what a fantastic save it was, top drawer.

Rice: Yes I know he didn’t play, I know he has been out on loan and I know most of us would have had kittens thinking there was any chance he was going to end up in goal, however, I tip my hat to him big style. He was the very first player onto the pitch at the final whistle as he ran over to congratulate Poke. He was as pleased as anyone. Fantastic attitude. Sent out on loan, to a club many leagues below, knew he wasn’t in Bucks plans at all and judging by the attitude of a recent club captain (who was treated less shabbily than Rice) he could have thrown his toys out of his cot, sulked, gone behind the managers back etc, but he didn’t and he got his reward in the end. I hope Bevs did get a medal, but I hope that Ricey keeps his as well. It’s a squad game, Ricey (amongst others) typifies the attitude that the manager has been working towards and for that I hope he enjoyed his day out and I believe he fully deserves that medal.

But most of all I was pleased for Paul Buckle. Which I am going to elaborate on in a different post.

A truly fantastic day, memorable for many many reasons and made the more enjoyable by the people I was lucky enough to share it with. They know who they are and I have told them what it meant to me to enjoy it with them. A day I will never forget and yes it is alright for a grown man to get ever so slightly emotional.

Like I said in a previous post I was more pleased for Paul Buckle than anyone. I’m not sure I have ever seen a manager with so much negativity aimed towards him when he has gotten to successive play offs and a trophy final. Yes he has made a few mistakes, for me the biggest of which was probably the second leg of last years play off semi, but for me he has learnt an awful lot from his mistakes. He has come back stronger and wiser and we have benefitted from it. I can see him having a successful career in management wherever he might end up. Maybe then some will look back and wish they had gotten behind him a bit more.

Even on Sunday there were cheers of “Leroy”, which I not only find strange, but also slightly disrespectful to Paul Buckle. It seems some have such a short memory, whilst I, along with everyone, else appreciate what he did in taking the team he inherited to promotion. I also remember the reaction the following season when HE took us down. Plainmoor rang out with cries of “You don’t know what you’re doing” whilst he leaned against the dug out hands in pockets.

On the other hand Paul Buckle has taken a squad that HE put together and turned them into promotion winners, in JUST 2 years. However, the job is still not done. He still has to tweak the squad in preparation for next season and I agree with those who say that this will be a good marker.

I believe he has done a fantastic job and we have gained promotion BECAUSE of him, not inspite of him. I also believe he has EARNED the right to be given our unwavering support next season. Though I am realistic enough to know that will not happen. Expectations will be high, particularly after what Exeter have done this season, but we should ignore this, they were the exception rather than the norm. If we go into next season with to high an expectation then people will get on his back, and thus the teams back, before to long.

For me survival next season has to be the first priority, a top ten would fantastic, but so would mid table obscurity. Anything more is asking to much. Don’t get me wrong I would love to be up in a play off spot, but don’t let realism overtake optimism.

We saw a different Paul Buckle after the whistle, one I haven’t seen before. It looked like 2 years of pressure and the fear of failure drained from him as the whistle blew. We saw a more relaxed, probably relieved, person and the first real show of emotion from him. The first real celebration. Surely that’s the mark of the man though and its in keeping with the attitude he has shown these last few weeks. He was here to do a job, the job had many ups and downs but wasn’t finished until the final whistle blew on Sunday, that was the time to celebrate and celebrate he did. I do so hope that he enjoyed it and took it all in as I felt that he deserved it. Yet during this he still took the time to make sure that the rest of his back room team were there at the end, together, a team, nice touch. It also brought home to me that as much as I believed he deserved it, it was actually the whole backroom staff that deserve the plaudits. WELL DONE TO YOU ALL. Not only should Bucks be given a new/extension to his contract to keep him here for a minimum of two years, but they should also be given the same deal. Keep them here and give them a chance to prove that they can cut it in League 2 and who knows we might all be pleasantly surprised.

Just back in Lancashire after staying a few days in Felixstowe and taking in the match, so first opportunity to post. What a fantastic day - congratulations to Paul, he has nothing to prove at this moment ,he's earned the right to take us to a higher level. Two sublime goals from our talismen but what a fantastic team effort. The squad maintained their quiet but fierce determination right to the end of a demanding season, typified by Greavsie whose vital (and quality !) goals during the run-in were so important. Sillsy too, playing that unforgiving role of target man, carrying a couple of injuries but still chasing to close them down as the dying seconds ticked away. Did anyone else notice him bending down, with hands on knees at one point because he had run himself into the ground ? The match seemed to go in a flash for me at Wembley, on which subject does anyone know if there is a DVD of the game available anywhere, as there often is of these matches ? I for one would love to watch the whole thing again.

Call that a header, Messi. I recall a better one to make it 2-0 only the other week.

Is there anyone on here that was one of the pic takers after the match when we hung the massive flag over the balcony in front of the statue. Holding it meant i couldnt take apic of it. If anyone did can they pm me as id love a copy. Ta

Pete just go to swangulls post and on the left hand side left click on his user name. A new window will open and on the top right hand side please left click send personal message

A post window will open, just write your message the same way you write a post then at the bottom just click send.

Please do not forget that when you log in, under all the buttons that are under the banner you will be able to see if you have any PMs to read, if you have just left click on the word message and a window will open with the PM in it for you to read.

Dave R