Semi Final Day Then and Now

Sunday 19th, April 2009 was quite simply, the best day of my Evertonian life. Sounds dramatic, I know, but it is the truth. I always said I'd never get to see Everton at Wembley. I wasn't old enough to remember the Wembley trips of the 80's, let alone go to them. 1995 is still a sore point with me as I couldn't get a ticket for the final, but both brothers went (watching on TV with my mum who was moaning at me for picking at my tea isn't the best memory to have of that day). Whether you agree with the semi finals being held at the national stadium or not, it gave me the chance that I thought I would never have and the excitement I felt as soon as the whistle went in against Middlesbrough in the quarter final only grew and grew as the day approached.


The whole day was just amazing, even writing about it now is making me smile and cry (happy tears). Being a novice at this Wembley with Everton lark, I didn't really know what to expect from the trip, but everything about it was just brilliant. From seeing hundreds of blues queuing for trains at Lime Street, most of them wearing Felliani wigs and waving flags to coming out of Wembley Park station and seeing Wembley Way literally full of blue shirted fans, I'm sure there were some Manchester United fans on there, there had to have been, I just don't remember seeing them as there was just a sea of blue. I made my brother walk all around the ground, so I could experience everything, the fans were in fine form, making the most of the glorious weather, the sight of four middle aged Evertonians in Fellaini wigs running back and forth through the fountain outside the ground while singing "We're on the march" as loud as they possible could is something I won't forget.


I'd been to the new Wembley a couple of times before to watch England and I had always said what that ground needs is thousands of Everton fans to be in it and I was right. Entering the ground again was a sight to behold, there was just blue and white everywhere, flags hung up, everything. One of the special memories that I will always treasure is a I was shown to my wheelchair space (incidentally, I am in the same block and row this time around, a sign maybe?), I realised that Take That's Greatest Day was being played, could there have been a more fitting song being played and even now I can't hear that song without seeing Jags penalty in my head. Next thing I knew who did I see being interviewed on the pitch side, but the best little, but injured Spaniard we know. You would have thought that I'd not seen him in years by my reaction, not a few weeks. I was phoning my mate who was another member of the Mikel Arteta Appreciation from our work to tell her to hurry up and get it so she can see him, like we were never going to see him again. I don't know why but seeing Mikel made me confident that it was going to be our day. Then came crowning moment before the game, Z-Cars being played, I don't think anyone knew that was going to happen, but hearing 30 odd thousand blues all humming along to that was immense.


The game itself wasn't a classic; I struggle to remember anything that happened in the 120 minutes of play, apart from getting the only decision ever to go our way off Mike Riley which sent Sir Alex into a child like stomp. As the last few seconds of extra time approached, the nerves got too much for me and I cried, I couldn't face the thought of losing on penalties, and when Tim Cahill of all players, missed the first one, the tears fell even more. My brother decided not to look at the first United penalty, yet through my tears, I managed to watch it and scream "he's missed it" while jumping on top of our Brian. Never thought Bainesy would miss his and he didn't and then came Howard's moment, yes, he saved Berbatov's, but it was hardly the best penalty in the world, at least Ferdinand got a bit of power behind it. Cue pandemonium in our end, apart from me, who cried even more. Neville stepping up, scared the s**t out of me, could see the headlines ex United player put old team through etc, but how wrong I was, he coolly slotted to put us ahead. I don't really remember United's next penalty, apart from it went in. Then up came Vaughan, the one player from the club who deserved something to go right for once, the thought of him missing made me cry a little bit more, but he was possibly the calmest man in the ground and put us within reach of the final. Anderson stepped up and as much as our willed him to miss, he took the best of United's pens and heaped all the pressure back on to us. I had no idea who was left to take our pen, but after his unfortunate and heartbreaking miss against Fiorentina, Jags was the last person I thought would step up. Well, if it was possible, I cried even more, prayed to anyone that was listening and hoped that his courage to take the vital kick would be rewarded and oh how it was. Our end just went mental, except for me, who once again, sobbed uncontrollably. The old fella in front of me seemed a little worried for me as he rather perplexed he asked why I was crying as we had won. I eventually regained some sort of composure to join in with Z Cars yet again and Hi Ho Silver Lining (no idea why that was played, but it was brilliant). The rest of those minutes and hours after the game consisting of me smiling like a loon, texting all or phoning my bluenose mates and family and still not quite believing we'd actually done it and done it after a penalty shoot-out. I think only after watching the penalties in the pub later than night did it sink in and singing "Tell Me Ma" down Southampton Row at gone midnight, just me and our Brian really did make it real. Sadly, the final never really lived up to the semi final.


So on to tomorrow, we all know form goes out of the window in derbies, but especially in cup games. All I can hope for is that the players go out there with no fear, like we seem to have at Anfield and play like I know they are capable of, like they did up at Sunderland. If we get that level of performance from them, we stand a very good chance of progressing. As for our fans, sing like you have never sung before, but sing for Everton and our boys. Support the lads and the manager, don't be distracted by what Liverpool are doing, singing. We are there to help get Everton through, I really believe that having 7nearly 7,000 fans up at the Stadium of Light helped us to win up there; don't think I've been in a better away end. Surely having over four times there tomorrow of us can make our end even louder and passionate that at Sunderland. However, the one time I was us to be quiet, is when the minutes silence is on. I don't expect any Evertonian will not be silent as Hillsborough affected blues as well as they had family and friends who were there that day and will know someone who lost their lives on the sad, fateful day nearly 23 years ago. We will show the victims’ families that we are with them in their ongoing battle to get justice and that nowhere like the city of Liverpool unites in times of tragedy.


Hopefully by around 2.30pm tomorrow afternoon, if all the above has happened we will all be dancing around Wembley to Z Cars again and planning yet another trip to Wembley in three weeks time, which wouldn't be a bad return for a girl who thought she'd never get to Wembley with her club!!


COYB