Sam Crispin, Fan Blogger, 14th May
In the 83rd minute of the game on Saturday, the fella next to me on the Big Bank turned, puffed out his cheeks and said, with a curious mix of delight and resignation: "This team will be the death of me."
He's probably not wrong. In fact, it'll probably contribute to the eventual demise of most of us. Exeter City match tickets should come with a Government warning on them stating quite clearly: 'SUPPORTING THIS TEAM CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH.'
I think my heart-rate is only just about returning to normal. In most games they make us suffer, but Saturday really was something else. Point blank saves from Paul Jones, goalmouth scrambles in front of the Big Bank, seemingly endless rounds of corner kicks for both sides and a few of those crosses that ping across the box and miss an attacker's boot by about half a hair's width - it was almost too much. The ball just wouldn't go in, and that clock wouldn't stop ticking away.
But we didn't give up in the stands, and they didn't give up on the pitch. As the volume from the Big Bank steadily increased, the players probed for a winner - George Friend was running his heart out, Ryan Taylor was chasing lost causes, Stevie Tully was scampering up the wing in his own inimitable way. But it was all amounting to very little. Then a substitution: Rob Edwards for Bertie Cozic, allowing Ryan Harley to push further forward, proved to be a masterstroke. The pressure on the Huddersfield goal increased until, finally, thank God, the little ginger maestro got himself on the end of a Barry Corr flick on and belted in a volley from the edge of the box.
Cue pandemonium.
After the goal, the atmosphere was electric, certainly the best I've ever experienced as a fan. Songs were merging into each other at an ear-splitting volume, scarves were swinging, people were bouncing, strangers were hugging. Every throw-in and goal kick we got was celebrated with as much fervour as a goal would be in any other game. Football may be a silly game to some, but to the 8000 or so City fans in the stands on Saturday afternoon, all of whom seemed to be on their feet and singing their hearts out, this mattered.
I know there's a certain fickleness to football fans, a tendency to forget and see the next challenge as 'the big one, but it really did feel like that on Saturday. For some reason, it felt better than either of the promotions of the previous two years did. Whether it was because we were at St James' Park, or because the goal came so late, or because we were the underdogs, or even because there were two games against Plymouth Argyle at stake, it just felt more...important, somehow.
It made all the struggle, all the thousands of miles travelled, the money spent and the vocal cords lost on the way, seem worth it. It made the trip to Wycombe, where a City side trailing 2-0 in the second half took inspiration from their travelling fans and fought back to gain a draw, seem like a key point in the season.
It made the passion and commitment shown at Swindon, from both players and fans, seem crucial. It made all the late goals at St James' Park in front of the Big Bank - against Millwall, Bristol Rovers, Wycombe and, of course, Huddersfield - seem like absolutely vital moments in the season, each and every one. And we, the fans, faithfully willing the ball into the net, were a part of them all. Think how different the season could have been if just one of those goals hadn't gone in.
We leave it late sometimes, and they don't half make us suffer, but, by God, it's always worth it in the end. And we wouldn't want it any other way, would we?
So what now, I hear you ask? We build, of course! To ensure the continued development of Exeter City Football Club, the new 'cycle' of the team that Lord Tisdale has been referring to must be allowed to flourish, starting with the introduction of a few new players, and the release of some of those we've got.
Inevitably, some players will have played their last game for City, and to them we should offer our thanks for their contribution to our club in the last couple of years, however small. Those players that are out of contract, or returning to their parent clubs, or even those that are hanging up their boots, all played their part in our recent success, and we should not forget that.
But, new players must be introduced. I'm sure we've all got our own opinions on which players we need and I won't bore you with mine, but suffice to say that if we want to improve on 18th place and another relegation battle then the increased budget must be put to use and additions must be made to the squad.
David Noble is already signed up and Troy Archibald-Henville will be raring to go. Good start, but more of the same please, Tis!
It's been a long old season, and a part of me is glad to have a couple of stress-free months ahead (as stress free as a World Cup summer involving England can be...).
But the other part of me is counting down the days until August 7th and the first day of the League One season. See you there!
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