‘IT WAS almost the best day of my life’.
That was the reaction of one young Sky blues fan watching the FA Cup semi final at the CBS Arena’s Anecdote bar after he found out Victor Torp’s last-minute extra time winner against Manchester United had been ruled offside.
Just seconds before, the fans were in a state of ecstatic disbelief believing they had a chance of repeating their famous 1987 Cup win next month- strangers were hugging, chairs were being knocked over and all was good with the world.
But for father and son David and Neale Woolfall, who were watching the game at the Anecdote, the ‘most amazing match they had ever seen’ was a cause for celebration despite the result.
Lifelong Sky Blues fan David, who lives in Norfolk, and son Neale, who lives in Leicester, travelled to Coventry City’s home ground to spend the day watching the game together at the Anecdote bar.
David lived in Coventry for over 30 years and wanted to watch his team’s big day out with his son.
Neale said, as they weren’t able to go up to Wembley, travelling to their beloved sky blues home ground to watch the game was the ‘next best thing.’
He added: “I’ve never seen a game like it, we came back from 3-0 down and were brilliant- I couldn’t be prouder of the team.
“It was an unforgettable semi final thanks to Coventry City.
“There will be people up and down the country that will be as gutted as we are with that last goal- we won.”
David added: “They deserved to score that last goal, it was an incredible performance, even when we thought it was all over at 3-0 down they stuck at it- what an amazing comeback.”
It was another family day out for Sarah Barnett and son Jordan Wright, who live in Wolverhampton.
Sarah’s father was born in Highfield Road and she was taken to Coventry’s historic former ground for the first time when she was six.
Sarah, who has a piece of Highfield Road in her garden, said: “It was just one of those things, I definitely don’t think the last goal was offside but we did what we did and were the last championship team left.”
Jordan’s girlfriend Rebecca Hampshire added: “I’m so proud of the boys, you saw the first goal ignite something in them and you could see afterwards they were one big family.”
