The 25 May 2014 was all very exciting for me as I headed to the home of Football, Wembley Stadium, to watch my local club Leyton Orient play Rotherham United for promotion to The Championship, the second tier of English Football – just one behind the hallowed halls of the Premier League.
It’s felt surreal to see my local club play on the biggest stage in England. A small east London club playing i font of fans twice the number of what they are use to, in a stadium as vast as Wembley.
It was a cracking game too. The O’s had one foot in the Championship going into half-time 2 goals up thanks to a wonder goal from Moses Odubajo, a star at such a young age and a tap in from Dean Cox. But a scrambled goal and an incredible 30 years volley from ex-O’s striker Alex Revell tied the game all the way till the dreaded penalty shoot-out. You can watch a highlight of the game here. Rotherham’s second goal (fourth goal of the game) was a beauty!
Watching a game at home will never compare to watching the game live in the stadium. You can feel every tackle, every shot, every save. You are totally immersed in the atmosphere. It is that which makes it so special. The roar which greeted our goal and the deathly silence when our dreams were dashed on penalties. You go through an emotional roller coaster.
Again, my side were beaten on penalties. Heart-breaking. To have had such a magnificent season and then to have all that hard work thrown out by penalties is cruel. The cruelest fashion to lose a game and my wait goes for the day when a team I support prevails on penalties.
Despite the bitter disappointment, O’s everywhere can be proud of their team. We’re all right behind the boys who missed their spot kicks and we shouldn’t forget their massive contribution which gave us a shot at Wembley in the first place.
Despite the heartbreaking result, it was an very enjoyable day. It was good to an old friend again having been away for so long (it was thanks to him who managed to get the tickets!), and I filled my stomach with some particularly good Italian food, Prezzo, near the stadium. Comfort food if you will. Our Seat afforded a particularly good view of the stadium too.
So we remain in the League One, but after such a magnificent season, hopes will be high for promotion, automatic or through the play-offs. I will be behind the O’s, at home, at work at the Matchroom Stadium every step of the way.
Kritt Normsaskul 