There are so many historical moments I have witnessed thanks to 24-hour news. 9/11. The 7/7 Tube bombings. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony. The 12-hour millennium celebrations in 2000. But there's two I hold close to my heart - more than anything else.
As many of you have been, I was born into a football-mad family, and have, because of this, been brought up with 3PM on Saturdays being a sacred time for any football fan. With Dad's Dad's Dad supporting United, Dad's Dad supporting United, and Dad supporting United, it was only a matter of time till I also became a Manchester United fan.
3 minutes, in fact. Dad had come back from the Man Utd vs. Crystal Palace game when Mum was about to go into hospital to have us, when we won the league for the first time in years. So, as I pop out, I'm in a United hat. Simple.
And I've lived through the glory years. I've been on the planet when United have won 11 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 8 Community Shields, an Intercontinental Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, have completed four cup Doubles and won The Treble. And did I mention we've won the Champions League twice?
Ah yes, the Champions League wins. Remember these?!
Back in 1999, I was just 6 by the time we were on for an unprecedented Treble. It was the season I attended my first United game too - at the age of 5, I went to see Everton get thrashed 4-1 at OT on 31st October '98. But it was May 26th 1999 that is the greatest day in MUFC history. Fact.
I'd been put to bed after watching the first half of the game - half 8 was a late night back then! But Mum came and got me up at the end of the game, and I watched us lift the trophy. That day has never, ever left me, and never will. It is a special day in every United fan's heart, and we all remember something from it.
I remember the victory parade days after. The replays of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer putting the ball in the net and winning us the match deep into stoppage time. I remember Mum holding the phone against the telly so Uncle Nick could weep as he watched in the States. And I still get goosebumps and tingles when I watch the game back. I've heard stories of fans who physically cry when they watch the game again. It was a magical, magical evening in Barcelona.
So let's relive it. Here's the goals, celebrations and the joy of English football.
But, we can't go through '99, without mentioning 2008! I was 15 this time around, and remember the whole season. A special season for United fans, as it was 50 years after the Munich Air Disaster which wiped out a golden generation of the team. How proud Sir Matt Busby will have been if he'd have seen this season.
It was, potentially, the greatest season in English football of all-time, based on performances. How many other occasions will we see the world's greatest player, Cristiano Ronaldo, score 31 domestic goals, and 42 in all competitions? How many other times will we see three English teams in the semi-finals of the Champions League?
How many other times will we see John Terry show his true colours?
120 minutes of tense, open, equal football between United and Chelsea, and that led to penalties. I had completely gone by this point - every nail was bitten, every hair was standing up, and everything in my stomach was turning round so fast you could wash your clothes in it and they'd still come out clean.
Goal. Goal. Goal. Goal. Boom.
Ronaldo misses, and realises instantly he's just lost United the European Cup. HE trudges back to the touchline, and sits, solemnly, waiting for the cheers, or the boos.
Goal. Goal. Goal. Nani to keep us in it. Goal.
John Terry to win it. Slips, scoops, over the bar. Mr Chelsea himself unveils himself as a closet Red, and we're back in there.
And it's sudden death - Anderson scores. Kalou scores. And on the night Ryan Giggs makes himself the all-time appearances record holder, with 759 games to his name, he steps up and plants it coolly into the net. All down to Anelka, and Van Der Sar makes himself a United hero, and saves it.
United are Champions of Europe for the third time, and my night begins. What a night. What a brilliant night. I'm not afraid to say I cried that night - it meant so much to every United fan, and after 3 hours of torture, it was everything we could have dreamed of.
Here's the whole penalty shoot-out for United fans to reminisce, and Chelsea fans to think what might've been.
Football. Bloody hell.
Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://gmoai.posterous.com
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