Manchester City v Gillingham 1999: The oral history | OneFootball

Thursday 30 May 2019 marks exactly 20 years since one of the most pivotal moments in Manchester City’s history.

Joe Royle’s side took on Gillingham at Wembley in the Division Two play-off final and as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, City found themselves 2-0 down and staring into the abyss of another season in English football’s third tier.

But late goals from Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov took the game to extra-time and penalties, where the Blues eventually prevailed thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Nicky Weaver.

Here is the story of that day, told exclusively to the Blue Moon Podcast by those who were there …

David Bernstein – Former club chairman

“I was very clear. I’m as clear today as I was then. I was looking at that giant scoreboard at Wembley, Manchester City 0-2 Gillingham, and I could hear the Gillingham crowd singing away and I was thinking to myself, ‘what the hell are we going to do next season?'”

“I knew that if we didn’t go up, there was a chance that the new stadium deal wouldn’t happen. Manchester Council had been extremely supportive and our relationship with Howard Bernstein had been very, very good – but I knew they wanted to see some signs that the club was going in the right direction.”

“I don’t think [the club would have gone] out of business in the real sense, because football clubs don’t go out of business in that sense. If we’d been a normal, commercial company then the answer might have been yes, but no. Football clubs have a way of carrying on. What I think might have happened is that circle of decline could have continued if we hadn’t gone up.”

Ian Bishop – Midfielder

“I wasn’t supposed to play. I had a hamstring problem. I had to convince Joe [Royle] and train for that week. Even on the day before we left, he said he wasn’t going to risk it and I had to beg him. I was conscious of my hamstring, but I conned my way through training, I thought I’d con my way through a game.”

“Now everyone who takes penalties, the whole team is on the halfway life with their arms around each other. I got everyone together and I think that’s the first time it happened. I might be wrong, I don’t know.”

Paul Dickov – Striker

“I could never repeat that as passionately as that if I tried. All emotions came out. The noise the fans made and the players made when they jumped on top of me, it’s a moment I’ll always remember.”

Shaun Goater – Striker

“I think Nicky [Weaver] thought, ‘sod that, I’d better save a couple’. Someone whispered in his ear and said, ‘Shaun’s the fifth penalty taker, so make sure you save at least two!’ I was pleased because I think I was going for a little dink down the middle. No, I’d have leathered it.”

Mark Halsey – Referee

“We had goals, celebrations, one of the Gillingham players ran right the way to the crowd – and it was a long way from the pitch at Wembley. We had cautions, substitutes, a little bit of time wasting. All in all, I should probably have played around nine minutes!”

Kevin Horlock – Midfielder

“I thought that was it, if I’m totally honest. I remember the ball went out for a throw in by our own corner flag. I saw their two centre-halves cuddling each other, jumping up and down on the spot. The disappointment I felt at that moment was incredible.”

“On a selfish point, I still didn’t think [my goal] was enough. I thought the time was up. I know it sounds dreadfully selfish, but I thought, ‘we’ve had a terrible day, but I’ve scored at Wembley – and I can tell the grandkids that.'”

Andy Morrison – Captain

“Nicky [Weaver] went a bit crazy and started running. The lads were chasing him in a circle, but I’m slightly older and a bit more intelligent, so I cut him off at a slight angle. He was out of breath and we had a big pile on. He was struggling.”

“There must have been 20 people on top of him [Weaver]. I think even the physio and the doc were on top as well. Then he infamously said to me, ‘Get off you big fat bastard’.”

“From January onwards, every game at home were sellouts and I’ll never forget that incredible loyalty to the football club. Hell or high water, shit or champagne, they’re there. If any group of fans deserve to be getting the players we are now, it’s them fans. They were there when we were halfway down the Second Division.”

Joe Royle – Manager

“We had 50+ pros when I got there. Players time had forgotten. The first deadline day was spent in the boardroom, just letting players go on loan or frees – just to reduce the wage bill. We were financially bereft, it’s no secret.”

“David Bernstein came up to me after the game and said the Town Hall wanted to know if we’d do an open top bus tour, and I said no. Manchester City celebrating coming out of the third tier? That’s not right.”

Nicky Weaver – Goalkeeper

“I remember saying to the linesman, ‘If I save this, is that it?’ And he said yes. And I was like, ‘Are you SURE?’ And he said yeah. So I picked my side, dived – it wasn’t the greatest penalty in the world – and I don’t know why I went on that silly run.”

A special Wembley ’99 edition of the Blue Moon Podcast is available for download here.