A decade of memories - part one

As the first decade of the 21

Century comes to a close I thought I'd have a look back at the defining moments of the noughties,

.

Originally I was looking to do a top ten but after much deliberation – and an inability to decide which two to cut out – I've gone for the twelve defining moments of the past decade. No doubt we all have different ideas but these are mine. Happy Xmas to all readers and thanks for everyone's kind words over the past 12 months.

1. Relegation at Ipswich Town

A bizarre opening choice maybe but the 2 hours spent inside Portman Road in May 2000 were probably the proudest I've ever experienced as a Walsall fan. All season Ray Graydon's patchwork quilt of freebies, rejects and home grown talents defied the odds time and time again in refusing to accept the inevitability of relegation. 45 games gone and we again found ourselves on the wrong side of the relegation line, needing a win at promotion chasing Ipswich and a favour or two elsewhere. Supported magnificently by a travelling support that fully understood our limitations and recognised just how hard they'd fought, the players on the pitch gave everything in search of an escape that even Harry Houdini would have been proud. This time however proved to be one escape act too far and after a first Ipswich goal left us with a mountain to climb of near Everest proportions a late David Johnson goal finally killed us off. Undaunted by this knock out punch the 2000 or so Saddlers fans in attendance refused to cease their support and after the encouragement of a defiant clenched fist salute from the heroic Jimmy Walker proceeded to go through the entire team sheet singing the name of every player in a Walsall shirt. To their eternal credit each and every player responded. Yes we were relegated but by heck we went down with dignity fully intact, kicking, screaming, smiling, singing, defiant and proud as hell.

2. 27^th May, 2001 – Cardiff

Probably the least enjoyable day I've ever had watching Walsall . In advance I was so looking forward to it, win or lose we were going to have a great day. However, as we entered the outskirts of the Welsh capital the volume on the bus began to diminish and the realisation that this was no place to not be a winner hit home harder than a Lennox Lewis left hook - defeat suddenly became no longer an option. A nervous start and uncharacteristic James Walker error gave Reading a half time advantage that the talismanic Don Goodman eliminated early in the second half. Unable to press home our second half superiority the game moved into extra time and almost immediately swung the way of our opponents as Martin Butler nipped in to give Reading the lead. As the first half of extra time concluded I slumped into my seat, hands covering a head that wasn't much higher than my knees. We were gone, we looked gone and most worryingly of all we looked like we knew we were gone. Fortunately Dean Keates & co didn't share my sentiments and a quick turn around pep talk and triple substitution by the genius that shall ever be Ray Graydon led to one final 15 minute charge at the Reading goal. Keates chased and harried like his life depended on it, finally forcing Tony Rougier – a man with previous amongst the Saddlers faithful – into the most unbelievably bizarre own goal, the kind we never ever get. I honestly remember nothing about the 67 second gap that sandwiched that goal with Darren Byfield's winner apart from thinking "that's got a chance, oooh, yyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssss!!!" Returning home later, reflecting on the day, I concluded that I was very right. Play off final day is no place for losers.

3. The Departure of Ray Graydon

When Andy Cole left Newcastle for Old Trafford I recall a much respected manager pointing out that nothing in football should ever surprise you. He was right, and many subsequent deals, results, appointments and dismissals continue to prove this rule. Then on the morning of 22nd January 2002 I received a text that stopped me dead in my tracks. Internet access was much less freely available then and the next few minutes were spent frantically phoning people were sure to know the truth. Unbelievably it was true, Jeff had axed the man who provided the basis for much of his claims about us spending more time at the second level of English professional football. Promoted in two of his three seasons at the helm and almost pulling off an even greater miracle in the season sandwiching those two promotions Graydon appeared utterly unsackable. Jeff thought otherwise however and in the space of 48 hours traded his managerial Rolls Royce for a rusty 1974 Austin Allegro. Complete, absolute and utter madness, which the Club has continued to pay a high cost for ever since.

4. Back from the Dead at Grimsby Town

Conceding goals in the early stages of both halves of a game is never a good idea. To do it in a March relegation six pointer makes it even less recommended. Needless to say on a breezy afternoon in Cleethorpes we found ourselves in exactly that position; games were running out fast, we were 0-2 down and the post game league table was about to have an ominous look about it. Mathematics might have suggested otherwise but in reality the gap between us and safety would almost certainly have been too big. So when Darren Wrack smacked the post with 15 minutes to go you could have been forgiven for concluding that the trap door that we'd been clinging to for much of the season was about to slam closed. Thoee fingertips we were hanging on by were on the verge of being well and truly squashed.

Enter the afro. Not content with writing a bit of history with our first goal at Cardiff , Super Don Goodman - just back from a lengthy injury lay off - entered the fray as a late substitute and changed not only this game but the course of the entire season. An 80^th minute flick on provided Jorge Leitao with the chance to set up a thrilling last ten minute onslaught and as that time ran out a through ball gave Darren Byfield the opportunity to drag us back from the brink. The small band of travelling Saddlers supporters behind the goal went memorably bonkers in celebration of a result the helped shape a short but significant period in Saddlers history.

5. West Bromwich Albion on the Opening Day of 2003/04

Wow, four goals up in little more than an hour – each and every one of them a contender for goal of the season, playing one of our traditional ugly sisters off the park and the best player in the division wearing the Walsall number 10 shirt. This was a truly iconic afternoon in Saddlers history. Inspired by the amazing talents of Paul Merson & Vinny Samways we completely embarrassed the eventual Champions of the division with the best, most complete Walsall performance I think I've ever seen. Everything worked, everything came off and almost everything hit the back of the net in a game that almost certainly was the high point in the curve of growth and development during the early part of the decade.

More memories next week.