retired_sfa97

Chapter 5: Lets chop down a forest!

Our luck seemed to have changed after that Sunderland match and we were back on track and heading up, by the end of Febuary we'd already closed the gap on Forest to 12 points and were lingering in 9th place. I was still in my free scoring form, now on 22 for the season and now we were winning, my goals were really starting to count. More good news came in the form of Seth Johnson returning from injury to boost our chase for that last promotion spot. In other places though, Arsenal were runaway leaders of the premiership again with Man U and Chelsea giving a futile looking chase. Milan we showing why they were favourites to win the Champions League and England were leading their group quite convincingly.

Outside of football i was lapping up the attention i got where ever i went in Leeds. It was like being in cheers, everyone knew my name and wherever i went they were always glad i came. Despite all this the right woman still eluded me, despite a small stint with a lady who shall remain nameless, but the letters A and T may give you a hint as to who i am refering and if it don't, well, guess you'll never know. Now it wasn't the fact that i couldn't get a girl but now it was harder than ever to find the right girl. Once ya get money in ya pocket there is some little wench trying to get at it. Not that all women are bad but, it's tough, especially with the fixture list on the horizon. Clubs and bars yielded the same gold diggers ya find on a nightly basis so i just decided to call it a day for the time being and concentrate on other matters.

Back to the football and we kept our unbeaten running going into and out of March with our best result being a 4-1 win at home to Millwall. We also had excellent draws against title chasers Leicester and Derby. The Leiecester game was good cause my lil bro Chris has managed in his time to get himself a regular place as well as being a regular name on the score sheet as well with 7 goals this season, he always did like to copy me. Going into April looking stronger with each match we knew the big game would be against the team we were chasing, Nottingham Forest, away. Nothing less than a win would keep us in the chase for that last play off place. We kept our heads and took things a game at a time but it was hard not to think about the forest match, with half the city talking about it and us knowing it's the make or break game of our season. Wins against Cardiff (2-0) and Crewe (3-1) made sure we were going into the game now unbeaten in 11 games.

The team that lined up for this was Sulivan, Kelly, Kilgallon, Carlisle, Crainey, McMaster, Wright, Gregan, Johnson, Me and Deane. We headed out into a rather warm Saturday afternoon in Nottingham to the tune of a packed City Ground. I was nervous for the first time in a little while, guess i just become accustomed. The match kicked off and we started the better of the two, using the wings well with me and Deane making mischief in the heart of the Forest defence. After 20mins we were by far the better side and the first goal was came soon after. Joachim tricked his way into a bit of space before crossing to find the head of Deane who made no mistake. 1-0 up and now math wise, just 6 points behind Forest with 4 games left after this one. But not's let get ahead of ourselves shall we? The goal seemed to have been the kick up the arse they needed, lets not forget, it wasn't just us chasing them and the others who were chasing them at that point were a damn sight closer than we were let me tell ya.

They soon found their feet and an equaliser. 29mins gone and Reid skipped past Kelly the Kilgallon before slotting it round Sulivan, in short...bugger! For the longer version of that ya just had to listen to the gaffer, kids behind the dug out cover your ears. Half time we soon upon us, before that point Reid had again game close, hitting the post while i was waging a personal battle with Michael Dawson, a battle which so far he had won. We got a strong talking to in the dressing room before we were sent out to face the music. We started the 2nd half and we couldn't have started worse. Almost straight away Joachim gave away the ball to Reid, he streaked up the wing before cutting it back for Ross Gardener to stroke into the top corner. The gaffer was not pleased, he made Basil Faulty look like a calm and sane human being. 2-1 and again we kicked off and went at it and i mean really went at it. For 10mins alone Forest were stuck in their own half while we battered them with shots, crosses and headers. At time they couldn't even get out of their own 18 yard box, it was great stuff to see. But nothing came of it, funnily enough our equaliser came from their attack. Reid, again causing problems turned to back track a little but his pass lacked pace, Wright got onto it and helped it on into my path. Now, while when it comes to the air Dawson has me in his back pocket everytime but in an outright run, he hasn't got a chance. I left him for dead as the keeper stood tall. I didn't need a touch approaching the ball, i knew what i was going to do. I simply opened my body up and curled it from 18 yards into the top corner as if i was Thierry Henry, 2-2 and it was game on with 20mins left!

We had our tails were up now, we were still having trouble keeping a lid on Reid's runs but we were simply going hammer and tongues at Forest and it didn't take them long to buckle. 4mins after i equalised, Crainey moved up the left flank, beating his man before cutting back to me. I was ready to turn and have a crack before i heard Seth Johnson gimme a man on shout. Laying it back to Crainey his simple one touch pass across the area dropped it right infront of Sean Gregan who simply leathered it towards goal through the crowded penalty box and into the bottom corner, 3-2 and that play-off place was getting ever closer to being ours. The rest of the match was spent trying to get another before the match kinda got bogged down in the midfield, both sides had chances but the final whistle blew and we had the 3pts and a 12th game unbeaten.

retired_sfa97

Chapter 6: Onward and upward?

We were well into our last push, the final 5 games of the season. I was preparing for our next match in the usual fasion when my phone rang. Getting off the garden lounger i looked at the number. It was my agent (git), i answered it, after letting it ring for a while,

"MATT MATT!!"

"What...what?"

"Guess who i've just had a call from?"

"I don't pay you to give me quiz's, dude i'm trying to relax here, whats up?"

"Just got off the phone from Sir Alex.."

"Ferguison?"

"The very same. He says he wants to sign you. He's seen you play and says you have a big future, one he wants to see pan out at old trafford! AND seeing as you only signed a 1 year deal with Leeds, you can talk to other clubs and leave on a free at the end of the season. This could be big for us, imagine the money we could make..."

"Money...you think i'm in it for the money...You cheeky little *****....your not looking out for me, you just wanna line your own b**tard pocket!! Look, plain and simple call him back, tell him in no uncertain terms he can shove his offer up his arse, i ain't no f**kin sell out and if i ever do leave Leeds it sure as f**k won't be to go to Manchester United....oh and your fired, call my phone again and i'll f**kin ave you!!!"

With that the conversation ended. While i was slightly flattered i was also disappointed, i wish i could have told Ferguison to shove his offer. The last little threat would probably bite me in the arse but i always did have my doubts as to the true nature of my agent. He always seemed to have an angle. From that point i decided to deal with my own matters when it came to contracts, who else knew what was fair and right for me other than me? The rest of the day was spent lazing around in the usual fasion, i was an expert lazier at the time. The following day i was back in training. I let the gaffer and the board know about my change in agent and the whole Man U saga and left them with it, i didn't really hear any more about it.

The next 3 matches went almost without a hitch, a 2-2 draw with Gillingham being the only real slip up before wins against Reading (2-1) and Wigan (3-2). That now left us with 1 game left, a home match against Ipswich Town while Nottingham Forest faced an away match against Cardiff. In their last 3 matches they had won 1 (Millwall 2-0), Drawn 1 (Leicester (2-2) and lost 1 (Derby 2-0). Forest lay now on 71 points with a goal difference of +14 while we were on 70pts with a goal difference of +12. Our whole season rested on 90mins of football. We needed a win, nothing else would do really but for the most part, our chances lay in the hands of a team who some believe started our disasterous fall from grace in that F.A. Cup 3rd round tie at Ninnian Park a little over 2 years ago. We were ready and raring to go as we strolled out into the rammed to capacity Elland Road, the sun beamed down from the skies above, the pitch looked absolutly amazing and the noise? Well there's no finer in the world in my view.

In the stands i could see fans with radio's at the ready, tuned into events in Cardiff no less. The gaffers only words in a very short team talk were "Just get out there, get the 3 points and don't even think about anything else, not Cardiff....no ya missus....just focus on those 3 points and then we can worry about whats happening there." He must have said something right cause we hit the ground running, in the first 4 mins we were ahead. A beautifuly swept in corner from Spring found the head of Gregan and the fans were in raptures. All thoughts of anything else were out of our heads for now. The rest of the half was played out in the same manner of us dominating, they broke loose a couple of times before we pinned them back again, hitting the cross bar twice and having a goal disallowed. The ref called for half time and we disappeared towards the tunnel but just before i got inside when we heard an almight "AHHHHHHHHHH" from the traveling fans, we all knew what it meant but tried to keep it out of our minds as we headed to the dressing room.

Again the gaffer kept it short, telling us to just keep up the work, keep doing the same and the goals would come sure enough. He'd already bannished any info from Cardiff and all of us by now knew better than to ask about it. Again we strode out onto the pitch, the fans still giving us that incredible support which i would enjoy for years and years to come. It was their turn to kick off and again, we started in the much the same fasion, a ball cut behind the defence left me with miles of space to run into. Taking the ball a good 40 yards i cut it back for Mcmaster who had snuck in at the back post to make it 2-0 with the easiest of tap in's. 2-0 and firmly in cruise control. They kicked off and we continued our unrelenting pressure into the last quater of an hour. We were firmly in control of the game, just passing it around like we were on the training ground when the home support began cheering like we'd scored, i was a little confused for a few seconds before it hit me, Cardiff must have equalised. That was the spur we needed. We clicked up a gear, Mcmaster found space on the right and crossed to the back post where i rose like a salmon and headed home for 3-0, incredibly that was now my 31st league goal of the season (As i said, free scoring) We finished off our match before the live radio report boomed over from the speakers scattered around the ground. They were into the last minutes, if the result stayed the same we were in the play-offs. We all listened as the commentator suddenly yelped out "Penalty, penalty to Cardiff! I think the referee is calling a hand ball against Dawson." We were cheering already, it was the dying seconds, we lead Forest by a point and now cardiff can put it in the play-offs for sure. I missed who was actually taking the pen, all i heard was..."Smashed home, Cariff lead 2-1 now and it could be another season in the championship for Forest!" Of course we already knew, we were into the play-offs. 16 games unbeaten, finishing 2 points infront of Forest and now left with just 3 games and 2 teams seperating us from the premier league.

Once in the dressing room the gaffer called us to order, "Ok, were in the play-offs but don't start celebrating yet, we still got a hell of alot of work to do before we can really crack open the bubbly. Enjoy this, you've done bloody amazing to come back from where you were, but you ain't done yet!"....Well, when he's right he's right....

retired_lazza68

good story pardon my ignorance but i take it this is not based on actual events on a game data...? but very good none the less when will we hear on ur play off campaign

retired_sfa97

It's actual game data spliced with a little bit of extra...pow maybe, to give more of a real feeling. I'm getting there, what you must understand is, i'm 10-11 years past this point in the game so it takes time. Anyway ty for the support, update coming next

retired_sfa97

Chapter 7: Is this the way to....Cardiff??!

The next morning we were all back at Thorpe Arch for a team meeting. In the first leg of the play-off semi's we'd face Derby County at home, they finished 3rd and only just missed out on automatic promotion behind Sunderland. The meeting was over in around an hour and we were soon all headed out of the training ground and home. The drive home was a short one as i was still lodging at the gaffers house, i still had yet to find a place i could afford, but the boss and his wife told me i was welcome to stay. Needless to say on the money front i was getting just a little bit nervous by the fact that i hadn't been offered a new deal yet, i mean i was the leagues top scorer by a mile and would gladly accept any offer they made. But at that time i had to cast it off and work towards the greater good of the side. The days and nights passed without real incident before we found it was game day again and this one would be the biggest of the season.

Again i was named in the starting line up, Gregan was suspended so Vincente came in to replace him. I was paired with Healy who, despite alot of promise, hadn't really delivered this season. The rest was pretty much the same as usual. The night air was electric as we stepped out into a once again rammed to the rafters Elland Road. Both of us were able to field strong sides in our quest for promotion and soon after, we kicked off. It wasn't an epic start to the game by any stretch of the imagination but we had a couple of chances each in the first 25mins before we got the break we'd been craving for. Kelly's well timed pass found Healy on the edge of the area before he released Mcmaster (who later looked to have been offside) before chipping to the back of the 6-yard box for me to volley home with plenty of venom, all i could imagine was Chris Kamara (legend!) shouting "Unbelievable!" as i reeled off towards our fans.

The rest of the half saw Derby probing a bit more, a half chance fell to Tom Huddlestone but he fired straight at Sulivan who lobbed the ball out as far as he could. Healy was again in the making of this goal as the bounce caught the Derby defence flat footed leaving just Healy and me. I shouted for him to shoot which he did, Lee Camp made an excellent save before the ball fell to me and i didn't make a mistake as i stroked it home for 3 yards. Again the fans in raptures as i celebrated with my trade mark wings and punch of the air before kissing the badge, 2-0 to the good as the half time whistle blew from the ref. Excellent start but still alot to do and the gaffer made sure we understood that we weren't even half way there yet. Again we strode out into the floodlit stadium, the fans enjoying their pie's and chips and whatever else as they kicked off the second half proceedings with Miller hitting the outside of the post just 2mins into the half. That seemed to steel us and sober us up to the fact that Derby weren't dead and the weren't buried. Action became thin for the next half hour or so, long ball stuff handled well by each defence and both sides play being bogged down in the middle when the ball was played on the ground. But as my mum still says, patience is a virtue and soon enough we found a way through. I at the time was still mouthing off about a foul that had just happened when we took the quick free kick, the ball up the left wing found Seth Johnson, i was screaming for it and it came to me, opening my body and hitting it through the crowd of players only for Camp to get a hand to it but that just dropped it into Healy's lap and he lashed home from close range, 3-0 and now surely we were half way to Cardiff and a show down with Either West Ham Utd or Reading. However, after the ref called me over and booked me for my earlier outburst which meant i was treading on thin ice. It was my 4th yellow of the season and another would mean a ban.

The rest of the game for us was spent in our own half, the rams dominating play before the final whistle, 3-0, we were in a commanding position as news came across that Reading won the first leg in the other game 2-1 at home.

The whole city was buzzing for the next few days. The fans turned out in their hundreds to see us off as we left for pride park. The support was incredible and even now, i think half of our success that season was down to them keeping faith in us where no one else would. The trip to Derby was a short and rather boring one at that, most opting to play cards while i just slept at the back of the team coach before the gaffer came and stirred me,

"Sorry to wake ya matey but we need to talk.."

"What about gaffer?"

"Ok, not gonna bulls**t ya kid, but ya on the bench for the Derby match. I seriously can't afford to have my top scorer banned for the play-off final should we get there. I'm gonna have ya on the bench as cover but i'll only use you should i really have to..."

"I understand gaff, no worries. Oh, and one other thing, you heard anything from the board about renewing my contract?"

"We've discussed it but we want to wait and see where we'll be next season and the fiancial implications, were still in heavy debt and we can't afford to think about contracts at the minute, but get us to the premier league and i'll make sure you get ya new contract."

With that he returned to his seat, and those words calmed me a little...

The camera's flashed as we got off and headed into the ground, home support and away alike there to greet us as we arrived. Time seemed to pass so quickly and as if we'd just traveled forward in an delorean, we'd already kicked off with Derby seemingly picking up where they left off in the first Leg. It was agonising at times being sat on that bench, i was aching to play and try to put us in the play-off's and that feeling was only heightend just before half time. A quick free kick from Idiakez caught Sulivan scrabling for a ball he was never going to get, 1-0 on the night and 1-3 on aggregate. The team talk was brief as usual and we were sent out again, me returning to my bench seat to watch proceedings. We seemed to have started well, stringing some intricate passes together and creating some chances until on 67mins we conceded a stupid penalty. A pretty bog standard corner was the result as Kilgallon was ajudged to have impeded Huddlestones attempt for the ball and it was the young lad Huddlestone who stepped up and dispatched the spot kick with ease, 2-0 on the night and 2-3 on aggregate, things were not looking good. And they almost got a whole lot worse if not for the intervention of Gary Kelly, a goal mouth scramble resulted in Lee Holmes shot being cleared off the line. My heart was racing like a chav in a ford fiesta (scary thought), the gaffer looked back at me and just nodded. I was out and warming up. It was a big risk but we'd been quiet up front all night pretty much and i was glad to be able to get my say in proceedings, a tired looking Brian Deane making way for my entrance. I went in with a belly full of fire and almost got my just desserts for an admitidly late challenge. As the ref called me over i was almost shaking, he gave me a bit of a talking to and thankfuly, he sent me on my way with nothing else. The last 5mins was an everyone behind the ball job, i at times dropping into the center of the midfield as we tried to stave off the constant attack from Derby. Again players and fans alike found their hearts in their mouths as Holmes again found space in the dying seconds. I watched in shock and horror as his shot flew towards the top corner, everything seemingly moving in slow motion, the ball was heading straight towards it's destination until what can only be described as the finger nail of Sulivan cliped it, sending it onto the cross bar and back out into play. Wome cleared up field with all his might and we cleared our lines as quick as we could, the ball found it's way back but the whistle had found the referee's mouth and it was over, we were going to Cardiff, the Millenium Stadium to play in the clubs biggest match since the champions league semi aginst Valencia 3 years ago. I just fell to my knee's and looked around in awe, the gaffer, staff, hell even the fans were on the pitch celebrating with us. We shook the hands of the Derby players, they dominated and perhaps deserved more from the night but they'd be back if they could keep the squad together. Sky sports managed to get on the pitch and have a word with a few of us while news that West Ham Utd had won 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate against Reading also soon found it's way to us. As i headed back to towards the tunnel i overheard Ray Wyatts words to sky sports, "Now the real work begins..." Ain't that the truth....

retired_sfa97

Chapter 8: It ain't Wembly, but it'll do...

Again the city was buzzing with antisipation. What seemed like a distant dream only a few months ago was now a challenging reality as we prepared to take on West Ham. The preperations were well under way as the team went for a suit fitting, various players doing interviews for sports tv and magazines before the big match, the whole city in the grip of of play-off fever. We headed down to Cardiff on the saturday to get settled in and also catch the league 1 play-off final. It was weird, at times the time flew by, but other times it seemed like we were constantly stuck at 8:39pm but soon enough the day was upon us and away we went towards either making history or....not, simple as really. Pulling up again ya had to admire the ground we were soon off the bus and in the changing rooms before we made our way to the players lounge to relax for a while before the wifes and girlfriends arrived. I concentrated on me phone, talking to my already premiership bound best mate and bro who were still rubbing their league winners medals in my face.

After our meal and a stroll on the pitch we got down to business, getting changed and warmed up before the gaffer gave us the final team talk, which was unsually long from the gaffer,

"Ok boys, i normally keep it short but not today. You've done amazing things this season but not near enough amazing as it has to be to end the season as a success story. When ya go out there ya gonna face a side in the same boat as you. Once an established premiership outfit before falling from grace to the championship. They've been in this league a year longer than you, so they're gonna want it badly. But you all know that Leeds is a premiership side and they should...need to be there next season, so go out there and bloody make sure those cockney gets are still in this damn league next season!"

With the team talk at an end we were ready to grace the pitch and kick off. The team for the day was Sulivan, Kelly, Kilgallon, Carlisle, Wome, Joachim, Gregan, Vincente, Johnson, Deane, Warner. The bench consisted of Carson, Richardson, Crainey, Mcmaster, Healy.

The camera's were in the tunnel as we began to shuffle out into the welsh sunshine. The pyrotechniques went off, music sounded around the packed stadium as we made our way on. The atmosphere was electric to say the least, both sets of fans singing and cheering before we all stood for the national anthem. Kick off was close, we all steeled ourselves with the match of our lives. They won the coin toss and opted to kick off proceedings and just like that, we were underway. Both sides had chances in the first 10mins, nothing clear cut but enough to just settle the nerves a little and get in the grove. The first half wasn't epic by any means, chances were few and far between before the ref called an end to the half. The gaffer said his peace in the dressing room before leaving us to it, we needed to do better and that stuck in our minds as we headed out for the 2nd half.

We kicked off this time and almost took the lead, Joachims winding run down the right flank got him some space before his cross almost found the back of the net, if not for the goal keepers brilliant intervention. The corner was wasted and we were back at it. A West Ham corner almost got them a goal on 67mins. A ball into the mixer found the head of Anton Ferdinand but he couldn't keep it down and flew narrowly over the bar. Things were becoming a bit tence but we calmed our nerves 3mins later. Again Joachim was working his magic down the right before crossing from deep to find the head of Deane who made no mistake, powering it between the near post and the helpless keeper, claiming his 14th goal of the season. The crowd went into over drive and so did we. One foot was firmly inside the premiership door.

They kicked off and, in short kicked us in the teeth. Just 2mins after we took the lead, Bobby Zamora managed to turn Carlisle brilliantly before slotting home from 10 yards Sulivan and we were very much back to sqaure one. All square again as we headed into the last quarter of normal time. We both had chances to put the game beyond the other, myself having a very clear cut one which i managed to head over (it was never my strength). The final whistle blew and we were looking at extra time and maybe penaltys. The gaffer steeled us, told us to keep our heads up, chase everything and concentrate. Again we took our positions, ready to do battle again. Tiredness was already setting in for some, Deane was replaced by Healy and Joachim made way for McMaster before it all started again. Urgency in attack and tiredness in defence made for a more exciting match, with us and them both coming close. Carlisle had to clear a spilled Zamora shot off the line while Seth Johnson his the cross bar with a thunderous drive before it was cleared.

The end of the first half and we were all feeling it by now. My legs had started cramping a little, the heat was intence but we weren't even close to a break through yet. Again the game resumed, with much the same vigour of from the first half. A lofted ball up the left flack was converted into a one touch pass from Johnson into my path. Taking it i flew past one defender before being brought down in the area by an already booked Anton Ferdinand. Penalty, the ref was in no doubt about that and Ferdinand got his marching orders, no matter how much the West Ham players complained. The gaffer, at the start of the season gave us one simple rule on the subject of penalty's "If ya win the penalty, you take the penalty." So, here i was, on the verge of being perminently written in the history books of Leeds United Football Club, the team i have supported since i was born. The Leeds fans behind the goal were chanting, cheering as i placed the ball down on the spot. I had no clue what i was going to do, i had lost the capacity of normal thought by then. I waited for the ref to give me the go ahead with my back to goal. I took a deep breath, turned and made my run up, deciding at the last second to stick it low into the right hand corner....."Gooooooooooooallllllll, Leeds United lead!!! Unbelievable scene's at the Millenium stadium, and again it's the lad Warner who's come up with the goods!"

I don't remember much other than celebrating like a mad man infront of a sea of white shirts. We were now 2-1 to the good, 12mins away from a place in the premier league, my heart was pounding from the sheer exaustion and excitement of the moment still as they got things underway. With West Ham a man down and us a goal up we went hunting for more, pressuring them with everything we had as the minutes slowly ticked down until there was just 2 left on the clock. Wome moved up the left, looking for some space to cross, every West Ham player in or around the 18 yard box as he found his space, Repka heads clear only for the ball to fall to Seth Johnson who without a seconds hesitation steadied himself before leathering it towards goal and just like that....it was 3-1, the ball hitting the top corner before the keeper could even move. We were there, we'd done it at the first time of asking. We all chased down Johnson as he ran towards the incredible wall of noise being created by the fans dressed all in white. We'd done it!!!

The final seconds were spent just playing keep ball before the final whistle rang around the stadium and the party began. The gaffer was on the pitch celebrating like it was 1999...(very sorry about that)..everyone was on there, i just layed on the floor, being dived on every now and then by either a team mate or coach. I seriously couldn't move, i wanted to but i couldn't. And with that, the season was over. We lifted the play-off trophy to rapturous celebrations, medals round our necks. Some had swapped shirts, others hadn't, myself? I kept mine and it still has pride of place in my trophy room. The rest of the day and night was spent singing and cheering, getting absolutly rat arsed to the point of sickness but, who cares? How many times was something like this going to come along. The following day we were back in Leeds and on an open top bus winding round the packed city's streets, at least 200,000 coming out in force to show they're support. It was an amazing day and one i would never forget...i mean if i'd forgot i wouldn't be telling this story now would i? The days after i was awarded the championship golden boot, finishing with 34 goals, the championship young player of the year award and voted player of the year by the fans of Leeds United, not bad for my first season eh?

retired_sfa97

Chapter 9: The run down

Ray Wyatt and his first season had been hailed a massive success by the people of Leeds and those in the media who said he would fail in even keeping them in the championship. He also managed to pick up the manager of the year award, but it wasn't the only thing happening in the world of football. Arsenal won the premier league with Manchester United 12 points behind them. Big spending Cheslsea were the disappointment of the season in 3rd and for that Jose found his way through the exit door of Stamford Bridge. It was a big shock but he was soon at another premiership blue in the shape of Everton, who finished in 4th, pipping Liverpool to that last champions league spot. Bolton, Palace and Norwich all went down, Manchester Utd retained the FA cup, beating spurs 2-0 but in the off-season Manchester United became a selling club by offloading Wayne Rooney to Roma for £32m and Cristano Ronaldo to Inter Milan for £23m. Even more puzzling was the fact that they spent £22m of Mikael Forssell from Chelsea. Southampton clinched the league cup, beating Aston Villa 1-0. AC Milan Won the champions league, beating Roma in an all Italian final while Club Brugge surprised everyone by winning the Uefa Cup, beating HSV in the final. And so another season was at a close, up's and down's as usual but in the end we were up and that's all the mattered!