The Great Escape Notts County V Huddersfield Town 20th April 2002 |
It is a warm spring afternoon in late April, the last game of the season. Notts are playing Huddersfield Town and need a win to be certain of staying in the old Third Division. The opposition have half an eye on their place in the play-offs and don't need the excitment.The Pies though are going ballistic.Fifteen thousand of them cram into Meadow Lane to see the match and long-time fan and local broadcaster Colin Slater excitedly describes the scene as supporters turn up with 'tannoys in their pockets' to listen to the game and keep in touch with other results. The game kicks off and Allsopp eases the tension by converting a Liburd pass for Notts but the home fans have to wait for a further strike from the young defender Kevin Nicholson before they can get into the comfort zone. The number eleven is not a natural goalscorer - his blaster is one of only a handful he'll get for the team but as he runs on to the shot and draws level with Z block - a section of the most fanatical Pies in the ground, there is not one who doesn't think he will hit it. The defenders seem to clear out of the flight path as the strike is beautifully struck and flies in. As it hits the net, Bill Dearden's relief is obvious and he has pioneered a rescue of the side that looked bound for the fourth division. At the end of the match, as delirious fans run onto the pitch, the manager is forced to ponder what would happen if his boys actually WON something ! |
Posters, T shirts and car stickers all bore the 'film poster' design that symbolised the miraculous recovery initiated by the arrival of Bill Dearden as manager |
Kevin Nicholson's No.11 shirt from the 'Great Escape' season - not the one he played Huddersfield in on the glorious last day but one worn prior to the sponsorship deal with Logitog. |
