Fond memories for former defender...
PETER Hart has fond memories of our play-off Final triumph over Bristol City 25 years ago.In those days the play-off Final was played over two legs and with no extra-time, penalties or away goals rule should the aggregate scores finish level, a penalty shoot-out was required to decide which club hosted the replay and that is exactly what happened as we let a 3-1 first leg victory slip to go down 2-0 in the home leg.
"All the good work that we did at Ashton Gate was undone in the second leg," recalled Hart, who is now Club Chaplain. "Having worked so hard throughout the season, it was a big disappointment but thankfully we kept our nerve to win the penalty shoot-out which brought the replay back to Fellows Park just 48 hours later.
"Thinking that the season would end for us on that Saturday, we'd booked a family holiday to Wales. We hadn't bargained on the play-off Final going to a replay, but off we went as planned on the Saturday evening and I came back home the following day to prepare for the game.
"As I say, our heads were down after losing at home, but from somewhere we found new life and came out with all guns blazing at the start of the game.
"From a side which failed to get into their rhythm just two days earlier, all of a sudden we found ourselves 3-0 up within the opening 20 minutes. It was remarkable; Bristol City were stunned and simply had no answer to us.
"Everything went our way and it was rounded off when David [Kelly] completed his hat-trick in the second half.
"I didn't stay around for the celebrations afterwards. I am told that they went on long into the night, but I got straight into the car and drove to Wales to enjoy the rest of my holiday!"