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Can't believe this was 20 years ago as it feels like last year. I was 17, just out of College and working Saturdays at WH Smith's in Putney High Street so I missed both the Switzerland and Scotland group games.
After England had humiliated the Dutch, there was certainly a national feel good factor the likes of which I've probably not seen or felt since. Honestly felt we were going to beat Germany comfortably after Shearer scored so losing to the Germans on penalties once again was just such an anti-climax and then everything just seemed to resort to type in an instant. England were out, QPR were about to start life outside the top flight but then they had a decent squad, they were bound to bounce back the following season... weren't they?
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 08:19 - Jun 2 with 7581 views
missed the Holland game as I had to fly back from Glasgow on business; seeing that we had just beat the sweaties with Gascoigne properly taking the piss it's fair to say the trip was a complete wasted of time.
can still see Gazza sliding for that ball in the semi and not quite reaching it; best chance to win a tournament in the last 50 years
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 08:47 - Jun 2 with 7551 views
I was living in Manchester back then, and my flatmate was an old school mate from London. He also just happened to have a ticket for the Holland game on the same day that he had a court appearance for speeding.
The very least I could do was plan out his appeal and get him prepared to save his licence.
On the morning of the game, I wished him well in his match before the local Beak as I patriotically accepted his ticket and made my way south....I mean, what else could I do?
That game against Holland was immense. Wembley was rocking and we were simply brilliant. The whole country was buzzing and not winning Euro 96 was up there with our own disappointments.
Not sure if you saw Shearer's documentary last night, but he captured it from the players perspective, which underplayed the mood. Great time, even the Germans had a bloke called Kuntz. You just can't make that stuff up.
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
Euro 96 Your Memories on 08:46 - Jun 2 by westberksr
missed the Holland game as I had to fly back from Glasgow on business; seeing that we had just beat the sweaties with Gascoigne properly taking the piss it's fair to say the trip was a complete wasted of time.
can still see Gazza sliding for that ball in the semi and not quite reaching it; best chance to win a tournament in the last 50 years
Talking on the doc last night, Gazza reckons he thought their goalkeeper was going to get a touch on the ball so was anticipating that rather the the ball coming straight across. Agonisingly close. I wonder how his life may have turned out if he had connected with that ball and got England through. I don't suppose we can assume England would have beaten the Czech Republic in the final as Germany didn't find it easy but if you have a look at that England team, there were leaders all over it so there were certainly no bottlers in there.
Shearer Ince Pearce Adams Platt
All captained the England team at some point. The last of the Pre Beckham age of English football so the posing and fast money attitudes hadn't come in to force.
[Post edited 2 Jun 2016 9:04]
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 09:06 - Jun 2 with 7515 views
I was 28 and amazingly privileged to have been a Steward at Wembley for every England game - except for the Semi (which was too important and I could not guarantee my behaviour) and the Final.
Being in Wembley before it opened and experiencing the building up of the most amazing atmosphere I have ever witnessed will stay with me forever.
I was on the pitch (supposed to be looking at the crowd, yeah right) during the Spanish shootout and Pearce's "COME ON" was so loud behind me I thought he was a fudge of a lot closer than he was!
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 09:33 - Jun 2 with 7476 views
Being 12, my main memory is me and me two best mates getting a load of pick n mix, crisps and Mountain Dew from Woolies in Uxbridge, and then losing our minds when Gazza scored that goal against Scotland.
Then mum banishing me and dad to watch the Germany game on the TV in their bedroom and missing Germany's equaliser. When Gazza missed the ball, dad stood up very calmly then proceeded to start quietly and ending in a crazy scream "Gascoigne youuuuuuuuuuuuuu WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 10:05 - Jun 2 with 7421 views
I used to go to the same night club pretty much every Saturday in the mid 90s. It was called Collide-a-Scope and was just of The Strand.
I remember the Saturdays night in there during the tournament were particularly joyous and everyone leaving on mass at 2am to march down to Trafalgar Sq.
for the England vs Scotland game I was in Gran Canaria on a lads holiday watched it in Linekers, totally packed the place went mental when Gazza scored a few Scottish lads who supported hearts where in there and had the hump big time as we were giving them plenty of verbal's this ended up with my mate punching a bloke on the nose and his mates thinking it was me , hence me being chased around the bars of Pueto Rico that night by 4 angry scots the funny thing what sticks in my mind is seeing Keith Gillespie in there getting totally off his nut all on his own while carnage was happening all round him watched the Holland & Germany semi final in the Windmill (now flats ) in Rusilip manor gutted when southgate missed the Pen it was a horrible year 96 , we were relegated and England blew it again on pens
And Bowles is onside, Swinburne has come rushing out of his goal , what can Bowles do here , onto the left foot no, on to the right foot
That’s there that’s two, and that’s Bowles
Brian Moore
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 10:16 - Jun 2 with 7403 views
I was at Wembley for the 4-1 thrashing of Holland. Fantastic game and brilliant atmosphere.
For the semi-final v Germany one of our major suppliers had hired out a bar and invited all their clients (probably about 100 of us) on a freebie night out. Suffice to say the mood was very sombre after the penalty shoot out.
The Sunday of the final I had been on a bit of a drinking spree that weekend and the girl I was with (the group had whittled own from 4 to 2 of us) was getting very amorous. Ended up back at her place, got a chinese takeaway and when I went into her room after putting the finished plates back in the kitchen she was all but naked on her bed passed-out cold. So I just crashed out next to her. A month later on my birthday she (drunk again) proclaimed loudly in front of my mates "what kind of man do you call yourself for not doing anything?!" "The kind of man who doesn't rape women" I said very firmly then I told her to piss off.
I didn't see her again for a couple of years and it came up in conversation and she apologised for her behaviour. Not seen her since but at least she had the decency to do that.
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 10:48 - Jun 2 with 7355 views
We were going to do it..it's nailed on,guaranteed,no doubt. This time more than any other time, I'm totally convinced after the Holland game, it was absolutely clear that we were the best team in the tournament.
Then Gazza failed to arrive on time or extend his leg by a couple of inches from Shearer's cross.The whole country probably had a bit of a collective hangover downer the next day but I didn't turn up for work (Charing X Hospital post-room) the next day,or the next one and in fact didn't hold down a full-time job again that century. Recovery - of sorts - was very,very slow.
What a f***er!
'I'm 18 with a bullet.Got my finger on the trigger,I'm gonna pull it.."
Love,Peace and Fook Chelski!
More like 20StoneOfHoop now.
Let's face it I'm not getting any thinner.
Pass the cake and pies please.
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 11:02 - Jun 2 with 7326 views
Was at Lords watching England vs India (Dickie Bird's last test match too fact fans) when we played Spain. Cricket pretty dull. Crowd silent. Soon became clear after kick off that many people had resorted to tuning into the football as out of context 'oohs' and 'ahhs' went up. Huge cheers resounded from the silence as we scored our penalties in the shoot out. To the bemusement of players and anyone not listening of course!
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 13:34 - Jun 2 with 7155 views
My local got trashed in the celebrations after the Holland game - beer and glass everywhere. And again after the Spain game. And again after the Germany game but this time with more angst and less jollity. Watched the final in the working men's club. Far more genteel.
'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!'
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 13:46 - Jun 2 with 7135 views
Excellent summer. The Scotland game was hilarious. Was working in a video shop in Berwick Street (the only non-porno one for miles) on the evening of the Holland game - we couldn't have the actual telly on in the shop, so me and the other bloke in there kept taking it in turns to squeeze into The Blue Posts for 10 minutes at a time. He saw all the England goals, I saw the one Dutch goal.
From a Rangers point of view, remember thinking it was a shame Venables overlooked Tricky Trev in favour of players like Barmby and Steve Stone. It was weird, Sinclair's England career - I thought he was past his best by the time he actually got capped, and then he ended up playing the whole of the 2002 World Cup having been called up 5 minutes before it started.
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 14:12 - Jun 2 with 7079 views
Euro 96 Your Memories on 14:05 - Jun 2 by DannytheR
Excellent summer. The Scotland game was hilarious. Was working in a video shop in Berwick Street (the only non-porno one for miles) on the evening of the Holland game - we couldn't have the actual telly on in the shop, so me and the other bloke in there kept taking it in turns to squeeze into The Blue Posts for 10 minutes at a time. He saw all the England goals, I saw the one Dutch goal.
From a Rangers point of view, remember thinking it was a shame Venables overlooked Tricky Trev in favour of players like Barmby and Steve Stone. It was weird, Sinclair's England career - I thought he was past his best by the time he actually got capped, and then he ended up playing the whole of the 2002 World Cup having been called up 5 minutes before it started.
Great shout on Sinclair , he was immense that season especially the Newcastle & Spurs defeats at home , bringing him on with 20 minutes to go against the Germans could have been a game changer , much better than Barmby who had a very average year in 96 also looking back I don't think Sir Les played 1 minute of that tournament oh for a striker like that now
And Bowles is onside, Swinburne has come rushing out of his goal , what can Bowles do here , onto the left foot no, on to the right foot
That’s there that’s two, and that’s Bowles
Brian Moore
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 14:27 - Jun 2 with 7062 views
I was living in Aberdeen at the time. So my memory is from the England vs Scotland game - natch.
It was a beautiful sunny day (yes them have them in Scotland too), so I had the windows open whilst I watched the game. I think pretty much everyone was watching it, because you couldn't hear a single vehicle go past, or anyone out on the street. It was a tense match with Scotland on top, and then we scored the opener... I remember doing the big "yeeeeessss" as you do, and recall one other person half way up the street also cheering in celebration. the rest of the road was silent.
Then Scotland won the penalty - the whole street cheers - it was almost as loud as being at a game... but a minute later Seaman saved McAllister's penalty so me and the other "southern softie" up the street shout our isolated appreciation.
Then of course Gascoigne promptly scores THAT goal (still my favorite England goal), dumping Hendry on his arse and the dentist chair celebration. The two lone Englishman cheer... only this time someone responds with "f*** off you English bar-stewards" at the top of his voice...
still makes me smile thinking about it 20 years later...
Euro 96 Your Memories on 14:12 - Jun 2 by paulparker
Great shout on Sinclair , he was immense that season especially the Newcastle & Spurs defeats at home , bringing him on with 20 minutes to go against the Germans could have been a game changer , much better than Barmby who had a very average year in 96 also looking back I don't think Sir Les played 1 minute of that tournament oh for a striker like that now
Looking at the team photo in the above link it's the defenders we need now.
I don't think any of our current lot is getting near the '96 back four. Pearce, Southgate, Adam & Neville.
My memory is being 11 years old and crying my eyes out after we lost on penalties to the Germans. Don't think I've cried over a game of football since.
[Post edited 2 Jun 2016 14:29]
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 15:14 - Jun 2 with 7006 views
Looking at the team photo in the above link it's the defenders we need now.
I don't think any of our current lot is getting near the '96 back four. Pearce, Southgate, Adam & Neville.
My memory is being 11 years old and crying my eyes out after we lost on penalties to the Germans. Don't think I've cried over a game of football since.
[Post edited 2 Jun 2016 14:29]
Chris Smalling wouldn't be allowed in the stadium, much less come within 100 miles of wearing the shirt.
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
I was 30 and went to the first two games at Wembley with my Dad. Switzerland game was shite but the Scotland game was excellent. We were right behind the goal Gazza scored in.
My Dad was at Wembley in 1966 to see us win the World Cup but he said the atmosphere against the Scots that day was the best he'd ever known at Wembley!!!
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 16:32 - Jun 2 with 6919 views
Euro 96 Your Memories on 10:05 - Jun 2 by stumbleandfall
I used to go to the same night club pretty much every Saturday in the mid 90s. It was called Collide-a-Scope and was just of The Strand.
I remember the Saturdays night in there during the tournament were particularly joyous and everyone leaving on mass at 2am to march down to Trafalgar Sq.
To be 19 again.
The one in Kings College? It only finished a couple of years ago. Always had fun there, though only went if Afterschool at LSE was dead because I'm pure hipster for life
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 16:37 - Jun 2 with 6916 views
Quite simply the best summer ever (although I notice all of us have yet to mention why it shouldn't have been after the season we'd just had!).
I was 20. My mates at Uni had all turned on Gazza, saying he'd lost it. When he scored that goal I gave it as much to them as most England fans did to Scotland fans - I knew he still had it, despite his quiet first game. That goal still gives me the shivers.
Watched the doc last night and really felt for Southgate all over again. But, like Waddle hitting the post in 1990, every time I watch Gazza's miss I'm sure he's going to score. It's so agonising.
The country felt so different that year - we knew the Tories would soon be gone, we had a great team, it was sunny, Des was presenting the football. All was fantastic.
As Bobby said about 1990. 'Should've won it. Should've won it.'
Bare bones.
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Euro 96 Your Memories on 17:50 - Jun 2 with 6869 views
I think this may have been the second best summer involving football EVER... the first is officially 1990 combined with everything else and all the stars aligning (music, class A's, I had hair, no commitments, a year into DJ'ing etc etc)
Me and my mates Al & Steve won a firkin sh1t load of money on Shearer - I'm not talking a lucky 10 spot on him to score the first goal at 4/1. The bookies used to give you a good few points more for first scorer back then and Shearer was long odds as he wasn't firing for England. We went large on him for every game and got it back in enough spons to cover the rest of the summer. I was 24 years old, cash on hip and we were caning it.
England rode their luck a bit with the penalties against Spain and if memory serves well the Swiss game wasn't easy. But that's what gave you the inkling... this was it we were going to win this thing....it's coming home...catch me if you can, I'm an England fan and what you're looking at is the masterplan Our kit was fairly rank though.
I still remember the uproar about playing in grey v the hun.... questions in the house and all sorts! Then the game. Oh the game. As that ball went across to Gazza [ (c) hero] I remember going up in slow motion and my bottle of bud leaving my hand and hitting the ceiling of Flannagans Bar only for it and my world to come crashing down. I knew then the stars had fallen out of alignment.... pens.... nuff said. Had a row with two paddy birds outside the boozer late, late that night. Wrong Englishman to try and wind up and I bit.
Still.... I'd just bought my first flat, we'd had a good tournament and I had a bundle of twenties to burn.
Bring it!
This year I'm gutted to have turned down a trip out there on the 20th due to personal circumstances but I'll be in The New Inn in South Ealing every game and intend to be Sir Roley Birkin no matter the outcome.
Come on you Lilly Whites
Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal
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