Best Moments of the Twenty-First Century: Haringey Borough

If you’d have said to me and many other current Haringey fans at the start of the 2010’s decade that by the end of it we’d be following Haringey Borough home and away, the reaction would have probably been either “Who?” or just an extremely bemused look as to how that will be. Given the rise of the club and the growth of the fan base over the last few years that is exactly what is happening for many of us now, week in week out. Clearly the introduction of free season tickets has helped massively in that growth but we also have a decent and vocal away following.

Haringey Borough v Canvey Island – Play-Off Final – Sunday 6th May 2018.

It may sound strange given it was a play-off final but I’m not sure at the time I really appreciated the importance of the game to the club, in terms of realising some of their ambitions. Certainly, winning the playoffs has provided a springboard for our last two FA Cup runs, as well as finishing 3rd in the league and making the play offs in our first season in the Premier division.

Of the day itself I remember I was still buzzing from beating Heybridge Swifts in the semi-final, to have won that after the incredible sequence of games against them that season felt very special and also felt like we’d already played one cup final. The other thing I remember of the day is how incredibly hot it was, Bank Holiday weekends weren't meant to be like that weather wise, but it was absolutely scorching.

For this article I wasn’t looking to write a match report of the game as you can watch it online, as most of us do, at least once a week, don’t we? To recap though goals from Mark “He’s worth 10 million pound” Kirby (Volare – Gipsy Kings), Ralston “He’s better than Eusebio” Gabriel (September - Earth, Wind and Fire) and Michael “You’re so fine” Ademiluyi (Mickey -Toni Basil) saw us get promoted. It also shouldn’t be forgotten that Valery “The World’s Greatest Goalie” Pajatet (Unknown - Unknown) got injured and had to be substituted after an hour.

From the pitch side celebrations, I remember Lauren “Luke Luke Luke” (Hot Hot Hot – Arrow) gave us a bottle of champagne which was passed round amongst a few of us and one by one the players came over for an over excited and very sweaty hug! The celebrations after will live long in the memory, well up to a certain point in the night at least, as clearly the heat had affected me!

You have used the photo of us celebrating a few times and indeed used it to promote the favourite moment of the decade, the photo without fail makes me smile, as I’m at the front surrounded by friends, friends that I didn’t have before going to watch Haringey and friends that have become proper mates. For me that not only encapsulates my love of football, but due to the hospitable nature and togetherness that is created by supporting a local and community orientated club, encapsulates non-league.

It has been an incredible time supporting The Boro over the last few years and long may that continue, as we say “Sing if you’re Haringey. Sing if you’re happy that way” (Glad to be gay - Tom Robinson).