Paul Marshall is excited about reminiscing about Harrogate Railway’s 2002 historic FA Cup second round tie against Bristol City at the 20th Anniversary reunion at Station View on Saturday night.
Today marks the actual anniversary from the unforgettable encounter which saw Railway, then an NCEL Premier Division side, push Danny Wilson’s League One Bristol all the way in front of 3,000 people and the live Sky Sports cameras.
Bristol ultimately won 3-1 but they were hanging on at the death and their third goal came in the fourth minute of added time.
The tie remains significant in 2022 as it is the last time an NCEL team has gone beyond the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.
Marshall will reunite with around ten of his Cup heroes including Sean Constable, Andy Sunley, Kev Smith, Steve Davey and Nigel Danby.
One person he has been unable to locate is his goalkeeper Ed Neale.
“It is going to tie in well because the England game is on,” Marshall told Non League Yorkshire.
“We’ll all go down to Railway and it is really nice that the chairman Mick Edwards and the committee have put a 20th Anniversary event on for us.
“There is a massive legacy from (the game).
“It paid a lot of old debts and brought the club financial security.
“It should be a good night.
“It is going to be nice to see old faces and also watch a good game between England and France.”
Railway dispatched Whitley Bay (thanks to a 16-year-old Andy Sunley who scored a worldie in extra-time of the replay), Esh Winning, Chester Le-Street, Workington, Atherton Collieries and Slough Town before the Bristol tie.
Marshall has previously spoken about the run in his Non League Journey interview.
“The idea of Harrogate Railway playing Bristol City in the FA Cup second round live on Sky Sports was probably a million to one chance when you think where we were and where we had come from in the four years (since taking charge at Railway in 1998),” he said earlier this year.
“I believe no team from our level had reached the FA Cup second round before.
“Having a live Sky game is the pinnacle for any manager at my level. It was unheard of at the time.
“To accumulate £100,000 in TV rights and have over 3000 people into Station View was unbelievable. It paid the 25-year mortgage off the Dagger (Railway’s former pub) and put £50,000 in the bank. It was amazing what we achieved.
“Even though we lost 3-1, (the Bristol game) was unbelievable. It was probably one of the biggest rushes myself, the players and 3000 people in Harrogate have had in their lives. To be shown on TV on a big stage to a worldwide audience, was unbelievable.”
The cup run brought the FA Cup trophy to Harrogate and Marshall toured the schools.
He featured on Sky Sports daily and in the national newspapers.
He even shared a sauna with the SunSport girls – although it is unclear if Railway chairman Mick Edwards has secured their presence for the reunion?!