A sea of grim faces were tilted towards the screens in York's packed pubs last night during the closing minutes of Manchester United's Champions' League final with Bayern Munich.

Manchester United fans George Gardiner, front left, and Ashley Dale, right, lead the cheers for their team at St Paul's Church, Holgate Road, York, where a screen was erected in the crypt.

While Alex Ferguson sweated in the Barcelona heat as his team hurtled towards apparent imminent defeat, a goal down to their German rivals, so did the fans back home.

Supporters watching the match in the big screen room at the White Swan, Goodramgate, clasped their hands to their heads, marking with agonising groans each lost opportunity to equalise.

And in the Cross Keys, Goodramgate, which had been filling up since 5.30pm, the atmosphere was tense, but electric.

No one could have predicted the scenes of joy as the match went into injury time and Teddy Sheringham scored the first of two miraculous goals which would see an English team winning the treble titles of the Premiership, FA Cup and European Champions' League for the first time in sporting history.

The Cross Keys crowd, decked out in their adopted team's strip, cheered, threw their arms in the air, embraced and kissed each other as they welcomed the equaliser and repeated their applause for the replay.

And as tremors of the first round of celebrations still resonated in the air, an unbelievable winning goal by Ole Solskjaer was met with doubly rapturous applause making this a night to remember for all concerned.

"This is unbelievable, it's indescribable," said lifelong Manchester United supporter Kenny Wallace last night.

"God has come to York and given me heaven."And Tom Neath, who like many had ripped off his Manchester United shirt even before the players, said: "I'm relieved and jubilant all at the same time.

"The goals were so close together, everyone was still celebrating the first one when the second went in. This is easily the best feeling of my life."

And the emotion clearly registered in Andie Jenkins's face as he struggled to express how he felt about the team he had supported since boyhood.

"I've been a lifelong supporter, I've been to over 400 games and I was brought up with Charlton and Best," he said.

"Manchester United is one of the biggest football clubs in the world and this is the realisation of 29 years of support for me.

"Two goals in three minutes - what more can you say!"

Away from the pubs, members of St Paul's Church, Holgate Road, erected a large screen in the crypt so they could watch last night's big match. The church hosted similar screenings of the England matches during last year's World Cup in France.

The roar was deafening as children and adults alike danced for joy in the crypt when Manchester United scored their two late goals and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

It was proof that hope springs eternal.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.