Skip to content

Fleetwood's victory was 'best moment of my life'

Rebecca Brahdeand
Kelly Foran,North West
News imageBEN KNAPMAN Ben, a man wearing glasses and with short grey hair, celebrates on the pitchBEN KNAPMAN
Ben Knapman said Fleetwood's victory against Arsenal was the "best moment of my life"

A Fleetwood Town fan has described his team's huge cup upset over Premier League champions Arsenal as the "best moment of my life".

The Lancashire side, a lowly 18th in League Two, defeated the Gunners on penalties after their EFL Cup fourth round tie on Tuesday had ended 1-1.

Ben Knapman, who has been supporting the club since he was 10, was attending his 300th match at Highbury Stadium.

"I'm over the moon and to see Fleetwood beat a powerhouse of an English team, I would have never dreamed of it," he said.

"But football is a fantasy, football is a game where you believe, football is a game where you dream," said Knapman.

The moment Connor Haughey scored the winning penalty, said Knapman, "time just stood still for five seconds, people are pushing you and celebrating, but I was just so shocked, and obviously over the moon.

"I've been going to Fleetwood for 15 years - I've never heard an atmosphere like that.

"The fans kept the team going, and the team kept the fans going.

"For me, it will be the best day of my life."

Fans invaded the pitch after the match to celebrate the historic win.

Other supporters said the result would "put Fleetwood on the map" and "we have definitely got the next game - we will win it".

News imageHANDOUT A young boy is picked up by a `Fleetwwod player.HANDOUT
Five-year-old Bobby joined in during the pitch celebrations with his dad

Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor said it had been an "emotional night" for everyone connected with the club.

"We knew we had a chance, but it was a remote chance," he said, "it is something that I wouldn't have properly allowed myself to think how we did it.

He said it was "really brilliant to see how the elite operate", adding that it would be an "amazing money-maker for the club to get an away fixture at a big team in the next round.

"It was a brilliant spectacle, and we did ourselves proud," he added.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.