After one of the greatest night's in the history of Bristol Rovers Football Club, chief executive Bill Smith recalls an emotional three-and-a-half hours at Bristol City Council.
The club's plans to redevelop the Memorial Stadium were approved by eight votes to three in a charged planning committee meeting that saw parties from both sides air their views in a crowded chamber.
The evening concluded shortly before 9:30pm with the verdict that an 18,500 all-seater stadium had been given the all-clear, and that after decades of knocks and setbacks, a brand new home in Bristol was finally given the green light for the city's oldest professional football club.
"I sat down last night at about ten o'clock with the team who had done such sterling work to get the stadium project as far as the planning committee stage," Bill recalled to bristolrovers.co.uk, "Was I dreaming, or did the planning committee really approve our application?!
"Did eight members actually vote in favour and only three against? It wasn't even close! I could still hear the voices of the members - 'wider view', 'important to the whole of Bristol', 'a better project than I had imagined', 'we have to give it a go' - and more.
"I didn't hear what the chair said. By that time based on the members' comments, I knew we had a majority. I saw many of the objectors start to drift away. It was about then that the feeling of unreality set in.
"The evening had not started well. There appeared to be some confusion over who was speaking for both sides of the debate. Would all of our side speak first then theirs? Or the other way round?
"Suddenly, I was on my feet. I just about got out all the main points and people were shouting 'TIME, TIME'. I quickly finished off and sat down.
"There was a lot of enthusiastic applause - the fans. I felt quite good. That good feeling continued. The objectors spoke with passion, some of them were very eloquent. Most of our speakers were technical people - more measured and factual. I think that helped a great deal."
He continued: "It felt a bit like an away match - the applause for their speakers was much more rapturous than ours. The feel good factor ebbed a bit. Then I was handed a piece of paper that indicated who would speak and in what order. Some of our speakers were not allocated a slot - did the same happen to the objectors?
"The Supporters Club was not allowed a single speaker. I know they had put a lot of effort into the night and what they had thought would be their chance to be advocates of Rovers. The feel good factor ebbed a little more.
"Our speakers inspired confidence. Bill Marshall from UWE spoke with great authority about student accommodation and also about a bus link from UWE to near the stadium. That was a great point for us. Quicker buses from a potential park and ride location. That would help.
"Dave Harper (safety officer) spoke and entered a serious cautionary note about crowd safety, and how much better it would be in the new stadium.
"The speakers had finished. The planning officers then began their summaries they were positive - but I already knew that. Something about no pop concerts. Oh well. And a lot of confused stuff about the number of buses that got resolved.
"Then it was the turn of the members - the councillors. Let me tell you it did not start well! 2-0 down and we had only just kicked off! Oh dear. Something about an alternative site in Avonmouth and a comparison with Goodison Park. The feel good factor was rapidly turning into a feel bad factor.
"But what's this - one of the councillors has a few reservations, but this sounds a bit more positive. Yes - we've pulled one back! And wait - we've equalised!
"Stay calm, long way to go yet. Some equivocation. Don't think this is a 'yes' behind again. But then the 'yes' group struck their colours. Three, four, five and is that six?!
"We're there. The dream factor set in again. All a bit of a blur. Someone with a microphone, a television camera. Not sure what I said. Then we all left. It was over. We had our planning consent."
