THERE we were, beggars at the Millers feast, guests among the ever-faithful as Alan Lee turned in what seemed like slow motion and drove his shot into the bottom corner in the 90th minute.
Milmoor erupted with such ferocity that small boys shook in their shoes.
The place went insane.
Rotherham were up to the Championship, promoted with the last home kick of the 2000/2001 season, filling the ground with winning, stylish football and looking like a team on the up. And that's exactly what they were.
Ronnie Moore was king again and had the gift of management as surely as he had had the gift of goals a few years earlier.
Ken Booth waved to the crowd, the Tivoli End paid homage to the team and everyone went home happy in the lengthening shadows of a glorious sunset.
Fast forward to this week.
Another Millers team with another goalscorer turned manager on the verge of promotion. But this time the red carpet has been whpped from under Mark Robins' feet. A second time into administration in under two years has left the future of the club in grave doubt.
Back then the legend of the new stand was still in circulation and seemed a first step on the way to establishing the club in the higher echelons of the league.
MILLERS IN CRISIS - Read our coverageGroundsman goes in cuts.Directors recognised shortfall in October.Team-mates ease Brogan's recovery.The stand never became a full reality and neither did the dreams of the long-suffering supporters.
Ronnie lost his way and left; ageing patriarch Ken Booth, loved and loathed by fans, finally gave up ownership of the club, and the spell was broken.
No more scrap metal money and nothing of any real substance to take its place.
What now for the Millers?
They could still force their way into the play-offs and you hope for club and fans that they can do that.
That day in April 2001 was one of the most joyful outpourings of emotion I have ever experienced at a football match.
It would be a terrible shame for that love and fire to be lost.
Then again If the worst does come to the worst Rotherham could find a new home at Don Valley Stadium if they end up quitting Millmoor.
Perhaps the moving vans will cross paths as the Steelers go from Don to Rother Valley and the Millers flit from the Rother to Don.
READ MOREFootball headlines.Latest football gossip.All sport categories.The full article contains 436 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
