Against cross-town rivals Sydney Olympic, Spirit may've been undone 2-0 by the fluidity of Branko Culina's side, but Spirit took the plaudits for offering something new and exciting to the local fans.

The game day experience was like no other. An MC revved up the crowd, pop star du jour Merrill Bainbridge entertained the fans, live bands played in the crowd and parachutists dropped on the ground just before kick off to the tune of "Spirit in the sky".

More importantly, the club's fans in the Bob Stand were very much A-League class. It all made for a carnival game day experience you could say is somewhat lacking even from the A-League.

Extraordinarily, the gates weren't opened till 6.30pm – an hour before kick-off. For the first time in a long time, NSL fans were banging on gates to get into a ground.

The era of the internet was kicking in and many fans had organised themselves through forums to meet up before the game. North Sydney itself witnessed fans in club shirts (white with red trim) filling the pubs and clubs before the game and singing in the streets. It was unheard of.

The club was tagged as "mainstream" – meaning the club reached out to whatever nationality you were. And that showed in the festive crowd on that night at North Sydney Oval. Club boss and mainstay Remo Nogarotto was a proud man.

Even Peter Fitzsimmons was dragged along to the game and was caught up in the atmosphere of a sellout crowd.

On the park that night were some fine footballers. Robbie Slater, back from Europe, lead the Spirit attack alongside player-coach Graham Arnold. Future Socceroo Clayton Zane was also there alongside former Spurs and England B international midfielder Ian Crook, current Leicester keeper Paul Henderson and J-League and Sydney FC player Mark Rudan (who was red carded after just 15 minutes with Olympic firebrand Adem Poric).

Spirit spent big on and off the pitch in an era when salary caps were not in place, but they were not yet a cohesive unit. Unlike the opposition.

Olympic was all class and had their own future stars – Jason Culina, Nicky Carle and Brett Emerton to name just three as well as NSL goal machine Pablo Cardozo. They deserved the three points.

Overall, there was plenty of quality on the park belying the critics who've often derided the NSL as sub-standard. In the 90s, the NSL would give the current A-League a good run for its money.

But for many, the result didn't matter. The attendance was proof that there was a need for such a club. On a beautiful night, the beautiful game blossomed at the picturesque North Sydney Oval.

But like many love affairs, it didn't last. In the end the club failed over the next few years with poor decisions made off the park stymieing its progress, not to mention having to exist in the failing NSL.

Spirit's final game was played on a dodgy, windy rugby ground in Pittwater on the final day of the NSL in 2004 – 2009 fans attended. It was a sad end.

But for that one night ten years ago and that first unforgettable season when they reached the finals, Spirit fans in Sydney rode a stunning wave and offered a glimpse into the future of club football in Australia.

Northern Spirit. We salute you.