It is also a night that we all hope can be repeated 18 years on.
On that night Stags dramatically beat Northampton Town on 5-4 penalties after the two-legged affair had ended 3-3.
A crowd of 9,243 saw Colin Larkin score the winning penalty after Wayne Corden, Liam Lawrence, Neil MacKenzie and Laurent D'Jaffo had all scored.
Stags will have to do it in reverse order this season after finishing seventh with a final day draw at home to Forest Green.
Northampton didn’t even expect to be here after being pipped to automatic on goals scored following Bristol Rovers’ 7-0 drubbing of Scunthorpe.
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5. Northampton take charge
Martin Smith makes it 3-0 to Northampton on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. Photo: Ross Kinnaird
6. Keith Curle with work to do
Keith Curle must have been worried when his side went 3-0 down and were heading for defeat. But Tom Curtis scored a decisive goal for Stags on 68 minutes, which was good enough to force extra-time and penalties. Photo: Ross Kinnaird
7. Bobby Hassell battles for possession
Paul Trollope is challenged by Bobby Hassell. Hassell made 33 league appearances for Stags during the 2003/04 campaign. Photo: Ross Kinnaird
8. Cardiff here we come
The celebrations continue. Stags had finished six points off automatic promotion that season, behind Torquay United in third place. Photo: Ross Kinnaird