Off the stanchions at Wembley - Steve Heighway

Liverpool celebrated Bill Shankly's last game in charge - the 1974 FA Cup final - by undressing the Newcastle defence.  Steve Heighway fired in Liverpool's second goal off the stanchion.


Is this the only goal to have ever been soured aesthetically by Wembley's on-field architecture?

Wouldn't the aesthetics of this goal have improved out of sight if the goalnets had retained the ball?

Check out the somewhat similar finish to the goal below.


 What do you think?

Hot Tub Time Machine - Brighton and Hove Albion FC

Tracing the Seagulls recent history of goalnets is like jumping into the same Hot Tub Time Machine as Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United and so many others.

In 2012 they're scoring against Chelsea into an identkit set of box goal nets at the Amex.



But jump in the Hot Tub Time Machine and in 1997 we see Stuart Storer lashing the last ever goal at the Goldstone ground into a set of Continental D's



In 1982 we see Jimmy Case and Andy Ritchie scoring into a classy set of hybrids (probably inspired by the goalnets at the World Cup in Spain the previous summer)



Then, climbing out the Hot Tub Time Machine in 80/81, Michael Robinson scores against Liverpool into a magnificent set of A-frames.



Digging the totally awesome goalnets from the past, does anybody honestly want to come back to 2012?

Does anyone want to be the Hero?

Off the stanchions at Wembley - Kevin Beattie

Four years before the Wembley stanchions did for George Wood's Scotland career, Stewart Kennedy lined up against England for his fifth cap.






Having played in every Rangers game in their triumphant 1974-75 league campaign - their first league win in 11 years - Kennedy had every right to believe he had a long Scotland career ahead of him.

However, in less than 10 minutes Gerry Francis had beaten Kennedy from distance then Kevin Beattie looped in a header off the stanchion.



It might've been the 5-1 scoreline, but it was probably this goal and Kennedy's slow reactions and embarrassing collision with the goalpost that ensured this fifth cap would be his last.

A-list A-frames - Hibernian FC

On the other side of Edinburgh, Hibs' recent history offers up not one but two great examples of A-frame architecture.

(It's worth noting that the goals in both clips below were scored into the same goal at the same end of the stadium. The shifting viewpoint is caused by Easter Road stadium reconstruction, which moved the TV gantry from the old East terrace to the Main Stand).

The stanchions George Best scores into are as languid and laid back as the terrace behind the goals.

 

While 10 years later the A-frames in the 80's are more upright, like the stand which has replaced the terrace.

Heart of Midlothian FC

Too curvy by far to be included in any A-list A-frames series, the old stanchions at Tynecastle defy a Scottish or British categorisation even in an era of great diversity in goal design.


Might the possible source of inspiration for the Gorgie stanchions be those at the Bernabeu?

And might those at the Bernabeu have been inspired by the goals at the 1962 World Cup in Chile.

A-list A-frames - Swansea City FC

To celebrate The Swans excellent start to the new season, here's a clip of their new manager in his pomp



And here's a clip of the glory days in front of A-frames at the old Vetch Field

Off the stanchions at Wembley - Bobby Stokes

Bobby Stokes shot off the stanchions at Wembley in the '76 Cup final won him a car, and has won him a place in our sometimes-on-a-Friday series.

Brazil - CSA and CRB

CSA and CRB - or to give them their Sunday best names, Centro Sportivo Alagoano and Clube de Regatas Brasil - are the City and United of Maceió in Alagoas.




Though separated by two divisions, CSA and CRB share the Estádio Rei Pelé and the most marvellous set of stanchions.

Check out CSA's recent monstering of Feirense


And CRB's Rodada 14 win over Ipatinga



And dig those goalnets baby!

A-list A-frames - Dundee United

Though the Tangerines finally went all Continental for the 1990-91 season, for over a quarter century prior they kicked between the same A-frame stanchions at Tannadice.


From (at least) the mid-60's



To the 1990's


 Then Continental D's (just like Newcastle Utd's)

 

Iconic Goals - Eder

How the goal nets helped frame the most famous goals ever scored

The Brazil side at the 1982 World Cup is historically viewed as the successor to the wonderful title-winning side of 1970, so it is fitting that, since our first Iconic Goal has come to represent Brazil at the first Mexico World Cup, so our second iconic goal has come to symbolise the side 12 years later at the World Cup in Spain.

Brazil netted 15 gems at the '82 finals, the Beau Sancy among them being Eder's winner versus the Soviet Union.

The beauty of the goal is in it's simplicity, from Falcao's outrageous school-yard dummy to Eder's keepy-up and sublime half volley. It looks more like a training routine than Brazil's opening World Cup game.

How do the goal nets contribute to this goal's place in the Pantheon of Iconic Goals?

The World Cup organisers had seemingly paid little heed to the goal nets at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Hanging green coloured nets that rendered them near invisible, and pulling them taut, the nets contributed all the aesthetic of kicking a ball against a wall in training.

Yet, while the nets soured Socrates' magnificent equaliser, scored 10 minutes earlier, the "training wall" nets amplify the ease, simplicity and Joga Bonito of Eder's winner, raising it to the status of the Iconic.

Brazil - Mogi Mirim Esporte Clube v Associação Atlética Ponte Preta

Like clubs in every other country, Ponte Preta have just been promoted to Serie A and, in an attempt to look like Big Time Charlies, they've gone Dr Frankenstein on their oversized L-supports and made them into box goal nets. Their mothers would be proud.

Meanwhile Mogi Mirim - Rivaldo's old side - play out their existence in the lower echelons of Serie D, happily shooting between an original set of oversized L-supports.

We're all proud.

Off the stanchions at Wembley - Peter Barnes

After the humiliation of Argentina '78, it took Scotland nearly a year to post a victory, against Northern Ireland, in the Home Internationals series of 1979.

That win, and the new players introduced such as goalkeeper George Wood, who made his debut in that game, hinted at better times ahead.

After John Wark's early goal and a generally encouraging first 44 minutes of their next game against England, Scottish expectations were on the rise again. However, Peter Barnes trundler of an equaliser past George Wood and off the stanchion at Wembley, stunned the recovery.


England went on to win the game 3-1.

Scotland would fail to qualify for the 1980 European Championships.

George Wood would play only twice more for his country.