The Big Match - Week 4

This week's Big Match beams in from Selhurst Park, 35 years ago.

It's the League Division Two match between Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on 12 September 1981.

Look out for the classic A-frames in the clip, and a 20-yard opening goal which would still be on the rebound if scored into the box nets of today.

A-list A-frames - Huddersfield Town FC

Huddersfield Town boasted a proud history of on-field hardware at their old Leeds Road ground.

In 1971 they welcomed the Manchester United of Best, Law and Charlton with black stanchions (and perhaps the "double-netting" seen at Colchester about the same time?)




Ten years later the Leeds Road hardware was white and slightly off the shoulder.



Later that decade, by the time the Terriers hosted Manchester's other club, the stanchions have made way for Continental D's.

101 Great Goals - Trevor Brooking

Brian Moore: Look at the ball, caught up in the corner there.

How Trevor Brooking's top-corner strike was transformed from the merely terrific into the unforgettable.

UEFA Champions League Final Special - Parc des Princes

In 1981 Alan Kennedy's memorable goal secured Liverpool's third European Cup at the expense of Real Madrid.

The goal nets at the Parc des Princes that night were instantly recognisable as 'French'; free-hanging A-shaped nets, tied back to external box-net stanchions.




A quarter of a century earlier, at the same stadium, Real Madrid were contesting the very first European Cup final against Stade Reims.

The goal nets at the Parc des Princes that night were more Glaswegian than Parisienne.

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

Goalnets and Aesthetics

Should anyone doubt that standard box-nets are producing standard goal scoring aesthetics, they need only watch Trevor Brooking's goal from 1981.



Did anyone see this goal and ever forget it?

When did you ever see a 21st century box-net cause such drama?

"Look at the ball, caught up in the corner there!"

When was the last time you heard a commentator eulogise the ball in the net?