York City FC

A member of our goal nets community advised we take a look at the Minstermen, who even today defy the trend towards the homogenous box net with their Continental D's (though those D's do share the box net's ground supports, which transform the net into a pinball machine).




Though the goals our friend advised we look at were the A-frames which stood at either end of Bootham Crescent through the late 70's and 1980's.



If you think the goals look like a mix between an A-frame and a Continental D, you'd be right.

Here's a photo of those A-frames from about that time.

Further back, the Minstermen were early adopters of the Continental D.

Hot Tub Time Machine - FC Halifax Town

The reformed and reconstituted FC Halifax Town play out their non-league promotion fairytale between an unworthy pair of box goal nets.


But jump in the old Hot Tub Time Machine and we see the Shaymen knocking Man City out the FA Cup in front of a set of A-frames modelled on - what do you think? - Manchester United's?



Then, jump 10 years further back we see the old Halifax beating Man United with what may be the same stanchions, just painted black?

FA Cup 4th Round Special

Of the 32 clubs which embarked on the 4th round of the Cup this weekend, only the two non-league sides show a variation on the standard box net at their home stadium.

Luton Town

Luton were the giant killers of the round, despatching Premier League Norwich City at Carrow Road.




In the previous round, Wolves were beaten at Kenilworth Road, where the Hatters still boast a fine set of Continental D's.

Macclesfield Town

Macclesfield weren't as fortunate in the 4th round, sinking at home to Wigan Athletic. Though the Silkmen also have Continental D's, they've chosen to tie them back in a hybrid box net fashion.

Shame.

This probably confirms what everyone's been telling us - if you want to see some variety, you have to look in the Conference.

The Conference - Cambridge Utd

In 'Fever Pitch,' Nick Hornby writes that, in the late-70's, Cambridge had "a tiny ramshackle little ground, the Abbey Stadium. Their equivalent of (Arsenal's) Clock End was the Allotments End and occasionally, naughty visiting fans would nip round the back and hurl pensioners cabbages over the wall."

He could also have written their goalnets were hung on these Latin American L-supports.