The Big Match - Week 16

This week's Big Match is the Crystal Palace v Leeds Utd game from the corresponding weekend (16-19 December) 1971.

Peter Lorimer's typical volley for Leeds is featured in the clip below but look out also for the crazy wooden bottom supports holding the Selhurst Park goal nets to the ground.


Such bottom supports weren't unique - they could be seen previously at the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne, Switzerland for the 1954 World Cup, as per clip below.

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 - Crystal Palace FC

Involved as they were in one of football's greatest 'ghost goals' (which many erroneously credit with the box nets of today) the Eagles have a special place in the history of goal nets.




Selhurst Park - like those at Coventry's Highfield Road at the time of Clive Allen and the blind referee - was a long time home to classic English-style A-frames.

1972

1989

Then 1995, Eric Cantona and all that...

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?