A-list A-frames - Aston Villa

Aston Villa would likely be most associated with the Continental D's at Villa Park during the glory days of the late 1970's, early 80's.


However, further back in their History of Goal Nets, Villa had an excellent set of A-frames.

101 Great Goals - Derek Johnstone

Our History of Goal Nets community has generally despaired at the ball retention properties of the nets of today, perhaps expecting little else from structures boxed, made of trampoline and stretched taut.

But stretched taut in itself need be no barrier to some decent ball retention. No nets were stretched tighter than those at old Hampden, yet they often transformed a simple goal into one that's memorable.

If scored into nets of today, Derek Johnstone's header in the 1978 Scottish Cup Final would likely rebound to the 18 yard line.

Yet the way the old Hampden nets stop it dead has always fascinated me.

A-list A-frames - Arbroath FC

The Red Lichties are famous abroad for a 36-0 and their Gayfield Park being the stadium closest to the sea in Britain...

But if you pay your entry money and walk through the gates of history, you'll see Arbroath once played between a set of A-frames as curvy as those at Tynecastle but skinny as QPR.

A-list A-frames - Motherwell FC

Though Motherwell are more popularly recognised for the Continental D's installed at Fir Park in the early 1970's -



The steelworks suspending the nets prior are more culturally appropriate for a club nicknamed the Steelmen and based in Lanarkshire, home to the Ravenscraig steelworks of the time.

A-list A-frames - Aberdeen FC

Peculiarly for a club whose crest is designed around an A-frame, Aberdeen's glory days are synonymous with the Pittodrie Continental D's of the time.




But if you go far enough back - and peer through the snow - you see the Dons' History of Goal Nets incorporates a fine set of A-frames.

Total Goalnets - PSV Eindhoven

Through the 1970's, a tall and slim pair of A-frames stood at either end of PSV's Philips stadium.


(The same calendar year PSV surrendered their proud record of being unbeaten at home in European competition to Rangers)

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?

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)