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...