October 1970 and Everton were visiting Coventry City with an expectation of getting an away win.
The Everton team had World Cup winner Alan Ball playing for them. But they came away 3 – 1 losers.
Ernie Hunt of Coventry scored two goals that day but one will remain infamous.
The ‘Donkey Kick’ goal.
Everton gave away a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Willie Carr stood over the ball and Ernie Hunt was a few paces behind him. Everton put up a defensive wall.
A thin sliver of hope shimmered through the home crowd. Could something come of the free kick? After all, this was Coventry City and they were playing the mighty Everton.
The referee blew his whistle. Willie Carr gripped the ball between his ankles and flicked it up behind him. The home crowd was mystified. While the ball was in the air the round shouldered Ernie Hunt charged up and volleyed the ball. It flew past the wall. It flew past the keeper and was only brought to a stop by the back of the net.
For a fraction of a second the crowd was dumbstruck. Had we really seen what had happened? Had we really witnessed this most wondrous piece of magic? Oh yes we had. There then grew a most joyous roar that was eager to celebrate what would live on as a special moment. We were there. We had witnessed it. It had really happened. We could barely dare to believe it.
The rest of the match has been forgotten. It was only ‘run of the mill’ football – not the miracle of ingenuity that that we had seen.
The goal was featured on Match of the Day. It won the ‘Goal of the Month’ competition (by a mile). And the move was banned by the FA.
But everyone who was there that day will never forget the delicious tingle down our backs as we realised what we had witnessed. I still get it now as I am writing this. Everyone should have a moment to remember like that!
Tony
Memory added on October 31, 2012
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