Through 50+ years of attending Boston United matches I will have witnessed many memorable goals, with ‘the best’ being remembered for the occasion as much as how brilliant they were. Two that stand out as being both for me were Jim Conde’s diving header in the FA Cup 3rd Round Replay v First Division Derby County at York Street in 1974 and, as Ken has already alluded to, Chris Cook’s goal at Wembley in 1985. Although we were 2-0 down at the time in both matches the cheers that greeted both goals were as loud and joyful as any I’ve experienced and sparked hope that we just might get back to 2-2.
Probably, though, the best goal I ever saw was scored by the legendary George Best in the only match that I ever saw him play live – and, most likely, the only game I ever saw refereed by Jack Taylor – the 1974 World Cup Final referee. It was Peterborough United v Fulham in a Football League Cup Replay at London Road in September 1976.
Here’s an extract from something I just found on an unofficial Fulham website to describe the goal:-
Fulham – then in the old Second Division (now Championship) - entered the Football League Cup at the second round stage in 1976/77 and drew Fourth Division (League Two) Peterborough United. Posh had taken three games to dispose of Reading in the first round and they must have been intrigued to be drawn against a Fulham side with its gathering of some real great ‘golden oldies’.
In early August manager Alec Stock announced had announced that Fulham had all but sealed an audacious transatlantic double deal – the return of prodigal son Rodney Marsh and, even more newsworthy, the return to English football of George Best more than two-and-a-half years since he’d walked out on Manchester United.
Marsh, a maverick forward most recently with Tampa Bay Rowdies but who’d made his professional debut for Fulham in March 1963, was “pleased to be coming homeâ€. Best, a footballing genius in his heyday, who had rediscovered his passion for football with Los Angeles Aztecs, just wanted to play – “All I want to do is get out on the field and be allowed to play.â€
As the tie with Peterborough neared, Marsh had become a Fulham player and was set to make his second debut for the club. Best, though, remained in limbo, with the Football League in no hurry to sanction his switch. Another famous name Bobby Moore was also still in the Fulham ranks, having himself just returned from a summer spell with San Antonio Thunder.
After a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage the replay took place at a packed-out London Road a week later. Several jeers from the home fans could be heard as a certain George Best took to the field – the Irishman had at last been given clearance to play for the Whites and had celebrated at the weekend by scoring the winner against Bristol Rovers just 71 seconds into his League debut for Fulham – but, as was his won’t, Bestie went on to mesmerise players and supporters alike.
Actually, Marsh was arguably Fulham’s star player on that night, but even he was left open-mouthed five minutes before the break. Best received the ball from Marsh not too far inside the Peterborough half, but with very little options available to pass it on. So from standing still with the ball under his foot, and seemingly inviting a Posh player to tackle him, Best arrogantly flipped the ball into the air with one foot and volleyed the ball with the other oh-so-sweetly beyond the Posh ‘keeper Eric Steele and into the top corner of the net. The 16,476 present were stunned into total jaw-dropping silence, which, after a second or so, not only transformed into a deafening roar of approval but also a standing ovation from the fans on all four sides of the ground.
On one of the many TV programmes made to celebrate George Best’s brilliance after his death a variety of his former playing colleagues were asked to rate the best ever goal they saw him score – and Rodney Marsh said this one was the one for him. Had there been film footage of it still in existence Marsh was sure it would be in film archives as one of Best’s top three.
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