Diving Headers and Five Goals

[ucandomagic]

I’ve always loved diving headers – I think Andy Gray (not ours) who played for Villa and Everton was the person that I remember scoring the most. I often think that, in modern football, players go for the ball with their leg sticking out when a full-blooded diving header would be more likely to reach the ball with an effective contact.

So, with that in mind, I absolutely loved Oli McB’s diving header into the Kop end against Burnley. Not a thought about his landing – just 100% committed to getting the ball in the net.



Oli’s goal took me way back to April 27 1971. I knew in advance that I was coming to live in Sheffield in September 1971, and somebody that I knew in Sheffield invited me to “a game” at Bramall Lane on April 27th. This game turned out to be the legendary 5-1 defeat of Cardiff that virtually clinched promotion to the top tier.

My friend also introduced me to Ward’s Bitter on that visit, and my only clear memory from watching the game from beside the cricket pavilion was a John Flynn diving header into that same Kop end.



So my first and my most recent games at BDBL (more than 50 years apart) were wins with 5 goals and a diving header into the Kop.

The Circle of Life eh?!!

UTB & Slava Ukraini

 

[Greenwich Blade]

I’ve always loved diving headers – I think Andy Gray (not ours) who played for Villa and Everton was the person that I remember scoring the most. I often think that, in modern football, players go for the ball with their leg sticking out when a full-blooded diving header would be more likely to reach the ball with an effective contact.

So, with that in mind, I absolutely loved Oli McB’s diving header into the Kop end against Burnley. Not a thought about his landing – just 100% committed to getting the ball in the net.

View attachment 147353

Oli’s goal took me way back to April 27 1971. I knew in advance that I was coming to live in Sheffield in September 1971, and somebody that I knew in Sheffield invited me to “a game” at Bramall Lane on April 27th. This game turned out to be the legendary 5-1 defeat of Cardiff that virtually clinched promotion to the top tier.

My friend also introduced me to Ward’s Bitter on that visit, and my only clear memory from watching the game from beside the cricket pavilion was a John Flynn diving header into that same Kop end.

View attachment 147354

So my first and my most recent games at BDBL (more than 50 years apart) were wins with 5 goals and a diving header into the Kop.

The Circle of Life eh?!!

UTB & Slava Ukraini

This is my favourite diving header goal from a game where we scored five.

 

[ucandomagic]

This is my favourite diving header goal from a game where we scored five.

View attachment 147355

I think we’ve got something here. Mine was 1970-71 and we were promoted in second place to the top tier.

Yours was in 1989-90, and we were promoted in second place to the top tier.

So this week, for the third time in the second tier, we’ve scored five including a diving header.

It’s fate - we’re going up in second place!

UTB & Slava Ukraini

 

[Aycliffe Blade]

I remember Derek Pace scoring several diving headers . Early 60's , can't remember which games now though.

 

[Superblades]

David Holdsworth scoring around 1996 was a brilliant diving header, shame it was an own goal tho.

 

[Flumps]

Probably banging the drum now but it's the image of confidence I like. I wouldn't have even stuck a quid on McB attempting a diving header only a few months ago, impressive how his attitudes changed. I mentioned the same about Norwood having a pop from way out most of em end up god knows where but a couple of them have come off and it's all worth it.

Fuck me even Anel had an attempt at an overhead kick and it wasn't THAT far off. An overhead kick! At Bramall Lane! What is happening?

 

[diode_blade]

Probably banging the drum now but it's the image of confidence I like. I wouldn't have even stuck a quid on McB attempting a diving header only a few months ago, impressive how his attitudes changed. I mentioned the same about Norwood having a pop from way out most of em end up god knows where but a couple of them have come off and it's all worth it.

Fuck me even Anel had an attempt at an overhead kick and it wasn't THAT far off. An overhead kick! At Bramall Lane! What is happening?

Anel saw you had a meat pie in your hand and was trying to save you from it.....that's my theory anyway

 

[Snowflake]

I remember Derek Pace scoring several diving headers . Early 60's , can't remember which games now though.

From crosses by Simpson ?

 

[Houston_Blade]

Sharp in this game, about 1 minute in on the video.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

I referred to Allan Clarke on Saturday!

 

[jim2007]

Is my memory correct in remembering that one of Peter Withe's goals for us was a rip-snorting diving header at the Bramall Lane end?

Don't have many other memories of him to be honest. Wikipedia tells me he played 74 times for us. Wouldn't have guessed that. He was 34 when he joined us I think. It wasn't the best of times I suppose.

 

[Blade for Sale]

Is my memory correct in remembering that one of Peter Withe's goals for us was a rip-snorting diving header at the Bramall Lane end?

Don't have many other memories of him to be honest. Wikipedia tells me he played 74 times for us. Wouldn't have guessed that. He was 34 when he joined us I think. It wasn't the best of times I suppose.

He scored v Barnsley after 18 seconds at the BL end but more of a looping header as I recall. He memorably scored against us for Birmingham whilst on loan....from us. I seem to recall that being a diving header at the kop end but I was only about 9.

 

[Knackered Blade]

He scored v Barnsley after 18 seconds at the BL end but more of a looping header as I recall. He memorably scored against us for Birmingham whilst on loan....from us. I seem to recall that being a diving header at the kop end but I was only about 9.

Unless he scored two that night, my memory of Withe's goal is that it was not a diving header, but he just jumped and headed it back across the goal over our goalkeeper. The cross came from their right and Withe was about 8 yards from the Kop goal. He was a very good header of the ball in his day.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I’ve always loved diving headers – I think Andy Gray (not ours) who played for Villa and Everton was the person that I remember scoring the most. I often think that, in modern football, players go for the ball with their leg sticking out when a full-blooded diving header would be more likely to reach the ball with an effective contact.

So, with that in mind, I absolutely loved Oli McB’s diving header into the Kop end against Burnley. Not a thought about his landing – just 100% committed to getting the ball in the net.

View attachment 147353

Oli’s goal took me way back to April 27 1971. I knew in advance that I was coming to live in Sheffield in September 1971, and somebody that I knew in Sheffield invited me to “a game” at Bramall Lane on April 27th. This game turned out to be the legendary 5-1 defeat of Cardiff that virtually clinched promotion to the top tier.

My friend also introduced me to Ward’s Bitter on that visit, and my only clear memory from watching the game from beside the cricket pavilion was a John Flynn diving header into that same Kop end.

View attachment 147354

So my first and my most recent games at BDBL (more than 50 years apart) were wins with 5 goals and a diving header into the Kop.

The Circle of Life eh?!!

UTB & Slava Ukraini

Brilliant post. I can add to all the symmetry. How deflated did we all feel when Jack Robinson put the ball into that same goal with a brilliant diving header? Damage undone by McBurnie’s goal.
The only thing to match a diving header is a diving keeper pulling off a thrilling save. I just can’t stand players diving to win a free kick…

 

[corner_flag]

Probably banging the drum now but it's the image of confidence I like. I wouldn't have even stuck a quid on McB attempting a diving header only a few months ago, impressive how his attitudes changed. I mentioned the same about Norwood having a pop from way out most of em end up god knows where but a couple of them have come off and it's all worth it.

Fuck me even Anel had an attempt at an overhead kick and it wasn't THAT far off. An overhead kick! At Bramall Lane! What is happening?

Confidence. That is what is happening.

 

[Geordie Blade]

When I was young, I remember doing diving headers in the garden, saying that I was “like Mel Eves”.

Can anyone remember whether Mel Eves actually scored a diving header (or two) for us, or did I just have a vivid imagination?

 

[Aycliffe Blade]

From crosses by Simpson ?

Would guess Ron Simpson or Len Allchurch, but it's a long time ago so memory not so great.

 

[Knackered Blade]

Would guess Ron Simpson or Len Allchurch, but it's a long time ago so memory not so great.

Courtesy of Cyprus Blade from 2015

Derek Pace

My father (aged 91), who has recently had to go into a Nursing Home, was a massive Doc fan - second only to Jimmy Hagan. Going through his effects I came across this cutting from the Star's Obituary to the great man so I thought I would share it with the aficionados. He kept it because he always...

www.s24su.com

 

[coaxingstar71]

Haven't got the programme photo (Silent Blade probably has), but Gil Reece memorably scored a superb diving header against Birmingham in our promotion season in 1971. The programme headline was "The Flying Welshman".

 

[Silent Blade]

Haven't got the programme photo (Silent Blade probably has), but Gil Reece memorably scored a superb diving header against Birmingham in our promotion season in 1971. The programme headline was "The Flying Welshman".

 

[Blade for Sale]

Unless he scored two that night, my memory of Withe's goal is that it was not a diving header, but he just jumped and headed it back across the goal over our goalkeeper. The cross came from their right and Withe was about 8 yards from the Kop goal. He was a very good header of the ball in his day.

You're probably right, I was only a nipper. Not Blades related but Keith Houchen's must surely be the archetype of the diving header genre

 

[Blade for Sale]

Jamie Hoyland v Palace and Glyn Hodges v Luton were both magnificent Blades diving header as well. Hoyland was about 6 feet up and horizontal. Hodges was the culmination of a superb length of the field move and was nominated for Goal of the Month. It was most un-Bassett like

 

[reedy63]

Billy Dearden and Deano scored a few diving headers.

 

[Aganarama]

Sharp in this game, about 1 minute in on the video.

 

[Houston_Blade]

View attachment 147393

We're in the top 4 now as well..............................

 

[WeareBlades]

Rob Hulse vs Liverpool sticks out!

 

[Willie Carlin]

Billy Dearden was a great header of the ball. One of my fav Blades!!!

 

[OnmiEdson]

Absolutely agree Willie Carlin
Thus my avatar…..

 

[Willie Carlin]

Absolutely agree Willie Carlin
Thus my avatar…..

Enjoy!!

 

[Ridgeway Blade]

Billy Dearden was so deceptive. Not particularly tall, reasonably slim but he was a right handful for defenders of any size. His anticpation and movemet were first class and he gained that extra yard on defenders by that. Added to that he was a greatr finisher.