In 2003 I interviewed Roy Clarke about his 1955 semi-final goal for Manchester City (which happened on this day, 26 March, in 1955). It was the only goal of the game and sent City through to the 1955 FA Cup final where they faced Newcastle. Roy was always an entertaining character whenever I met up with him. This is what he said about his goal when we discussed it all those years ago:
‘Joe Hayes centred a free kick towards Bobby Johnstone. I was in the outside left position near the back of the box and I just had a feeling that Bobby would miss the ball. I don’t know why but it was clear as day to me that this would be my chance, not Bobby’s. Before the ball even reached Bobby I started to dive. It passed him and I connected. I headed with such pace that the ball flew past the Sunderland ‘keeper and into the far corner.
‘There’s a couple of photographs taken of the goal. One shows the mud and the wet, the other shows the cold, wet fans stood in the Villa Park Main Stand paddock. They didn’t celebrate or show any emotion because I think they were soaking wet and couldn’t move!‘
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