10 Most Dramatic Late Winners In Domestic English Football
1. Jimmy Glass: Carlisle Vs Plymouth - 98/99
If I had to show one clip from the entire history of football to someone with no
knowledge of the game who couldn’t understand its popularity, I’d simply show
them this one glorious moment. I am not a Carlisle fan, but I still occasionally watch this video on
YouTube when I need a pick me up.
On the final day of the 98/99 Third division season, Carlisle United were facing relegation into non-league for the first time in 70 years unless they could manage to beat Plymouth Argyle at home. With seconds left on the clock, the score was 1-1 and they forced a last ditch corner. What inevitably followed was that all-too-rare but beautiful sight, a keeper making their way up for the late corner kick.
If you rewatch the footage from this game, one of my favourite little moments is seeing then Carlisle manager Ian Pearson sending Jimmy Glass up with a weary wave of his arms. Glass was on loan at the club from Swindon and up to this point had done little of note to distinguish himself in Carlisle colours.
What happened next was something so utterly wonderful it could easily have been lifted straight out of a heart-warming British comedy-drama.
The ball was floated in to the box and a timid header was palmed away by the Plymouth keeper. Naturally, the ball duly fell perfectly at the feet of Glass. The keeper caught the ball as clean as you like and with 10 seconds left to play, drilled it home to secure his side's safety.
Glass proceeded to wheel away in celebration and in the process prompted one of the all-time great pile-ons. The ensuing pitch invasion is a sight to behold as grown adults lost all sense of propriety and even the ref himself got bowled over . If anyone ever tells you that football doesn’t matter, show them his clip and make them witness the sheer unbridled joy on display after that goal goes in.
As a football fan, you get a moment like this once in a lifetime at best. Yet the thought of such a moment is part of what keeps us returning to it all year after year. We cling to the dream that one day, a bloody goalkeeper will smash in a last second goal to save the entire season. It does not get any better than that.