Mark Hughes's phantom goal for the Saints Aug 1999

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Does anyone remember this goal that never was v Leeds scored by Mark Hughes?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1207101/The-goals-Sportsmails-time-favourite-Phantom-goals.html

[Chopper71]

I was there - back in the days of the tautest nets ever. He smashed it from about 6 yards out in the middle of the goal, it hit the back of the net and bounced out and goal not given. Unbelievable Jeff...

[Joneth]

Did it not hit the advertising board close behind the goal and bounce out? How the eff the ref missed that one I'll never understand.

[Golden Balls]

I was there. Can't believe there's not a video of it.

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

It hit the advertising hoarding and bounced straight out. Hughes did not even claim it nor in fact did anyone. It looked to al intense and purposes as if it hit the post. We were 1-0 down at the time and it would have made for an interesting game. Leeds then scored two more.

[SW5 SAINT]

You would have thought that if the ball did hit the advertising boards (which were very close behind goal, it was a very narrow perimeter strip) behind the goal and cannon back out, it would have been happening all the time. I do remember the incident, although not at the match, I seem to remember watching it on TV (although I may have been listening on the radio!).

[Scummer]

It didn't hit the advertising boards. There was a walkway between the goal and the boards, the net wasn't made of elastic...

 

It hit the metal poles which were used to hold additional nets at the side of the goals in the pre match warm up (to stop wayward shots flying into the crowd). They used to take them down before the match and lie them on the ground behind the goal.

[Hamilton Saint]

Ah, yes, Mark Hughes - that prolific scorer ... of yellow cards. Pity he couldn't score anywhere near as many goals!

[StDunko]

It didn't hit the advertising boards. There was a walkway between the goal and the boards, the net wasn't made of elastic...

 

It hit the metal poles which were used to hold additional nets at the side of the goals in the pre match warm up (to stop wayward shots flying into the crowd). They used to take them down before the match and lie them on the ground behind the goal.

 

This seems the most plausible explanation...

I was there in the 2nd row of the East Stand upper, near the half way line, so I had a reasonably good view, (but was anyone in the 1st row of the archers?) It clearly looked like a goal to me, but is was very odd that the ball pinged straight back out into play, particularly as I don't recall the net "bulging" as such, hence the confusion. If there was something behind the goal such as the posts mentioned above, that caused the ball to rebound before the net became taught, it would explain it.

[um pahars]

Was in the Archers for this one and from where we were it looked as though it went in then out.

 

BUT I just don't believe it went in as no one made a real fuss to the referee or linesman. Would have thought that if it had gone in then Hughes and others would have gone ballistic.

[Stud mark of doom]

It didn't hit the advertising boards. There was a walkway between the goal and the boards, the net wasn't made of elastic...

 

It hit the metal poles which were used to hold additional nets at the side of the goals in the pre match warm up (to stop wayward shots flying into the crowd). They used to take them down before the match and lie them on the ground behind the goal.

 

This is the expiation I remember. I was there too but no-one seemed to be shouting for a goal too much.

[bpsaint]

Remember listening to it on the radio and they were convinced it had gone in and straight out, although there's never been footage of the incident released to my knowledge which make me wonder if it even happened!

[ericb]

I was directly behind the goal, block 3 of the archers about 4 rows back and my memory at the time was that it hadn't gone in, i guess it's one of those that we'll never know about but i think the fuss was/is made because of the angles you used to get at the Dell meant sometimes you didn't always have the best view!

[SN5_Saint]

We were in the West Stand in line with the goal. It was hit very hard and fast and hit something very solid at the back of the goal. We always assumed it was the advertising hoardings but if something else stood in the way fair enough. It must have been hit and rebounded at such an angle that it was credible a defender had cleared it from the goal line. We still talk about it now as it was just so strange nobody tried to claim it as a goal.

[cleaver]

I was there, it deffo went in. I thought it was claimed for at the time, where we were in the archers it was clear as day! The net did bulge a bit too from what I can remember.

[Kenilworthy]

From the back of the West Stand i had no idea what had happened. There was footage of the incident. But I have just checked the goals of the season video for 99-2000 and annoyingly they don't feature any games we lost without scoring

[badgerx16]

Some of the other goals in that article are unbelievable - especially Paddy Connoly's.

[Kingsland Red]

I was there and queried my eye sight with my son when it went in, it was amazing none of the players seemed too bothered.

Edited 6 October, 2014 by Kingsland Red

[John Cool]

I was behind the goal in the Archers and was sure it went in (and came out again), but not so sure what it bounced off - I thought it must have been the advertising boards.

[Kevtherev]

Did it not hit the advertising board close behind the goal and bounce out? How the eff the ref missed that one I'll never understand.

sat in Milton Road directly behind goal. Hughes hit it hard went in to net hit boardings at back came straight out! Ref must have thought hit post. So standard has not changed much over the years. Think we lost 3-0, on par with Nick Holmes pile driver against Watford I think? Which was given offside cos left wingers nose was level with last defender!!

[Hamilton Saint]

OK, then - 3 goals from 52 appearances.

[mancsaint]

It didn't hit the advertising boards. There was a walkway between the goal and the boards, the net wasn't made of elastic...

 

It hit the metal poles which were used to hold additional nets at the side of the goals in the pre match warm up (to stop wayward shots flying into the crowd). They used to take them down before the match and lie them on the ground behind the goal.

 

Exactly what happened, the shot hit the ground and poles at the same time.

 

Mancsaint

[kpturner]

The Pahars goal against Sunderland was the most galling phantom goal I can remember.

[redkeith]

Hughes didn't claim it 'cause he didn't give a toss.

 

The 2nd (after Speedie) disinterested mercenary to sign for Saints. I used to play Fifa Manager 2000 over and over, just so I could sell the barsteward.

[sifter]

I wasn't there but I saw the incident on South today that evening and they commented and the video showed the ball clearly go in, hit the advertising board and come back out.

[ant]

Definitely remember seeing it on South Today. Undoubtedly a goal.

[Ekelund24]

The Pahars goal against Sunderland was the most galling phantom goal I can remember.

 

Given by the music man but cruelly ruled out by the officials

[Wadge]

I wasn't there but I saw the incident on South today that evening and they commented and the video showed the ball clearly go in, hit the advertising board and come back out.

 

Yeah I saw it on the tv, it was close to the post, but hit board at the back and then came straight out.

[The9]

I haven't seen the "goal" since it happened, but I remember the Dell nets, rather than being "taut" as described, were in fact quite loose at the back, probably to try and absorb the energy of the ball before it hit the adverts.

Edited 7 October, 2014 by The9

[The Cat]

I was in the front couple of rows of the Archers to the right of the goal. Everyone around us certainly thought it was a goal.

 

On the flip side does anyone remember Dean Hammond's scruffy near post header away at Northampton in the cup which was given but definitely didn't go in? So it's true, these thinga do even themselves out even if it does take 10 years or so.

[The9]