So that’s another boyhood dream ticked off. On Wednesday 25th November 2009, I scored a 25-yard goal at Wembley stadium. Okay, it was quite a warped take on my actual boyhood dream: This was supposed to me playing for Spurs against Arsenal in the FA Cup final. Instead, my goal was set up by X-Factor winner Shane Ward, in a special match organised by superbrand Umbro. But they all count. Here’s what happened.
The away dressing room at Wembley
The magnificent Wemb-erly!
I do a lot of work with Umbro, and to celebrate the launch of their new Speciali boot and some superb new kitwear, they invited some journalists and TV types to play out a match on the actual pitch. Which was possibly the largest pitch I’ve ever seen. When you receive the ball, it feels like you’ve got weeks to decide what to do. Unless you have a touch as appalling as mine.
Preparing for action next to my strike partner, Shane Ward from X-Factor.
The team of out of breath journalists and celebrities
T4 presenter Rick Edwards: annoyingly fast footballer
I spent much of the time upfront with Shane, but was marked by man-mountain Rick Edwards off the telly. Umbro weren’t overly impressed that my Speciali boots didn’t fit and that I wore my own Adidas pair. Nevertheless, like most of the players, I was here to score.
Zoo magazine's Leo Moynihan was playing a blinder before his Wembley dream ended in a trip to casualty
Being largely unfit, I found myself in on goal just twice in 90 minutes. But when a through ball from Ward slipped past ASOS’s Paul Drew, I wasn’t (as Harry Redknapp might say), going to fuck about. So I hit it from outside of the box and watched as it sailed in. Funny feeling that, seeing yourself score at Wembley. Embarrassingly, I remember shouting, “That felt alright!” and hearing it echo off the empty stadium walls.
My goal. 85th minute. I dont remember the 'keeper looking that sluggish...
Nevertheless, it flew in. Pele never got to play at Wembley. I did and it was a marvelous experience and probably one of the most enjoyable afternoons of my silly little life.