Score tonight Harry and it will change your life
Bryan Robson: 36 years after THAT goal
SCORING goals in a World Cup is a wonderful feeling. Scoring the quickest goal changed my life.
As a kid I used to stand on the Leazes End at Newcastle United and dream just of being a footballer. But that’s all they were . . . dreams. To play for my country and score at a World Cup, I never thought I’d achieve that, it was beyond a dream.
I’d scored goals for England before but scoring against France in our first game of the 1982 tournament took my career to another level. I grew as a player. I’d got off to a slow start at Manchester United after I’d joined from West Brom but after that World Cup I returned full of confidence. I knew I could compete at the top level.
My profile went sky high. Not just in the UK but worldwide.
I was presented with a gold watch by Seiko with the inscription: ‘Fastest World Cup goal, England v France 1982, 27 seconds’.
Years later I even got invited to a function in Burgundy, France where they presented me with an honorary award — for scoring the fastest goal against them.
I still remember that goal clearly.
France were one of the favourites and we’d planned to get them on the back foot quickly, from the kick-off.
The day before the game we were practising with Mick Mills taking a long throw from the left. Terry Butcher and Paul Mariner would make a move to the front post for a flick-on and my job was to ghost in behind and get on the end of it.
We’d done this for a few hours when Don Howe called a halt to it and we were trudging off the pitch. On the side, Steve Coppell and Ray Wilkins were watching and Steve said: ‘Don, if you need a throw from the right I can take one.’ Don said: ‘Go on then, let’s see,’ and Steve threw it to the edge of the six-yard box. Don said: ‘Right, that’ll do son, you’re on tomorrow.’
The next day and the game kicks off, Ray pings it down the flank, Steve wins a throw-in. He takes it, Terry flicks on and I run in.
Alain Giresse had switched off so I’m on my own, the ball sits up high but I manage to almost scissor-kick it in. We were as stunned as they were that it had worked and so quickly. I just jumped on Terry. We were so excited.
The key with scoring that early was to keep our heads ads but they pulled one back k before Trevor Francis put t a cross over for me to head another. I didn’t know I could jump that high! Paul finished it off with the third.
Winning that game, my first in a World Cup against a team such as s France, was such a great at feeling.
The excitement was evenen too much back home becauseause my wife Denise ended up goingi iinto t labour and giving birth to our second daughter Charlotte.
I did an interview with ITV after the game and Jim Rosenthal said they’d messed it up and that I’d have to go back the next day to do it. Unbeknown to me, they’d sent a TV crew to the hospital to film Denise with Charlotte. Then they sat me in a room and put the video on and that was the first time I’d seen Charlotte — broadcast live on TV. Privacy? I had no choice.
The thing with that World Cup though, it was heartbreaking.
We went out without losing a
game due to the forformat. We had such a good team, and I still believe if Kevin Keegan had been 100 per cent fit we would have gone close to winning it. He’d had problems with his back and only managed 30 minutes against Spain. I should have scored too. Even now I still find it hard to take — 36 years on.
Every now and again I take out that gold watch, normally when one of the family want to see it. It was presented to me before a game at Old Trafford but was a bit big so I had to get a couple of links taken out. I offered them to Steve but he declined in his usual deadpan way. It’s had a few scratches but still working and a reminder of how my life changed.
For Harry Kane, Jesse Lingard, whoever it may be, getting that first goal can make the world regard you in a different way.
England’s players have to realise how fortunate they are to be at a World Cup, not everyone gets this chance and more reason to make the most of it.
The first game is so important. Don’t get beat but, if you can win it, the confidence can make you. I tell you, it’s worth more than a gold watch.