1997 SEMI-FINAL AND HOWARD’S WINNING GOAL THAT NEVER WAS
JON HOWARD sat on a Jamaican beach unable to watch Chelsea playing in the FA Cup final.
The Chesterfield striker had seen his side robbed of victory in the 1997 semi-final when his ‘goal’ against Middlesbrough was not given.
Replays showed Howard’s shot had clearly crossed the line after striking the bar which would have put Chesterfield closer still to being the first third-tier side to reach the final.
But referee David Elleray did not give it and without goal-line technology or VAR, Howard’s ‘goal’ remains confined to being one of the greatest that never was.
After a sensational, memorable 3-3 draw at Old Trafford against Chesterfield – who had led 2-0 with Sean Dyche scoring the second from a penalty – Bryan Robson’s star-studded Boro side won the replay and then lost to Chelsea in the final.
Fate throws the Spireites into a third round clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge 25 years on, with Howard admitting he still wonders what might have been.
Now 50, Howard recalled: “During the game when we were 2-0 up, I actually remember my mind wandering and thinking what suits we would wear for the final.
“They got back to 2-1 quite quickly but it was my shot which could have made the difference because it would have been 3-1 with about 20 minutes to go.
“I hit it so well, too well really. It crashed against the bar and I was so busy trying to get to the rebound to notice it had gone over the line.
“It wasn’t until I came out of the dressing room that the TV commentator Martin Tyler said to me, “Did you know it crossed the line?’ That was the first I knew of it.”
Chesterfield lost 3-0 in the replay and the players headed for the sunshine as a reward for their heroics.
Howard said: “The club generously paid for all of us to go on holiday to Jamaica.
“Ironically the cup final was on while we were out there. Some of the lads watched it but I couldn’t bring myself to. The bitterness was still there, so I just went to the beach.”
He has come to terms with it now but does wonder how the course of his life might have changed had Chesterfield made the final.
“It is something you can watch online. I bring it up and show my son and daughters that I played in an FA Cup semifinal,” said Howard.
“It’s now seen as a classic and crops up on TV now and again but at the time there was a stunned silence in our dressing room.
“I remember we were all absolutely exhausted. It was really strange – quiet. We’d got the euphoria of having a replay but there was this kind of feeling that perhaps our best chance had just gone. Like, deep down, that was it.
“It’s still something that will live with me for the rest of my life and the way the whole town of Chesterfield got behind us.
“People were camped out overnight queueing for tickets and afterwards when we made our way back they were all outside the pubs and clubs applauding us and cheering. Amazing.”
Howard did get his chance to confront Elleray about his lifechanging moment when he bumped into him years later.
And the replay was: “He just said, ‘I’m ever so sorry. We needed technology in those days as well’!”