This Day in History: 2023-06-28

Nr. 485

‘DONKEY KICK’ BOOTED OUT (1970)

With a deft flick of heels the ‘donkey kick’ became part of British football folklore. The BBC’s Match of the Day programme cameras were at Highfield Road, Coventry, to capture an outrageously taken free-kick. Midfielder Willie Carr used both feet to flick the ball up behind him, where team-mate Ernie Hunt was lurking. Hunt, a proven striker, hammered the ball home from 25 yards past the Everton goalkeeper. Despite the unusual circumstances, the goal was given, to the delight of the Coventry crowd. However, the football authorities took a dim view and later scrutiny of the rule book showed that it should never have been allowed.

Ernie Hunt, above, and Willie Carr’s cheeky free kick move was a training ground routine too far and was swiftly banned by the authorities.