TODAY, Francis Tierney is largely forgotten, at least outside Doncaster. Yet the 45-year-old will forever hold a rather unique distinction.
On May 10, 2003, at Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium, the winger scored an injury-time winner to settle the inaugural Conference play-off final. In doing so, he made Doncaster Rovers the only team in UK history ever to be promoted thanks to a Golden Goal.
“Winning like that… it’s almost impossible to describe,” recalls Dave Penney, the Donny manager that day. “One second you’re focussed on the game. The next, bang – it’s all over. I’ve won and lost games in lots of ways but nothing quite like that. It’s a euphoric feeling.”
And losing?
“It’s soul-destroying,” says Ashley Vickers, who played as a central defender for beaten finalists Dagenham & Redbridge. “They are the only words for it. I had more highs than lows in football but that one was the hardest to take.”
Conceived a decade earlier, the Golden Goal rule was a response to the conservatism that had dogged Italia 90, particularly during a knockout stage that saw four goalless periods of extra time.
Originally branded ‘Sudden Death’ before receiving a PR makeover, the rule was simple: score the first goal in extra time and you win the game.
FIFA, the architects of the scheme, hoped to incentivize attacking play; in practice, the fear of conceding a decisive strike far eclipsed the prospect of scoring one and, by 2003, the Golden Goal experiment was on its last legs.
Doncaster’s triumph was its final hurrah, and it came at the genesis of a new era in NonLeague football.
This story is from the June 06, 2021 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 06, 2021 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BILLY BAGS A CRUCIAL GOAL AS YORK EASE DROP FEARS!
YORK City took a huge step towards National League safety, while plunging Woking deeper into trouble in front of a record-breaking crowd at the LNER Community Stadium.
Spitfires top guns over Harriers
RELEGATION from the National League was confirmed for Kidderminster Harriers as they were defeated by an Eastleigh side who banished any slim fears of suffering the drop themselves in the process.
HULME SEALS TITLE IN STYLE
Champs Boro hit 100-goal mark
HOT TOWN CHARGING INTO THE PLAY-OFFS
BRACKLEY TOWN closed in on a top-three finish while Chester will now need a miracle to make the play-offs.
MOSES IS ANSWER TO BLUES' PRAYERS
A SUBLIME Moses Emmanuel strike nine minutes from time proved to be the difference as Billericay Town boosted their play-off aspirations with victory over relegation-threatened Cheshunt.
QUORN MINCED AS BEES RUN RIOT
HARBOROUGH hit Quorn with a five-star showing as the Bees emphatically maintained top spot with only two matches of the season remaining.
RYAN ON SONG AS VICTORY SECURED
RYAN CLARKE proved to be the hero of the hour as a solid display from the Crusaders secured the points at Bulpit Lane against a battling AFC Totton.
PARKER IS THE HERO AS TOWN EYE TITLE
ROBBIE Parker's late injury-time winner kept the Waders on course for automatic promotion in this top versus bottom clash.
BOTTI'S STRIKE LIFTS CURFEWS
CHERTSEY became Town divisional champions in emphatic style in front of over 1,100 Alwyns Lane spectators with this comfortable win.
Rovers' Wembley joy thanks to Luis!
GREAT WAKERING Rovers keeper Luis Shamshoum saved the vital penalty kick in a tense shoot-out to set up a dream all-Essex showdown at Wembley.