Raphael Meade's bicycle kick and the select few who scored with the first touch of their careers
A first touch to remember
Jamie Spencer, 17, made his first first-team appearance in a competitive match, for Huddersfield at Doncaster on 9 September in the prestigious EFL Trophy. He came on as a substitute in the 66th minute and scored with his second touch of the ball, one to control it and the second to score. It prompted the obvious question from reader Richard Askham: has anyone ever scored with their very first touch, which is the only way to better young Spencer's achievement?
From the archives
The Guardian's Knowledge desk previously covered a variation of this query in 2021, looking at players scoring with their first touch on debut for new clubs. Several of those answers fit the stricter "first touch of a professional career" test too:
- Jack Aitchison for Celtic in 2016
- Matt Hatch for Central Coast Mariners in 2021
- England one-cap wonder Michael Ricketts for Walsall against Brighton in 1996
- Maheta Molango (now chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association) for Brighton against Reading in August 2004
- Yan Dhanda for Swansea City at Sheffield United in 2018
Medley's stunning half-volley
"Back in 2007, Luke Medley, on his professional debut for Bradford, was aged 18 years and two months," emails Ben McGowan. "In an early-season game against a Wrexham side who finished the season bottom of the fourth tier, he came on in the 76th minute. Two minutes later, he scored an absolutely stunning half-volley with his first touch in professional football." What a strike!
Meade's Uefa Cup bicycle kick
"Back in September 1981, Raphael Meade came on as sub for Arsenal against Panathinaikos and scored with his very first touch," flags Mukhtar Khan. Quite the feat, especially as it was in the Uefa Cup, and especially as it was a bicycle kick! "Kenny Samson provided the cross from the left and Meade, with his back to goal, beat keeper Konstantinou all ends up", wrote the Daily Express.
More first-touch heroes
"Ibra Sekajja scored with his first touch on his professional debut for Crystal Palace against Hull in 2011," writes Bjørn Barang. Sekajja netted an 88th-minute equaliser to help Palace retain their Championship status.
Andy Brook and Robert Heath both correctly identify Alan Smith's first touch as a professional footballer resulting in a goal for Leeds at Anfield. With Leeds 1-0 down, Smith came off the bench and equalised with his first touch in front of the Kop two minutes later, before Leeds went on to win a controversial match 3-1 – the state of that tackle from Nigel Martyn on Karl-Heinz Riedle! – Gérard Houllier's first game in sole charge of Liverpool.