The greatest goal.....

The 1966/7 season was like so many others. Excellent home form. Pretty dismal away form. And a final League Division 4 position of tenth.

Jack Howarth had joined the Shots at the beginning of the previous season, scoring his first goal in only his second outing. The first of 171 League and a further 25 cup goals.

After disposing of Torquay United on November 26th in the first round of the FA Cup Aldershot were paired with arch rivals Reading in round two. The game was set for Saturday January 7th, but as the insert to the match day programme confirmed, ‘Thank you for purchasing this programme. As you will observe, it was prepared for the original fixture but cancelled because of the unfit state of the ground.’ – the game was finally set for Monday 16th.

And only two days before the ‘big’ encounter, Aldershot flattened Newport County 5v0, in a League game at the Rec. The Shots were in form and the pitch was left looking like the Severn Estuary at low tide.

My memories of the FA Cup game are incredibly vivid. Even within the relative sanctuary of the North Stand the pressure from the crowd was intense. The floodlights tried their best to cut through the gloom that engulfed the Rec. The massive and expectant cheer, as the teams came out onto the pitch from the two tunnels in the South Stand, made me shudder. ‘Happy Jack’, played with such a force that it shook the bolts free from every loudspeaker around the ground. And then the goal.

The greatest goal that I have ever experienced in all of my years watching Aldershot.

A goal, that like a fine wine improves with age. The images in my mind enhanced by a power far greater than that found in any modern day computer.

And with only a grainy photo of the moment when Jack released his thunderbolt to refresh my mind the status of the goal can never be challenged.


Steve Curry wrote the following report for the Daily Express - published on Tuesday January 17th 1967.

‘Happy Jack’s the Cup hit’

Happy Jack Howarth spun on the mad thrill of a goal to the top of Aldershot’s hit parade last night.

He smacked the goal that ends the brave fight of Reading and wins a home clash with Brighton in the third round.

Howarth was swept off the field at the finish by frenzied fans who had swung from the grandstand roof and climbed floodlight pylons to view this thriller.

‘Happy Jack’…that was the record with which Aldershot greeted the teams as they came out.

‘Happy Jack’…that was the song those fans sang as they went home.

And Howarth was the happiest Jack of the lot.

The 21-year-old who was rejected by Chelsea as ‘not good enough’ and came on a free transfer from Swindon had rightly become a Cup hero.

It was not the only record played out this furious night. Aldershot counted up their crowd to 16,500 and their takings to £3,300 – both club records.

That 16,500 includes fans who fought a running battle with police as they kept their slender grip on the roofs.

It does not include those who had the gates shut in their faces and climbed trees near by to peer in on the action.

The magical moment for Aldershot and Howarth roared up in the 56th minute.

Ernie Yard mis-hit a pass and Peter Kearns whipped in to snap it up and send Howarth away.

Big, bustling Howarth smoothed in on goal and even the defiance of brave goalkeeper Arthur Wilkie could not keep this one out…………

……Roy Bentley, Reading manager, said afterwards: ‘I thought Howarth’s goal was off-side. But I am not quibbling about the result. I thought Aldershot played extremely well. There is no doubt the better side won.’

Dave Smith, Aldershot manager, said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted. I can’t see how Reading could possibly dispute Howarth’s goal. He must have run 20 yards in possession.’