The Path of Ronnie's Rocket

1972 – Non-leaguers Hereford United defeated popular clowns Newcastle United in a famous giant-killing, thanks to a spectacular goal known as Radford’s Rocket.

Ronnie Radford was standing by the clock tower in Hereford town centre, 1.5 miles from the Newcastle goal, when he struck the shot, which reached a top speed of 450 km per hour before flying into the top corner and on through the net into the stands, where it killed a man.

The goal was memorably described by John Motson with the words: ‘what a goal! What a goal!’

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