Phantom goal beneficiaries have form - against Rochdale!

This weekend has seen an outcry over what has been deemed the ‘Phantom Goal’. Furious Watford fans called for an enquiry after a controversial goal was awarded to Reading when the ball bounced over the by-line, four or five feet wide of the post after a corner. The incident has led to a renewed call for TV replays to assist referees and hit national headlines.

Rochdale Online can now reveal that Reading, who were the beneficiaries, have 'previous' in the annals of  'phantom goals'. On August 16, 1975, in the tenth minute of their fourth division match against Rochdale, Tommy Youlden, the Reading central defender, took a powerful 25-yard free kick. Despite the ball hitting the side-netting and nestling on the grass outside the net, Walter Harvey, the referee, deemed that it had rebounded from the netting underneath the bar and awarded a goal.

Mike Poole, the Rochdale goalkeeper, ran after Harvey as the official returned to the centre circle and, in his anger, kicked the ball over the main stand and was booked. Reading added a second goal, legitimately, from Steve Hetzke after half-time to win 2-0.

Rochdale supporter John Murray told Rochdale Online: “I thought history couldn’t repeat itself and was shocked to see the controversy at the weekend. Reading must be the luckiest team alive and it definitely provoked thoughts of over 30 years ago. At the time, I was in my early twenties and it was clear that we were conned.

"As a local cricket umpire, I thought times had changed but obviously not. It’s ironic that over 30 years later, Rochdale’s misfortune has travelled to Watford.

"At the time, the goal was controversial in Rochdale – Reading must be the luckiest team in the world!”