The Goalkeeper Who Scored the Equaliser: James Crump's FA Youth Cup Miracle
Frederik Hvillum
In the dying seconds of an FA Youth Cup tie, Kidderminster Harriers Academy goalkeeper James Crump launched a desperate ball forward. What happened next left everyone in disbelief, including Crump himself.
"I was buzzing and in complete disbelief as I, the goalkeeper, scored the equaliser in the FA Youth Cup. I didn't know how to celebrate or where to run as my teammates were running everywhere, so I pulled off the knee slide celebration."
James Crump's words capture the surreal moment when a desperate long ball became a moment of FA Youth Cup magic.
Kidderminster Harriers Academy faced elimination from the FA Youth Cup until the 90+6th minute of stoppage time, when Crump launched a long ball from the centre of the pitch toward the cluster of players gathered in the opposition box. No player managed to get a head or foot on the ball, which sailed through the crowd and into the net, sparking wild celebrations from the goalkeeper and his teammates.
"We were running out of time as there were only seconds left, so I hit the ball as hard as I could into the box from my own half. I was hoping that one of my teammates would win a flick on or head it in. Never in a million years did I think it would go straight in."
The goal sent the match to extra time. Crump then saved a penalty, and the Harriers Academy advanced to the next round.
"The stadium erupted as the coaches and supporters were going crazy. But the game was over soon after, so I had to switch on for the penalty shootout. Luckily for me, I saved the first penalty, and we won the shootout," says the match's hero.
Going Viral
The goal has since gone viral on social media, being shared countless times. Unsurprisingly, it was also named the club's September Goal of the Month winner.
"I'm glad the video has gone viral, as I've enjoyed the attention. I hope it brings more support for the team in the next round of the competition, as we look to progress to the first round proper."
A Veo camera on the sideline, as it is for all the club's matches, captured it all.
"It's great to have all our matches recorded by Veo so we can watch them, and it helps analyse our performances. Without Veo, the game might not have been recorded, and we could've missed a really special moment for me and the team. I'll definitely keep this for the memories," the goalkeeper concludes.
