Five –second fame for Ian
FROM THE PAGES OF THE SOUTHERN REPORTER 1977:
Selkirk Football Club look destined for a place in the Guiness Book of Records.
And the man who has made it all possible is player/manager Ian Whitehead. On Saturday Ian scored a goal only FIVE SECONDS after the kick-off, to record the fastest ever goal in British football.
In fact, the goal came so quickly that many spectators actually missed it.
It happened in an East of Scotland League game against Eyemouth United at Ettrick Park; just as Ian and team mate Brian McConnell were lining up for kick-off.
“I noticed the goalkeeper off his line talking to his centre-half,” said Ian.
“I asked Brian to give me the ball quickly from the kick-off as I was going to try for a pot at goal. Brian didn’t think it was possible but I hammered it from the half-way line and it sailed into the top corner of the net.”
Referee Mr G Smith of Edinburgh recorded the goal as five seconds. According to the Guiness Book of Records, the fastest ever goal came in six seconds.
This took place in a Fourth Division match in 1948, and again in a match between Derby and Crystal Palace in 1964.
“A sports writer from a national paper has contacted Norris McWhirter for me, and he says it is a record as soon as the referee confirms the time,” said Ian.
Ian went on to celebrate his record-breaking goal by notching a hat-trick in his sides 6-0 victory over luckless Eyemouth.