5 memorable moments from Community Shield history

Ah, the FA Community Shield is here again. It’s the calm before the storm or the spark before the fire or the trailer before the movie. Well, you get the drift, don’t you? The Community Shield is a curtain raiser to the Premier League season.Although it is played as a ‘friendly’ between the League winners and the FA Cup winners of the previous season, there is pride at stake and therefore, the match usually promises to be an entertaining one. Why so? This is because, since 1995, there hasn’t been a Community Shield match without one of Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea. That’s two decades and counting.Will the Community Shield match between Arsenal and Chelsea promise to be an engaging affair or will it be a drab encounter? Let us hope that the match will be as exciting as these five memorable matches from Community Shield History -

#1 Manchester United 3-3 Tottenham, 1967

Charlton in action during the game

When the opposition goalkeeper who conceded three goals against a Manchester United team comprising of Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law steals the limelight, you can be certain that he must have done something amazing.

Manchester United found the back of the net thrice courtesy of a brace from Sir Bobby and one from Law. Charlton’s first goal was mesmerizing, but his second goal was beyond superlatives. Now you must be wondering how Tottenham’s goalkeeper Pat Jennings managed to steal the show.

The match is famous for Tottenham’s second goal, which was scored by Jennings! Yes, back in 1967, the goalkeeper scored a goal from his own half. With the ball in his hand, Jennings punted it forward and it landed in front of United’s counterpart Alex Stepney, bounced over his head and into the goal. This was quite remarkable back then because the balls were not as good as they are now.  

Eventually, the Londoners managed to level the score at 3-3 and the shield was shared by the two sides.