football-related question: how many of the goals you've seen do you still remember?

Yes, he was. Some of the older boys in my home village were rockers, and the name stuck as an alternative to 'banana shot'. I only found out the Mott the Hoople connection years later. Formative.

first goals hmm. dimly remember an incredible les ferdinand hat-trick for qpr v everton in 199...3?

sir les fucking ruled

interesting. i know i first got into football aged 4 when the '86 world cup was on. i also remember asking my dad during that cup if ireland had a team, and him saying "yeah but they suck shit" or words to that effect. i know i watched plenty of english league games, but the first goal i can actually remember seeing is ray houghton's header against england in euro 88. :-)

in terms of greatest elation, well, there are a few.

richie parsons equalising for bray wanderers against sligo (2-2 from 2-0 down: bray were the team most lacking in creativity in the history of football that season, so this isn't as unremarkable as it sounds!)

robbie keane, ireland v germany in the summer.
eric cantona, v liverpool in the FA cup final, 1995 i think.

I never want to remember any goals scored by Middlesboro.