Volleys from heaven

Seeing Peter Crouch's superlative volleyed goal against Man City has led me to rack my brains for my favourite volleyed goals.

1. Frank Worthington for Bolton v Ipswich in 1979.

2. Marco Van Basten for Holland V Russia 1988.

3. Glenn Hoddle for Spurs V Notts Forest1979. The ball not touching the ground from the keepers kick until it hit the back of Peter Shilton's net.

4. Robin Van Persie V my team Charlton 2006.

5. Paolo Di Canio for West Ham v Newcastle 2000.

What's your favourite?

Jocky on the oche

I've just returned from holidaying in the southern hemispere to the news that someone who was prominent for a time in my sports-mad teenage years has passed away. In the eighties I loved watching the darts world championships on telly. Dad put a dartboard up in my bedroom as I took inspiration from the exploits of the leading players. Jocky Wilson wasn't my favourite player, my favourites were the Crafty Cockney and 'Old Stoneface' John Lowe.

Wilson won the world title twice, to Lowe's three (in three separate decades) and Bristow's five, their combined tally still short of Phil Taylor's thirteen. They had some classic contests. If you haven't seen this 1989 clip yet it may bring back some memories. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/darts/17503460

And yes, darts is a sport not a game, requiring both skill and mental stamina, and to a lesser degree physical stamina, but not one you'll see at the Olympics any time soon to go alongside 'outside darts' - archery.  However, the tug-of-war was once an Olympic event so you never know!