Hell of a save!
"I may quit" says Knighton after amazing escape
Sunday Sun - 9/5/99
By Martin Hardy
Carlisle held onto their league status in unbelievable fashion with a 95th minute strike from on-loan keeper Jimmy Glass - which sent Scarborough into the Conference. But, amid scenes of celebration and recrimination, controversial chairman Michael Knighton revealed he may quit the club.
The Cumbrians were level at 1-1 with Plymouth an incredible five minutes into injury time - before Glass went up for a corner and fired home. That strike kept the Blues up, and left the poor Seasiders - who had finished 1-1 at home to Peterborough 10 agonising minutes earlier - tumbling into non-league football.
It was one of the most dramatic ever finishes to a season, and the goal sparked scenes of pandemonium at Brunton Park, and tears at the McCain Stadium.
"I don't know if I will be here next season, that is the honest answer," said Knighton after watching his club come within seconds of throwing away their 71-year league history. "Tonight I am going to get very drunk and then I will just take it from there. My family do not want me to stay. They worry about the abuse I get. But they know how much football means to me. My emotional interest is always there."
Knighton was subjected to personal abuse during and after the game. And he added "Of course it hurt. I know I am the man who gets the grief but I love them all. Today was incredible. It was divine intervention. I believe in Frankenstein, aliens, flying saucers, the hand of God and now in on-loan goalkeepers from Swindon who score in the 95th minute!" Goalkeeper Glass arrived on loan after deadline day, with special permission from the FA to replace Derby's recalled Richard Knight.
But heartbroken Scarborough boss Colin Addison immediately ruled out any appeal over his team's fate. Glass himself added "I nearly didn't come! I was driving up on the night of the Juventus v Man United game and Carlisle were losing to Scarborough and I nearly turned around." On his historic goal, Glass said "The manager waved me up for the corner, it fell to me and I just walloped it. I don't know if I'll be staying - I'm just going to enjoy the moment."
Raise a glass to the saviour
You will never see anything like this again ... ever.
Believe me, words fail to do justice to the drama which engulfed Brunton Park at 5pm yesterday. Remember the name Jimmy Glass - because his part in the history books is forever assured. This game was in its 95th minute when the Carlisle keeper struck The scores were tied and the Cumbrians' 71-year Football League history was seemingly at an end when one final corner came their way. It was as desperate as Carlisle will ever get - and so up went on-loan goalkeeper Glass.
Graham Anthony's cross was met by Scott Dobie's head, visiting goalkeeper James Dungey parried the effort and incredibly his opposite number Glass pounced to power a left foot [right foot, actually]drive home. And Brunton Park exploded.
Delirious fans flooded the pitch, men and women screamed in disbelief in the main stand ... and the hero of the hour Glass disappeared under a sea of ecstatic fans and players. Unbelievable stuff ... and that is not quite the full story.
Glass was only here because Michael Knighton - jeered mercilessly by fans throughout - took the unprecedented step of selling his first choice keeper Tony Caig for £5000 on transfer deadline day. Richard Knight, who arrived on-loan from Derby, was recalled following a goalkeeping crisis at the Premiership side - and that left Carlisle up the creek without a keeper. Glass came from Swindon, and last night thousands of Cumbrians were toasting the chirpy Cockney.
"I looked at the manager and he waved me up" admitted the 25-year-old shot stopper. "I arrived late, wasn't picked up, it fell to me and I just went wallop, thank you very much. Next thing I know, there's 2000 people on top of me!"
But such delight seemed so unlikely. This game was as dire in its previous 94 minutes as it was dramatic in its last minute. Salvation seemed almost impossible when Plymouth's Lee Philips fired home in the 48th minute. Commanding skipper David Brightwell levelled in the 62nd minute with a 20-yard left foot drive. But with Scarborough gaining a point, it would not be enough - and there was still no sign of a grandstand finish.
Brunton Park breathed one final roar when the fourth official told us of four minutes of injury-time. And the clock ticked towards the end of 71 years of league football.....
Until Jimmy Glass took matters into his own hands - or rather his feet.
Fans' View - We've got to learn lesson
Ecstatic Carlisle fans were unanimous in hoping the club would spend the summer learning the lessons of this season.
Ian Dalgleish, of Stanwix, saidI've never witnessed a match like that before and wouldn't wish it on any fan. I hope Michael Knighton appreciates the loyal support he's had this season - and invests in players that the supporters here deserve.
Paul White added It was a brilliant end, no doubt Knighton is already negotiating the film rights with Steven Spielberg. But it's a shame that after 46 games it had to come down to the last kick of the season.
David Myers of St Anne's said We knew we had to win and it was all about how much heart we had. I feel sorry for Scarborough because their supporters are just lads like us.
Simon Chandler said Roy of the Rovers couldn't have done better than Jimmy Glass - it was totally unbelievable.
And his pal David Jessanine added It was better than the two times we went to Wembley.
Pearson - I feel drained!
Ecstatic Carlisle boss Nigel Pearson last night hailed the most dramatic game he has ever been involved in as the Cumbrians retained their Football League status in incredible style.
Pearson's side were 1-1 with Plymouth in the 94th minute and on the brink of crashing into the Conference and ending their 71-year stay in the Football League. But on-loan keeper Jimmy Glass went up for a corner five minutes into injury time. And to the amazement of everyone, he crashed home with a left-foot [again, right foot] drive that saved the Cumbrians from relegation. That sparked unbelievable scenes at a packed Brunton Park and Pearson admitted "That is as high as anything I've experienced in football. I'm absolutely drained, but I'll enjoy tonight. It was such a far-fetched script. I don't know what to say it was so amazing. The most important thing is we survived. Jimmy was half going up front anyway before I said he could go. He can bask in the glory now. Jimmy Glass will go down in the history of this club."
Glass only arrived on loan from Swindon because controversial chairman Michael Knighton sold first choice Tony Caig on transfer deadline day. Derby recalled the then on-loan Richard Knight and the Cumbrians were stumped when reserve keeper Paul Heritage went down injured [he was already out injured, anyway].
"Jimmy Quinn got in touch with me and offered Jimmy which was a tremendous gesture." Added Pearson "It was a very emotional day. This club has problems and it's not been an easy five months. But we will sit down in the next few days and try and sort things out."
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