Some memorable moments
Though England men’s footballers couldn’t ‘bring it home’ at the weekend, there’s plenty for England and Great Britain to celebrate as we look back at some of the greatest sporting moments that will live long in the memory for many fans.
It was hard to narrow this down to 10 with some iconic moments such as Roger Bannister’s sub-four minute mile and Sir Chris Hoy’s 2008 triple gold missing out but we’ve picked out ten of our favourite memories.
10. Ryder Cup – Miracle in Medinah (2012)
This away victory for Europe was special for a number of reasons but the improbable comeback on the final day is what made it so memorable. Jose Maria Olazabal’s team were trailing the American’s 10-6 going into the final day but thanks to Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Paul Lawrie all winning their matches, the tables turned.
9. Lennox Lewis undisputed champion (1999)
In March of 1999, Lewis faced WBA and IBF title holder Evander Holyfield in New York City. There was much controversy when the fight was declared a draw. Lewis landed more punches and out-jabbed Holyfield but Judge Eugenia Williams scored the fight in Holyfield’s favour as she said she saw Lewis land fewer punches.
A rematch was ordered and in November of that year, there was no question as the three judges scored the fight unanimously in Lewis’ favour, crowning him the undisputed heavyweight champion of the World. Lewis went on to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
8. Andy Murray wins Wimbledon (2013)
In 2012 former world number one, Andy Murray broke hearts as he cried after losing the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer in 2012. A year later he broke Britain’s 77 year wait for a Men’s Singles Championship winner as he beat Novak Djokovic and made history. Murray left us with many memorable moments and went on to win Wimbledon again in 2016 but nothing will trump that victory on July 7th 2013.
7. England end Ashes barren spell (2005)
Australia had won eight successive Ashes when they arrived in England for the 2005 series. The England side captained by Michael Vaughan lost the opening test but levelled things up in the second test, winning by two runs. The third test was a draw, England won the fourth by three wickets and bad light forced the final test to end in a draw.
The nation fell in love with Freddie Flintoff who shone throughout the summer to help England to victory. It was hailed as the most thrilling series ever as the outcome of the contest wasn’t decided until the final day of the series.
6. Johnny Wilkinson’s drop-goal for World Cup glory (2003)
Is there anything sweeter than an England team beating Australia? Yes, an England team beating Australia in Australia! It was the Rugby Union World Cup final and scores were level 14-14 forcing extra-time but extra-time was just as close fought as the rest of the match had been and with just over a minute left on the clock, scores were tied at 17-17.
It looked like it was heading to a penalty shoot-out. England won a line-out and moved towards Australia’s area three times. A run by Dawson broke the line and passed to Johnny Wilkinson in drop-goal range and with 28 seconds remaining he kicked it between the sticks, handing England their first ever Rugby World Cup.
5. Kelly Holmes double Olympic Gold (2004)
Was it the former army captain coming from the back of the field to clinch Olympic gold? Or was it the wide-eyed look of disbelief captured by the photographer’s that made this moment one of the most memorable? It was everything. Days after she won the 800m gold by setting a British record, she started the final lap eighth out of 12 in the 1500m event.
Holmes became the first Brit in 84 years to achieve the Olympic middle-distance double. Albert Hill achieved the same feat in 1920 in Antwerp.
4. Lionesses winning Euros (2022)
Football came home! Yes, it took the women to do it but they didn’t make it an easy watch for us! The whole tournament took England by storm as people got swept up in the Euphoria of women’s football. A cagey 1-0 win against Austria opened the Lionesses campaign, but they followed this up by dismantling Denmark 8-0 and Northern Ireland 5-0.
In the quarter-finals, England really started to believe as they beat Spain 2-1 after extra time in what was a game determined on tactics and substitutions. The semi-final against Sweden was a much easier watch and gave us the iconic Alessia Russo back-heel goal as they beat them 4-0. The final was tense, Ella Toone with a big goal to put England ahead but Germany equalised late on. Fans had little nails left as extra-time began but Chloe Kelly poked home the winner to secure victory.
3. Super over at the cricket World Cup (2019)
If you didn’t like cricket before, you did after 2019! With three balls left of England’s innings, Stokes hit it to mid-wicket and came back for two. Martin Guptill threw it to the strikers end in an attempt to run him out, but the ball hit Stokes’ outstretched bat and deflected to the boundary, adding four more runs to the score. England and New Zealand were tied on 241 runs at the end of the match resulting in a super over.
Buttler and Stokes hit 15 without loss before Guptill and James Neesham returned to the crease to face Jofra Archer, requiring 16 to win. New Zealand needed just two from the final delivery. Guptill hit the ball to deep mid-wicket and charged back for the second run Roy’s throw in to Buttler was a good one, and Guptill was run out well short of his crease. The super over was tied but England won on their superior boundary count.
2. England win the World Cup (1966)
Don’t mention (men’s) football! We know the hurt of Sunday is still raw, but we’ll always have 66. On home soil on the 30th July after extra-time England lifted their first and only World Cup trophy after beating West Germany 4-2. Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick, the first to be scored in a World Cup final. There was 96,924 people in the stadium to witness one of England’s greatest ever sporting moments and a further 32.3 million viewers tuned in to watch on television making it the United Kingdom’s most-watched television event ever.
1. Super Saturday (2012)
August 4th 2012 will live long in the memory. Most people you speak to can remember exactly where they were for those 44 minutes as Team GB won three gold medals in the Olympic Stadium at their home games whether that was one of 80,000 in the stadium, watching at home on TV or in the car tuning in to listen on the radio. But it actually started off much earlier than you might remember as Britain’s coxless four and the women’s double sculls won two gold’s in the morning session of the rowing and the women’s team pursuit picked up gold in the velodrome.
In the evening, the stadium was electric and the atmosphere only intensified as poster girl of the games, Jessica Ennis-Hill smashed her own British record to win the heptathlon gold. This was followed by Greg Rutherford securing gold in the long jump with a leap of 8.31m. It was Mo Farah who rounded out the night as he stormed to 10,000m gold.
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