It was Mark Noble’s day, but Dean Ashton’s special moment.
Over 35,000 packed into West Ham United’s famous Boleyn Ground to celebrate the ongoing (and internationally ignored) career of inspirational captain Mark Noble in his testimonial game.
But perhaps the highlight of a wonderful occasion was the sight of former Hammers favourite Dean Ashton scoring a sensational overhead kick, which nestled perfectly into the corner of the net.
Ashton’s flourishing career was cut short by injury back in 2009. He was forced to retire from the game at only 26 years of age due a long-term ankle injury.
A training ground tackle by England teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips in August 2006 – just a day before the striker was due to represent his country for the first time – changed everything.
Ashton tried to come back a few times, but it was no use. He was never the same player, and was forced to call it a day before ever reaching the peak years of his fledgling career.
In those promising few years of his early twenties, Ashton impressed with his goalscoring ratio and strong, physical style. He was the archetypal big-man-with-a-great-touch.
But that was all history…until Monday.
As the ball came over from the right flank, it would have been the easiest thing in the world for the 32-year-old to aim a header at goal, or cushion the ball to a teammate.
But in a split-second show of pure audacity, Ashton leapt in the air and executed the most technically perfect overhead kick you will ever see. It showed a level of mobility that defied his ample size.
His teammates for the day and the entire ground lost it. Once the big man had wrestled away from the pile of jubilant bodies, he immediately signalled to the bench. It’s was probably ill-conceived and he was forced to depart a few minutes later (though not before scoring his second of the afternoon).
But it was truly glorious moment. Upton Park roared his name one last time and that was enough. And it was a goal scored for every tubby dad out there who tells his sceptical kids that he could play a bit once.
You never, ever lose it…
.@Dean36ashton10 lit up @Noble16Mark‘s testimonial with a stunning overhead kick! ? https://t.co/OFqMeQaNM9
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) March 29, 2016
