Tony Cottee has laid claim to scoring one of the best scissor kicks in West Ham United history – but do you agree?
Speaking to the Newham Recorder after seeing Andy Carroll belt home an unstoppable volley against Crystal Palace last weekend, Hammers legend Cottee recalled his own strike against Nottingham Forest in November 1987.
The acrobatic effort helped West Ham to a 3-2 First Division victory over Forest at the Boleyn Ground – but was it better than Carroll’s Goal of the Season contender against Sam Allardyce’s Eagles?
“I scored one like that! Don’t laugh, I really did, it was the best goal I scored for the Hammers and you can see it on YouTube,” Cottee recalled.
“Mark Ward crossed one over from the right and the only difference between mine and Andy’s goal was that I hit it with my right foot rather than my left.
“Like him, I hit it flush and it flew into the net, though I think I was a bit nearer than Andy.”
West Ham TV have delved into the archives to dig out five unforgettable bicycle kicks – Cottee and Carroll’s efforts, Trevor Sinclair’s memorable effort against Derby County on Boxing Day 2001, Dean Ashton’s goal at Manchester United in May 2008 and Ricardo Vaz Te’s hat-trick completing strike against Brighton & Hove Albion in April 2012.