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18 November 1995 – Ivano Bonetti, v West Bromwich Albion
Bonetti beats Buckley's Baggies
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Ivano Bonetti is still fondly remembered by Town fans and quite rightly so. Not only did he bring a touch of glamour and flair to the usually mundane north-east of Lincolnshire, but he also scored the winning goal against a West Brom side packed with star players and managed by an internationally renowned leader of men. OK, so I have exaggerated that last statement somewhat, but for those of us who remember, Ivano did the business against a wandering Al and his fellow deserters on 11 November 1995.
If memory serves me correctly, this was Lord Buckley's second visit back to BP since he defected in October 1994. The previous visit was not a joyous occasion as Town went down 0-2. It was payback time.
Town went into the game off the back of home wins against Stoke and Barnsley and a more than creditable 2-2 draw away at Ipswich. The town was buzzing at the prospect of the Albion game and I recall an electric atmosphere at Blundell Park.
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Ivano had joined the Mariners two months before the game and had already established himself as a cult hero. The fact that the player himself had paid half of the £100,000 fee that his management company required for his services saw to this (the other £50,000 having been raised by the fans), but his silky skills equally endeared him to the Town faithful.
I don't actually recall that much about the game (due partly to lengthy visits to the Imp both pre- and post-match and partly to memory block brought on by my recent 30th birthday) but I do remember that Ivano sealed the win that meant so much to us all with a fine finish on the volley. It was a great goal which, I have no doubt, was made even greater by the circumstances surrounding it and for the fact that it was Bonetti who grabbed it.
Unfortunately for us all, our Italian love affair was ended abruptly in February 1996 by Brian Laws' uncanny accuracy with a plate of chicken wings. Hitting Ivano full in the face and breaking his cheekbone after a league defeat at Luton (who we had beaten 7-1 in the cup a month earlier). It was not surprising that the man from Brescia left for Tranmere at the end of the season.
Were it not for that plate of chicken, who knows if we could have enjoyed Bonetti for another season or two? What I do know is that Ivano will long be remembered for this goal above anything else and I encourage all Town fans young and old to keep the memory alive by wearing the Ivano T-shirt.
Ivano Dio Onnipotente Bonetti, I salute you.
Ben Gresswell
| Other stuff about this goal |
What you said
How other fans remember the goal
Who laughs last?
Al Wilkinson contrasts the post-GTFC careers of Bonetti and Brian Laws
Dall' Italia con amore
The Cod Almighty Ivano T-shirt gets Nicolino Tobia an interview with the great man
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