James "Jimmy" Glass (born 1 August 1973 in London) is a former football goalkeeper, who is remembered for scoring the last minute goal which kept Carlisle United in the Football League in 1999.

[edit] Early career

Glass had a journeyman's career in football, playing for many clubs, initially as a reserve keeper for Crystal Palace. The closest he came to a trophy was reaching the final of the Football League Trophy with Bournemouth in 1998 - unfortunately Glass scored an own goal in the match, and Bournemouth lost 2–1. This was not the first time a goalkeeper had scored an own goal at Wembley however, Bruce Grobbelaar had scored one in the 1984 Charity Shield for Everton against his team Liverpool. Glass moved to Swindon Town in the summer of 1998, but after falling out with Jimmy Quinn (the manager at the time) was unable to gain a regular place in the team.

[edit] Time at Carlisle United

He moved to Carlisle United on loan from Swindon late that season (after goalkeeper Tony Caig was sold to Blackpool.) His moment of fame came on 8 May 1999, in the final match of the 1998–99 season against Plymouth Argyle, which Carlisle needed to win to avoid relegation. With the score 1–1 with only ten seconds remaining, and Carlisle winning a corner, Glass came up from his own penalty area and promptly scored a last minute goal, volleying the ball in after the Plymouth goalkeeper had parried out Scott Dobie's goalbound header. Carlisle got the win they needed and Scarborough were relegated to the Football Conference instead.

[edit] Life after Carlisle United

Despite his brief fame, this was the last of just three matches Glass played at Carlisle, who were unable to sign him on a permanent basis. Glass spent time at several other clubs, including Oxford United and Brentford, before moving to non-league clubs, and then quitting football altogether. After quitting, he worked as an IT salesman, and now owns a Taxi Company in a quiet Dorset town. He reportedly scored six goals two weeks running whilst playing Sunday league football in Bournemouth, playing as a striker. He has written an autobiography, entitled One Hit Wonder.^[2] He also enjoyed a brief stint in goal for non-league Lewes.

His goal was selected as the 72nd greatest sporting moment ever by the Channel 4 programme 100 Greatest Sporting Moments. The goal was also ranked 7th in The Times newspaper's list of the 50 most important goals in football history.^[3]

[edit] Life after football

Glass retired from professional football at the age of 27, and became an IT salesman.^[4] He later became a taxi driver in Dorset. He lives in the Dorset village of Lytchett Matravers, with his wife, Louise, and their seven-year-old twins, Jack and Ella and runs a taxi business in the nearby town of Wimborne Minster.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jimmy Glass career stats at Soccerbase
• The Observer - Do You Remember...Jimmy Glass?
• Soccernet profile
• Article in Oxford University Student Magazine
• BBC Press Release
• Working Glass Hero - article in the University of Cumbria student newspaper