Wembley - perfection in a goalpost

Shock and numbness were my first reactions when taking my seat at Wembley for the much anticipated England v Switzerland, Euro 96 curtain raiser. Fair enough after the game, which was a tedious 1-1 draw, but what had plunged me into despair before it all started was the sight of my beloved Wembley goalposts - minus their historic stanchions.

Must just be for the tournament I consoled myself, having to stick to EU regulations or some such malarkey. But no, it turned out they were gone for good.

Rounded, elegant and in perfect proportions they were THE goals you wanted to curl one into. Other grounds had more idiosynchratic efforts, but these took all the best bits and moulded them into perfection. And how appropriate that they should be sited at Wembley, the epicentre of English football grounds.

Montgomery's save, Gunther Netzer's pen, Damarski's sucker punch and Tommy Hutchison's off the shoulder own goal are all played out in my mind in front of those famous stanchions. As is their besmirchment by the Tartan hordes during one famous visit in the 70s!

Alas we'll never see their like again but, like the old Wembley itself, they remain burned into the memory cells as something truly sacred.