Tim Howard Goal: Everton Star's Post-Match Reaction Was One of True Class

Picture yourself as a goalie on a soccer field and imagine the other team's goalie kicks a ball from his 18-yard box that travels the entire length of the field and bounces over your head and into the net.

You'd feel pretty awful, right?

Everton goalie Tim Howard scored an amazing goal Wednesday on a kick that traveled the entire length of the field, and he became just the fourth goalkeeper to score in Premier League history.

Despite the incredible goal he scored, Howard did not celebrate, in a display of true class and professionalism that is rarely seen in sports today.

He knows how awful Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan feels.

"

“It's not a nice feeling for a keeper. It's really awful actually,” Howard told Sky Sports. “For the back four and the goalkeepers at both ends, there was an awful wind swirling. You could see everybody was mistiming balls. Defenders were missing clearances that normally they would put up the field. I think the wind is the hardest condition to play in. Snow, rain, sun doesn't matter, but the wind really does play tricks on you.”

Howard said he spoke with Bogdan after Everton's 2-1 loss to Bolton.

“I let him know that I was feeling for him,” Howard said. “It's not a nice place to be. I've been there before, a long, long time ago, and that was why I didn't celebrate.”

"

Howard did exactly what you're supposed to do when something like this happens, and that's get ready for the next touch of the ball.

It almost seemed that Howard was embarrassed to score the goal. This kind of goal is probably the most humiliating thing that can happen to a goalkeeper, and Howard has had this happen to him before in his career. He knew what Bogdan was feeling.

Too often in sports do we see this kind of class and professionalism brushed to the side and not talked about, but Howard gave everyone an example to follow on Wednesday by not adding to the stress Bogdan was feeling after that goal.

Tim Howard's respect for the game and his opponent is truly admirable, and it represents what is good about sports.

Follow @NicholasGoss35