The Day I Scored Against Liverpool

Liverpool came to town on the 16th of December, 2005 and brought their undoubted ability with them. The Reds were riding high in the league table and were expecting all three points.

I was with my second “pro” club at the time after my initial two years in the South African National First Division with PE Technikon had resulted in relegation in May 2003 at just 18 years of age.

After two hard years of training, I let my hair down for a while before getting back into football in March 2004 with Caledonians, an amateur club in Port Elizabeth. It was a great year for me, and I was chosen as the club's most improved player for 2004. At the end of the season, I decided not to pursue a “pro” club but head for university instead.

Six month’s into university, and my feet were getting restless. A perceived lack of form had seen me lose my place at Callies, and I wasn’t enjoying my football anymore.

For the first time in my life, however, I was determined to prove people wrong.

A friend took me along to training with local Vodacom League (National Second Division/ Eastern Cape section) side, Rovers.

Rovers, the “pro” section of local amateur side Fairview Rovers offered to take me on their preseason camp. A hat-trick in my first bounce game basically sealed the deal, another four goals in preseason saw me lined up against Cloud Nine in East London on August 2005.

It was a rude awakening as the centre backs (both six-feet tall and central Africans) marked me clean out the game. Luckily, a week later and home debut goal inside three minutes settled any long term misgivings.

A few months later and, sadly, we weren’t setting the league alight.

The usual card checks were taking place in our change room as my name was called out to meet the referee and opposition official. I got the usual funny looks (being a young white boy) and the usual smart ass comments. My boss informed him I was Scottish to which he asked, "What was I doing here?"

My reply was quick and easy, I was here to score.

Thirty minutes later and 20 minutes into the game, my good friend Dustin Fourie floated a hopeful ball into the box, I pulled away from my marker at the back post before volleying home.

I told you so…

Rovers 1-0 Liverpool / Andrew McNair (20)