I had a perfect view of Nigel Reo-Coker’s header. It was the last minute of extra time in the 2006 FA Cup final, the score was 3-3 and West Ham had a free-kick on the left wing. It was their last chance to win a game they had already won twice. The ball came in, Reo-Coker glanced it on and from my position behind the Liverpool goal at the Millennium Stadium I was certain it was going to loop into the far corner.
I picture it sometimes: the ball hanging in the air, the fans getting ready to celebrate West Ham’s fourth FA Cup win, Pepe Reina leaping to his left. There were fingertips in it. Reina just managed to push the ball on to the inside of the post and the dream died when Marlon Harewood, who had been hobbling on one leg for most of extra time, slashed the rebound wide.
