For a man who grew up idolising Liverpool, Tony Yeboah produced a truly unforgettable way of showing his admiration. His thunderous volley against the Reds for Leeds United, struck three decades ago, remains etched in Premier League folklore as one of the competition's greatest ever goals.
A Strike Seared Into Memory
The iconic moment came on August 21, 1995, during Leeds' opening match of the 1995/96 season at Elland Road. With the ball dropping from the sky, Yeboah unleashed a first-time, dipping volley that screamed past a helpless David James in the Liverpool goal and into the net in front of the Kop.
"Sometimes, when a ball leaves your foot, you know it’s heading straight in," Yeboah, now 59, recalled. "Playing against John Barnes and Ian Rush, I thought I had to do something special, so for me that particular goal was something special."
Experts later estimated the velocity of the strike was close to 100mph, a fact that haunts former goalkeeper James to this day. The Ghanian striker insists the spectacular effort was no fluke, having practiced similar volleys in training with teammate Rodney Wallace, who provided the headed assist that fateful night.
Yorkshire Puddings and a Manager's Ban
The goal instantly bestowed cult hero status upon Yeboah at Leeds, leading to a unique and delicious sponsorship deal. A local company, Nordale Foods, agreed to sponsor him two Yorkshire puddings per goal, plus one for each of his teammates.
This arrangement saw a truck once deliver 250 Yorkshire puddings to the club's Thorp Arch training ground. "I had no idea what they were, but the more I ate, the more I seemed to score," Yeboah said with fondness.
However, the sweet treat soon turned sour for manager Howard Wilkinson. Concerned about his star striker's waistline, Wilkinson ordered the deliveries to be stopped, putting an end to Yeboah's pud-based premium.
A Legacy Defined by One Swing of a Boot
While Yeboah scored another spectacular volley against Wimbledon just weeks later, he holds the Liverpool strike in higher esteem. "The one against Wimbledon is better, in terms of technique," he admitted. "But if you consider the opponents, Liverpool were my idols, the game was live on television, the emotion and size of the crowd, the Liverpool goal is my favourite."
Yeboah, who scored 32 goals in 66 games for Leeds, now runs a sports agency and hotel chain in Ghana. He takes pride in knowing his legacy is kept alive, with the goal regularly replayed on television both in Ghana and England. "The people still remember me in Leeds," he said. "I played there a long time ago now, but because of the fantastic goals, everyone remembers."
As Leeds prepare to host Liverpool once again, the memory of that blistering strike at a packed Elland Road continues to define Tony Yeboah's career and captivate football fans across generations.
