Goal nets were first officially used on Monday 12th January 1891 in the North v South match

 

Goal nets were first officially used on Monday 12^th January 1891 in the North v South match that was used to select the England side for forthcoming internationals. The nets had earlier been on trial in a number of games.

They were invented to try and resolve arguments over whether the ball had gone between the posts by a Liverpool civil engineer John Brodie, who had taken out a patent for his “net pocket”. As they were made on Merseyside then it was appropriate that a player from there was the first to put the ball into them – Everton’s Fred Geary scoring for the North after quarter of an hour.

It was widely agreed the nets were a success and The Football Field reported on 17 January 1891: “Mr Brodie’s goal nets are likely to be generally adopted.”

Goal nets were an invention introduced to football to resolve ‘we wuzz robbed’ disputes, the aim being to end arguments over whether the ball had gone between the posts.

The impetus for nets came with the introduction of the Football League in 1888/89.

The first season witnessed a number of disputes, Including West Brom’s winner in September against Burnley and then a Wolves goal, also against Burnley, which according to the Birmingham Daily Post, ‘appeared to go over the bar.’ This put Wolves 2-0 up at Turf Moor and they went on to win 4-0. There was also a dispute about Blackburn’s first against Notts County on the 15^th of December 1888 as well as the decision of the referee not toward a goal for West Brom in their defeat at Notts County in January 1889.

Later in 1889, Everton faced Accrington at their home, which at the time was Anfield. The referee was J. J. Bentley, one of the main men behind the founding of the Football League, who later became its president.

Accrington took an early lead through J. Entwistle but, ‘With a goal against them, the home lads played with more determination and Latta, from a position almost parallel with the goal posts kicked the ball splendidly, a great cheer being sent up by the crowd. The referee, however, ruled that the ball had not gone through and he was promptly and vigorously hooted…. The decisions of Mr Bentley at this point roused the fire of the crowd, and there were loud cries of disapprobation, which were certainly not justified.’ The Liverpool Courier.

John Brodie was watching the match. He appreciated the referee’s difficulties and set out to resolve them. Before the FA would agree to use them there was a dispute between the organisation and Brodie over royalty fees.

By the start of 1891/92 season every major team were using them. Yet goal nets are not compulsory and   despite being mentioned as a necessity in all competition rules a game could go ahead without them.

‘Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal, provided that they are properly supported and do not interfere with the goalkeeper.’

Laws of the Game 2008–09 FIFA

Brodie Avenue in Liverpool is named in John Brodie’s honour and an English Heritage blue plaque is positioned at the late Victorian detached villa he occupied in suburban Ullet Road.