Clevedon Town go viral after player scores "non-league goal of the season"

FIFA has suggested the goal could win the 2022 Puskas Award given to the best goal in the world each season

Oli Babington says he's "never hit anything sweeter"
Author: James DiamondPublished 24th Jan 2022
Last updated 24th Jan 2022

The world of football is talking at little old Clevedon Town today, after one of their players scored what could be the worldwide goal of the season.

Footage of the goal, scored by centre back Oli Babington, was shared by the club on social media on Sunday (January 23) and has since gone viral.

With well over half a million views at the time of writing, it shows a clearance by the opposition Buckland Athletic drop to Babington in the right back position, who decides to lash a volley first time from around 40 yards out.

It is immediately clear he has struck it well and the ball arches straight into the top corner, which one fan clearly realises is going to happen as he can be heard exclaiming, "oh hello" excitedly as the ball flies through the air.

Clevedon, who play in the ninth tier of English football in the Premier Division of the Toolstation Western League, went on to win the game 4-2.

Babington spoke to the club's media team after the game.

"A few minutes earlier I saw the keeper likes to come out a bit and when I saw him off his line again, I just decided to go for a long-range shot," he is quoted as saying.

"I felt it as soon as I hit it and it was one of those that was going to be close, but it was almost like watching it in slow motion with the angle and the distance.

"But no, I’ve never hit anything sweeter than that in my life."

When sharing the video of the goal on Twitter Clevedon called it "non-league goal of the season", but the sport's governing body has suggested it could be better than that.

FIFA has tweeted suggesting it could win the 2022 Puskas Award, which is given to the goal considered the best in the world each year.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.