In football, there are moments that become legend, such as Maradona’s famous handball goal against England in 1986. These stories, full of magic, are engraved in the fans’ memories. Among these unforgettable stories is that of Steve Davies, a fan who went from the stands to the fieldcreating one of the most surreal anecdotes in sport.
Football is full of iconic moments, and what Davies experienced in 1994 is one of them. During a friendly match between West Ham and the modest Oxford CityDavies, a fervent fan, not only watched the game from the stands, but, thanks to a peculiar decision by the coach Harry Redknapp He ended up playing the match.
The Redknapp prank that made Steve Davies a legend
In the middle of the summer of 1994, Harry Redknapp was in charge of his first big project with West Ham. During a pre-season friendly against Oxford City, the team had a large number of injuries which forced the coach to make an unusual decision. A fan in the stands, Steve Davies, who had been criticizing the team’s forward, Lee Chapmanthroughout the first half made Redknapp, fed up with the comments, act on it.
The coach approached Davies and asked him a wry question: “Do you think you could do better than Chapman?” Without hesitation, the fan responded: “Of course yes.” Redknapp, instead of ignoring it, took it seriously. He took him to the locker room and gave him a shirt, pants and boots. When Davies returned dressed to play, Redknapp asked him what he was playing. Although he was a defender, Davies did not miss the opportunity: “Forward,” he responded.
Thus, amid the disbelief of everyone present, Davies, with the number 3 on his back, jumped onto the field as if he were just another player. Nobody, neither the Oxford City players nor the referee, understood what was happening. The stadium speaker, not knowing how to announce it, approached Redknapp and asked for the name of the new player. The DT, with total seriousness, said: ““It’s Tittyshev, the Bulgarian,” referring to the recent World Cup United States 1994.
Davies, or rather Tittyshev, played for more than 30 minutes alongside his idols. Although he was not a professional player, his presence on the field was a mix of surrealism and humor. The West Ham players watched it with curiosity, while the rivals tried not to get carried away by the comical nature of the situation. It was a unique moment in football history.
The legend of Tittyshev: was it a goal?
The moment that would become legendary came in the 71st minute. Davies, his legs tired from the effort, received the ball inside the area. With little time to think, he fired at the goal. The ball went into the net, and Davies ran like crazy celebrating his feat. He had scored for West Ham, the team he loves, and he couldn’t be happier.
However, the dream was quickly shattered. The referee, following the rules, raised the flag to signal offside. The goal was worthless, but for Davies that did not matter. “You have destroyed my dream,” he told the referee jokingly, as the match continued.
Although the goal was disallowed, Tittyshev’s story was forever etched in the memories of West Ham fans. It was not only a funny anecdote, but a reminder that in football, dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem, sometimes come true, even if it’s only for a while.
Source: Ambito
