The best Community Shield goals tend to get lost in history like spare change that’s fallen down the back of the couch.
It could be the greatest goal of all time, but virtually everyone will have forgotten it by the next week, when the proper football returns in the form of the Premier League.
This year’s edition of the competition could be a tasty one as Manchester City and Manchester United resume rivalries at Wembley. Victory or defeat won’t linger for too long, but both teams will be determined to take the bragging rights this weekend nonetheless.
This is, if we’re being honest, a glorified friendly, but it does give us a chance to see how these two teams are shaping up ahead of the new campaign, and with any luck we’ll get an entertaining game out of it.
Here’s a reminder of some of the finest goals the Community (and Charity) Shield has had to offer over the years, in case you forgot about them.
The five best Community Shield goals of all time:
Pat Jennings – Spurs vs Man Utd, 1967
Goals from goalkeepers are as rare as they are wonderful. Pat Jennings scored the only one of his career in the Charity Shield for Tottenham against Man United, with his booming kick bouncing over the head of Alex Stepney and into the Red Devils’ net.
Read – Five of the best Community Shield games ever
Ian Wright – Arsenal vs Man Utd, 1993
Former England striker and all-round great guy Ian Wright pinged in an absolutely outrageous volley against Manchester United in the 1993 Charity Shield.
It’s 31 years since @IanWright0 did this in the Charity Shield.
Lots to appreciate here:
– The goal graphics
– Those old Wembley nets
– An absolutely outrageous finishScorer of great goals. And a great goal scorer…
— A Funny Old Game (@sid_lambert) August 7, 2024
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Didier Drogba – Chelsea vs Arsenal, 2005
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea claimed the Community Shield in 2005 thanks to a brace from Didier Drogba, the second of which illustrated exactly why he was such a terror to Premier League defences for a decade.
The Ivorian utilised his strength and supreme technical ability to keep the ball away from the Arsenal defence, but even then the finish wasn’t easy – but of course he finished it with aplomb.
On this day: 2005 – #Chelsea won the Community Shield by beating Arsenal 2 – 1. Didier Drogba with both the Blues goals. #CFC pic.twitter.com/8MjTtjjSjT
— Chad ⭐⭐ (@ChelseaChadder) August 7, 2020
Read – Five top players who scored a debut goal in the Community Shield
Nani – Man Utd vs Man City, 2011
In 2011, Manchester United pulled off a huge comeback against their noisy neighbours to win the Community Shield, after being two goals down at half-time.
A beautiful team move finished off by Nani was the highlight of a terrific game.
Read – 10 defining moments in the Manchester Derby
Jesse Lingard – Man Utd vs Leicester City, 2016
When you watch this goal back, you realise why Jesse Lingard was being tipped for great things early in his career. Although he never quite reached the heights expected of him, his equaliser against Leicester is a career highlight.
He dances past several defenders before slotting the ball past Kasper Schmeichel in the goal for one of the best Community Shield goals of all time. Sublime.
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