There is something about seeing a perfect headed goal. To watch a player attacking the ball, determined to get the better of his opponent to give his side an advantage.
The skill of timing the jump; hanging in the air; tightening the neck muscles before meeting the ball on the forehead and powering it into the net is an art form a lot of players have mastered over the years.
We think headers - we often think 'long-ball'. A new generation will think Peter Crouch and compare and contrast it with the things of beauty at Barcelona. Yet heading a football should be regarded as a lost art. Some of the greatest players to ever have played were masters of the trade. You only have to think Pele vs Banks for that one.
Celebrating those who went head first:-
John Charles (Leeds Utd) - 'the best header of a ball I've ever seen', quoted Jack Charlton
Dennis Law (Man Utd) - for his small build his agility and strength in the air was truly amazing.
Tony Hateley ( Notts County ) - his aerial strength was the best of his time.
Andy Lockhead ( Burnley ) - a tall strong man, with great ability in the air leading to him scoring many headed goals.
Malcolm Macdonald ( Newcastle ) - this Tyneside legend was fearless with great heading ability.
Alan Shearer ( Newcastle ) - acknowledged as the classic centre forward with his physical agression and heading ability.
Indeed, with the recent progression of home-grown Andy Carroll it could be argued they appreciate a strong centre-forward nowhere more than the northeast. Looking across the decades few will be able to compete with Everton for that particular honour.
Following Alan Shearer's appreciation of Apostolos Vellios introduction to English football it could be asked - is there any other club who can match Everton F.C. in regularly having such players in the last 8 decades?
1925 - 1937 William Ralph 'Dixie' Dean.
Possibly the greatest centre forward to have played the game,his greatest quality was undoubtedly his astonishing aerial ability. "Ordinary players butt the ball with the crown of their heads," wrote a contemporary report. "Dean artistically glides it downwards with the side of his head.
1936 - 1945 Tommy Lawton.
Tommy had two good feet, a blistering turn of pace, and a head that could uniquely power the ball downwards from prodigous heights.Supporters talk of him leaping high above his marker, hovering in mid-air and crashing a header into the net.
1948 - 1955 Dave Hickson.
Dave was a 'physical' centre forward and his complete commitment won him adulation. In a cup tie against Man Utd in 1953, he had typically put his head where there were flailing boots and was carried off with a serious gash, but returned to score the winner, playing on while losing blood copiously.
1960 - 1968 Alex Young ( The Golden Vision ).
While not physically powerful in the manner of a Hickson or a Lawton, he was still majestic in the air. Like Dennis Law, he had the ability to outjump players far taller than himself and hang in the air before guiding the ball into the net.
1974 - 1981 Bob Latchford.
Excelling particularly in the air, he was capable of scoring from anywhere. He was particularly good at scoring from diving headers.
Latchford topped Everton's goalscoring charts for several years, but it was the 1977-78 season, when he topped the 'nations chart', that he really fired the public.
1983 - 1985 Andy Gray.
Gray's impact on Everton cannot be overestimated.Supporters and players alike, were astonished at first by his incredible aerial ability and courage.
He would sometimes head the ball,where his foot would have been more natural and his aerial battle against Bayern Munich in 1985 has gone down in folk-lore.
1994 - 1998 Duncan Ferguson.
His strength and stature made him a potent target–man and also earned him a reputation as one of the most difficult players to defend against.
His aerial prowess, enhanced by his uncommon height, saw him score memorable goals against Liverpool and Man Utd and become an icon at the club.
2004 - Now Tim Cahill.
Acknowledged as one of the best headers of a football currently playing in the Premiership, he has continually bemused defenders by his ability to lose his marker and score with his head against opponents a lot taller than him.
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