Football fans across the globe are enjoying an eventful holiday season, with their heroes putting on gloves and long-sleeved shirts in order to stay warm and give their best in January. Sometimes, habits such as these aren’t enough to overcome the hardships of winter, but the important thing is to keep on playing.
Here are some of the most memorable footballing moments that played out in snow.
11. December 1962 – Arsenal’s training turns into a battle
Arsenal players chose the snow-covered terraces at Highbury over their training pitch for an ensuing battle that included snowballs and hide-and-seek. There is no data available to tell us who won and who cried like a little baby.
10. February 2010 – Jaaskelainen feeling right at home
Finnish goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had a February to remember during his time in Bolton in 2010. The Finnish goalkeeper seemed to be the only person who didn’t mind the constant snow all around him. We probably wouldn’t have had any problems with it if we’d been born in Finland, either.
9. February 1955 – Aberdeen take on Rangers in a snowstorm
The 6th round of the Scottish Cup between Aberdeen and Rangers was a great match for the 45.000 fans in attendance. Despite the fact many other matches in this competition were cancelled, the two teams decided to have a go and produced a fairly interesting match to witness.
8. January 2013 – Q.P.R. training session
Queen’s Park Rangers found themselves more than a couple of centimeters deep in snow during their training session in 2013. They used this fact to do what all mature grown-ups should in a similar situation: they started a snow fight.
7. January 2016 – Klopp and Wenger clash in a classic
It wasn’t technically snowing cats and dogs (Get it? Oh, never mind), but a serious blizzard kicked in at one point during the amazing Premier League duel between Arsenal and Liverpool. Spectacular game, spectacular weather. A 3-3 draw is a fitting result, one might say.
6. December 2012 – A Thriller in Italy
Unlike many winter matches during extreme conditions, this Serie A match between Inter and Palermo had it all. An official report read:
Not even the snow could stop Inter and Palermo and, as it always seems to happen, the two teams put on a show and scored goals for a shivering but brave crowd at the San Siro. The match ended in a draw with a wild repartee between a super Milito, who claimed each Nerazzurri goal, and an equally super Miccoli, closing things out at 4-4 in the Week 21 match of the 2011/12 Serie A season.
5. January 1963 – Can Highbury weather the storm?
It was huge amounts of snow that caused the Clock End at Highbury to be closed during Arsenal’s league encounter against Sheffield United, but luckily the under-soil heating made sure players wouldn’t find it difficult to play the game. This time it was the fans who got the worst of it. A chilly experience indeed.
4. December 2010 – Snow fight, anyone?
A Premier League encounter between West Ham United and Blackburn is mostly remembered for the way Carlton Cole enjoyed the snow that had accumulated around the pitch. We enjoyed seeing it, too.
3. December 2001 – Sorry, no footy today
San Siro stood empty as the Serie A game between Milan and Lazio was called off. Photographers captured eerie images of the stadium and the pitch
2. March 2013 – USA use blizzard to beat Costa Rica
In their World Cup qualifier in 2013, Costa Rica and the United States battled their way not just against each other, but also an incessant snowstorm which made it difficult for the players to move and clouded their vision for most of the game. The fans were freezing, any kind of ball movement could barely be seen and predicted, but the Americans managed to score a goal and secure an important victory. Costa Rica filed a complaint later on, expressing their fury about the match being allowed to play at all, but to no avail.
1. January 1939 – Frustration for Liverpool and Luton
During the third round of the FA Cup in 1939, Liverpool and Luton struggled to stay on their feet due to the slippery, snowy layer covering the pitch. Reds legend Ian Rush stumbled and failed to have an impact on the game throughout the 90 minutes. No wonder the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Know about any chilly moments we’ve missed? Tell us in the Top Eleven comment section!
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