Tuesday 10 May 2016 08:41, UK
As West Ham prepare to say an emotional goodbye to the Boleyn Ground, thoughts will turn to the player who will score the final goal at the famous east London stadium…
Manchester United will be the final visitors to the Boleyn Ground, otherwise known as Upton Park, on Tuesday, and it is a match which will be shown exclusively live on Sky Sports 1 HD.
The clash against United will bring the curtain down on 112 years of history at the stadium and the Hammers will be hoping to give it a fitting send-off ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
Here, we take a look back at the players who wrote themselves into the history books by scoring the final goal at some historic English stadiums…
The Dell - Matt Le Tissier (2001)
Not many players are given a nickname that infers a God-like status. However, Matt Le Tissier was considered worthy of such a nickname by his adoring Southampton supporters. To Saints fans, Le Tissier was simply "Le God".
Le Tissier, a one-club man, scored over 200 goals and famously played a leading role in a number of final-day escapes from relegation during his 16 years with Southampton.
But there was no desperate need for some final-day heroics from Le Tissier as the 2000-01 season drew to a close. In fact, Southampton had secured their Premier League status months earlier and could relax as they welcomed Arsenal for the final match at The Dell - their home for the previous 103 years.
The vast majority of the 15,252 fans in attendance craved the perfect send-off. They would get it, but were made to wait until the very end.
With the match finely poised at 2-2 and entering the final minute of normal time, Le Tissier, who had not scored all season, stepped forward and stole the show in a way that would not look out of place in a Hollywood movie script.
Le Tissier attempted to collect the ball just inside the 18-yard box, however his touch, normally exemplary, eluded him this time. But good fortune was on his on side as Martin Keown's attempted clearance fell straight back at his feet.
Without any hesitation, Le Tissier curled an unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner of the net - cue pandemonium among the Southampton fans.
Filbert Street - Matt Piper (2002)
Leicester may well have lifted the Premier League title for the first time in their 132-year history on Saturday, but rewind 14 years ago and it was a totally different story for the club.
The Foxes were playing only for pride on the final day of the 2001-02 season having had their relegation from the Premier League confirmed a month earlier following a 1-0 home defeat to Manchester United.
They would finish bottom of the table regardless of their result against Tottenham in their final home match ahead of their move to the Walkers Stadium, later renamed the King Power Stadium.
A host of Leicester legends were in attendance as Micky Adams' team attempted to put a disappointing campaign to one side and end their 111-year stay at Filbert Street on a high.
But that looked a long way off when Teddy Sheringham scored from the penalty spot early in the second-half, leaving an already demoralised Leicester team with an uphill task.
An equaliser from Paul Dickov gave Leicester hope of a turnaround and it was left to Matt Piper to score the winner and the final goal at Filbert Street, with the winger heading past Neil Sullivan to send the home support into raptures.
Maine Road - Michael Svensson (2003)
It does not always go according to plan, as Manchester City found out when they bid farewell to Maine Road in 2003.
City faced Southampton in their final match at Maine Road, their home of 80 years, ahead of their move to the City of Manchester Stadium, later renamed the Etihad Stadium.
The celebration ceremony, which would take place at the final whistle, was rehearsed and ready to go, with Badly Drawn Boy all set to kick off the party.
However, on the pitch, Southampton clearly hadn't read the script.
The Saints, who had given the perfect send off to The Dell two years previously, were in no mood to do any favours and when Michael Svensson headed in from a Matt Oakley free-kick in the 34th minute, City's hopes of a winning finale were unceremoniously ended.
Highbury - Thierry Henry (2006)
But it sometimes does go according to plan as Arsenal experienced on the final day at Highbury.
The Gunners came into the final match of the 2005-06 Premier League season with their fate not in their own hands in the race for a top-four finish. A win at home to Wigan would not be enough to clinch a Champions League place if north London rivals Tottenham secured victory away at West Ham.
Events at the Boleyn Ground would in the end favour Arsenal, with a stomach bug hitting the Tottenham squad. It would ultimately prove costly for Spurs, who suffered a 2-1 defeat.
Arsenal were doing what they needed to do at Highbury anyway and were leading 3-2 when referee Uriah Rennie awarded them a spot-kick with less than 15 minutes remaining.
There was no question over who the taker would be. Thierry Henry, Arsenal's all-time record goalscorer, had netted twice already and stepped up to complete his hat-trick, coolly slotting past Mike Pollitt.
Henry celebrated by saluting the Highbury faithful for one final time before kneeling down to kiss the turf. The victory assured Arsenal of a top-four finish and meant they ended their 93-year stay at Highbury in the best possible way.
Other players that scored the final goal at some historic English stadiums…
Ninian Park - Cardiff 0-3 Ipswich: Jon Stead, 2009.
Highfield Road - Coventry 6-2 Derby: Andrew Whing (Coventry), 2005.
Vetch Field - Swansea 1-0 Shrewsbury: Adrian Forbes, 2005.
Boothferry Park - Hull 1-1 Lincoln: Lawrie Dudfield (Hull), 2002.
Springfield Park - Wigan 1-1 Manchester City: Paul Dickov (Manchester City), 1999.
Roker Park - Sunderland 3-0 Everton: Allan Johnston, 1997.
Baseball Ground - Derby 1-3 Arsenal: Ian Wright (Arsenal), 1997.
Burnden Park - Bolton Wanderers 4-1 Charlton: John McGinlay (Bolton), 1997.
Victoria Ground - Stoke 2-1 West Bromwich Albion: Andy Hunt (WBA), 1997.
Ayresome Park - Middlesbrough 2-1 Luton: John Hendrie (Middlesbrough), 1995.
Plough Lane - Wimbledon 0-3 Crystal Palace: Ian Wright, 1991.
