Brightwell's goal meant so much on so many levels. A City supporter as a child, here was a product of the club's successful youth system scoring an equaliser at the home of their local rivals. But the importance of the goal stretched beyond this. Brightwell's moment resulted in City gaining a vital point in their relegation battle. Deliciously for City's fans, it also left United firmly in the mire.
The 1989/90 season had at times looked like it might be the end of the road for Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. The 5-1 defeat at Maine Road in September was humiliating, but it would be the bleak winter that threatened United's top flight status and Ferguson's reign at Old Trafford. In the nine matches leading up to the second Manchester derby, United took three points from a possible 27.
Just one place above the relegation zone before the match at Old Trafford, the pressure was building. "For Manchester United even talk of relegation is a deep embarrassment," the Guardian's David Lacey noted. "United, however, continue to offer living proof that size is no guarantee against failure if what happens on the field is disorganised and lacking in confidence."
City though were hardly in confident mood for the 100th Manchester derby in Division One. They may have been above United in the table, but their away form was abysmal. Winless on their travels in the league, just four draws in 11 away matches highlighted why the team under Howard Kendall's management were nervously looking over their shoulders.
Due to safety concerns, the relegation scrap would be played in front of a smaller than usual crowd of 40,274. The match at Maine Road had been interrupted for eight minutes when fans in the wrong end of the ground had to be moved to the away section, and the move to limit tickets to season ticket holders, members and token holders was estimated to cost United £30,000 in gate receipts.
Perhaps understandably the match would be a nervous affair, with City missing a number of glorious chances. Gary Pallister's shocking back pass to Jim Leighton almost resulted in the opening goal, Mike Duxbury gifted Brightwell another opportunity, and David White failed to hit the target when through on goal in the second half. The visitors would be made to pay for their wastefulness.
Clayton Blackmore's diving header from Danny Wallace's inviting cross sent the Stretford End into raptures in the 69th minute, a rare moment of quality amongst the tension. The other would come just five minutes later. As Mark Ward cut back a ball to Brightwell roughly 25 yards out, City's midfielder drew back his left foot.
Brightwell was only playing due to Peter Reid missing the match through suspension. His previous goal in the campaign had been from all of three yards out against Luton. Yet without hesitation, Brightwell struck his long range effort using his weaker foot and held his breath like everyone else inside the stadium. As soon as it left his foot, Brightwell must have known it had a chance.
Like a golf drive that never leaves the middle of the fairway, Brightwell's strike looked destined for the top corner from the moment it left his foot. Leighton flung himself to his right, a token gesture in reality. "Oh what a great goal by Brightwell," commentator Alan Parry screamed, as the scorer leapt in the air in celebration. The City fans behind the goal became a sea of celebration.
Brightwell celebrated his wonder strike with four other players - Andy Hinchcliffe, Steve Redmond, White, and Paul Lake - that he had won the 1986 FA Youth Cup alongside. A sweet occasion for the youngsters that had come through City's youth ranks. For the 5,000 City fans inside the ground, joy at seeing some of their own thrive against United.
"I was out of my seat and on the pitch to celebrate before it hit the net," Kendall later revealed. "It was a great goal. We worked very hard and it was a great occasion for us." Despite the growing pressure, Ferguson joked: "Reid has never shot from 20 yards. I don't know if he can even run that far, and his replacement goes and does that."
Brightwell's drive was labelled in different ways, such as crashing, gloriously crisp, the goal of a lifetime, stunning, and inspired. For a young man who was often mentioned with the shadow of his parents looming - Olympic medallists Ann Packer and Robbie Brightwell - it was a day that he could take centre stage.
"Any goal that goes in is a great feeling, but to score it in a derby is unbelievable," Brightwell stated in the post match interview that also included his famous "wellied it" quote. Within a couple of weeks he may have been back on City's bench, but at least Brightwell created one of those moments that occasionally make playing and following football so rewarding.
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