Golden goals: Ian Brightwell (1990)

"I just wellied it." Sometimes you can over complicate football. But in February 1990, Manchester City's Ian Brightwell told it how it was. As the ball rolled towards the midfielder in the 74th minute of a passionate Manchester derby there was only one thing on the mind of the 21-year-old. Just welly it.

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. 

Into the 90s: England v Pakistan (1996 - 1st Test)

England v Pakistan, Lord's, July 1996; a Test match that contained the classic ingredients of an England performance in the 1990s. Glimmers of hope before the realism kicked in; key moments that were not seized; a debutant that would join the one-cap wonder camp; Graeme Hick failing; Graham Thorpe reaching 50 but not making a century; leg spin torment; and of course the standard batting collapses.

Following the England Test team in the 90s was often a frustrating experience. The first Test of the 1996 series against Pakistan was a perfect example. Having defeated India 1-0 in the first part of the summer, it was obvious that Pakistan would provide a much sterner examination. But England were hardly helped when their preparations were thrown into chaos.

Into the 90s: Arsenal v Coventry (1993)

Opening league matches were becoming an issue for Arsenal as the Division One evolved into the Premier League. Since winning the league title so memorably at Anfield in May 1989, the club had suffered from first day nerves, losing 4-1 at Old Trafford, scraping a draw at home against QPR, and being humiliated by Norwich at Highbury.

But surely the 1993/94 campaign would be different. Starting the season at home against Bobby Gould's Coventry, the 4/1 odds on an away victory highlighted the difficulty of the task ahead for the Sky Blues. Graham's team may have developed into a cup team - the first to win both domestic cups in the same season in 1992/93 - yet some experts wondered if Arsenal were ready for another tilt at the title.

Into the 90s: Arsenal v Parma (1994)

Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen. As thousands upon thousands of Arsenal fans took planes, trains and automobiles (and possibly boats) to reach the Danish capital for the 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Italian club Parma, could the club end their 24-year wait for a European trophy?

It was clear to see why Ladbrokes had Arsenal priced at 3/1 to win against their expensively assembled opponents. Already without the suspended Ian Wright, George Graham's preparations would be hit further when Martin Keown, John Jensen, and David Hillier were then ruled out through injury.

Into the 90s: Arsenal v PSG (1994)

The European Cup Winners' Cup may have become a victim of the Champions League expansion in the late 1990s, but there could be no questioning the quality of the tournament prior to this money motivated move.

Just look at the class of the clubs alongside Arsenal in the 1993/94 tournament: Real Madrid, Ajax, Parma, Torino, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica and Paris Saint Germain highlighted just how difficult it would be for Arsenal to lift the trophy.

Into the 90s: Port Vale v Arsenal (1997/98)

As Arsenal prepare to take on Port Vale in the Carabao Cup third round, fans making their way up to Vale Park will be hoping history can repeat itself. Twenty-seven years ago Arsenal supporters - including this writer - made the same journey at the start of a cup run that would end in celebrations at Wembley. But FA Cup joy in the Wembley sunshine seemed a million miles away for Arsenal fans in January 1998.

Seven times Arsene Wenger led Arsenal to FA Cup glory. But his first was far from straightforward. In all, Arsenal played nine matches on their way to lifting the 1998 FA Cup, a run that involved three replays, two penalty shootouts, and narrow victories over second tier teams. The third round tie against Port Vale would be a microcosm of Arsenal's road to Wembley.

Into the 90s: Ryder Cup (1995)

Winning away in the Ryder Cup is "probably one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now", to quote Rory McIlroy. The American team have only won twice on their travels since the Europeans joined the event in 1979, their last away victory coming in 1993. Europe's last away win came in Medinah, and we all know it took a miracle for that to happen.

Europe have won four times in the US, starting with America's first home defeat in 60 years in 1987. As well as the Miracle of Medinah, there was also the almighty thrashing handed out to the Americans in 2004. But of all the triumphs in America, the 1995 win at Oak Hill Country Club remains a personal favourite.

Into the 90s: Liverpool v Arsenal (1990/91)

Bruce Grobbelaar had been here before. An Arsenal player bearing down on goal at the Anfield Road End of Liverpool's famous stadium in a crucial match in the title race, as millions watched on collectively holding their breath. Time seemed to stand still as keeper and attacker waited for the decisive moment.

Paul Merson's goal for Arsenal at Anfield in March 1991 was obviously not as dramatic as that Michael Thomas strike two seasons before. But there can be no doubting that it played a significant part in the destiny of the championship during the 1990/91 campaign. 

Into the 90s: Gary Crosby (1990)

The start of an occasional dip into the second best sporting decade ever, with a look back at a controversial goal scored by Gary Crosby in March 1990.

The first division match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City on March 2, 1990, was in truth a drab affair. As the clock ticked over into the 52nd minute, Forest's Garry Parker swung in a high cross from the right that City goalkeeper Andy Dibble claimed after a slight fumble. Nothing to see here it seemed, very much like the rest of the match.

For City the afternoon was going according to plan. Struggling at the wrong end of the table, the new manager bounce under Howard Kendall - 11 points from his first 18 available - was fading. Without a win in three matches, a point would nevertheless be very welcome against a Forest team holding slim hopes of edging back into the title race.

Dibble shaped to throw the ball, but held it in his right hand before all too brief look over his shoulder. It was then that a nightmare unfolded in slow motion for the Welsh keeper. Looking down at the ball, a split second later a sudden look of horror spread across Dibble's face, indicating that something had gone horribly wrong.