Harkes's First Goal in England

On This Day in 1990, the American Scored a Stunning Strike Against Derby County to Advance Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup

John Harkes ventured into unfamiliar territory when he signed with Sheffield Wednesday in late 1990. The 23-year-old midfielder became one of the first Americans to test himself in English professional football following the US Men's National Team's return to the World Cup stage after 40 years. While several clubs showed interest after Italia '90, Wednesday manager Ron Atkinson took the plunge, bringing Harkes in on loan from the US Soccer Federation for £75,000 to cover for injured right-back Roland Nilsson. What began as a temporary solution would evolve into something more significant.

The learning curve was steep. Harkes underwent trials, including a stint at Blackburn Rovers, before landing with the Owls. Once at Hillsborough, he impressed in the reserves, netting five goals in six matches to force his way into first-team consideration. After securing his British passport and finalizing his contract, he made his debut in a scoreless draw against Swindon Town on November 2. The utility player adapted to playing right-back, a position unfamiliar to someone who preferred central midfield, and held his spot even after Nilsson recovered. By mid-December, Wednesday sat third in the Second Division, pushing for promotion, and had navigated to the fourth round of the Rumbelows League Cup.

Their replay opponent, Derby County, arrived at the Baseball Ground on December 12 riding momentum. The Rams had lost just once in their previous ten matches and were eager to reach the quarterfinals. Manager Arthur Cox dismissed transfer speculation surrounding striker Dean Saunders, insisting his focus remained on the cup tie. Derby had eliminated Wednesday from the same competition the previous season and controlled the early exchanges in this replay, with Saunders and Mark Wright creating early chances. For the first 10 minutes, it looked like a comfortable evening for the First Division side.

Then Wednesday seized control through midfield pair Danny Wilson and John Sheridan, and Harkes delivered a moment that would define his early career in England. Gathering a loose ball roughly 40 yards from goal in the 32nd minute, the American found himself unmarked—Derby failed to recognize the threat. Harkes drove forward and unleashed a thunderous right-footed strike that soared past former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton into the top corner. The Baseball Ground fell silent as the American wheeled away in celebration. Atkinson would later praise the effort, saying, "he showed all his quality and character in the game. You won't see a better goal than that all season."

The goal even surprised Harkes himself, stating, "I have never scored a goal like that," Harkes said. "I don't know how far out I was, maybe 30 or 35 yards, when I got the ball. I put my head down and gave it a shot, and nobody on the other side came to me." Seven minutes into the second half, Harkes turned provider. His precise low cross from the right flank found Paul Williams arriving at the near post, and the striker steered the ball past Shilton to double the advantage. Derby pulled one back through Gary Micklewhite in the 58th minute, but Wednesday held firm despite late pressure. Shilton made two excellent saves in the final minutes to deny Williams a brace and spare Derby further embarrassment. The second-division visitors had earned their place in the quarterfinals, where they would face Coventry City.

The victory at Derby marked a turning point for both Harkes and Wednesday. The American would finish his debut season with 33 appearances across all competitions, two goals, and English football's Goal of the Season award for this strike. More importantly, the Owls secured automatic promotion with a third-place finish in the Second Division and reached the Rumbelows League Cup Final, where they defeated Manchester United to lift the trophy for the first time since the Owls lifted the FA Cup in 1935. Harkes played 87 minutes at Wembley Stadium, becoming the third American to appear at the famous venue. What started as a short-term loan transformed into a permanent move, with Harkes establishing himself as a pioneer for American players in England and a key contributor to one of Sheffield Wednesday's most successful periods.