The Joy of Six: unlikely football heroes – in pictures

The Wycombe Wanderers fans erupt in celebration as Roy Essandoh, left, celebrates his winning goal against Leicester City in 2001 with Jason Cousins Photograph: David Davies/PA Archive

The match winner is centre of attention after the final whistle Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

In a 2004 Italian Cup clash against Lecce, Udinese's David Di Michele, above, scored twice as Udinese came back from 3-0 down to go 4-3 up with two minutes to go. In stoppage time Di Michele found himself between the sticks facing a penalty after Samir Handanovic was sent off for a foul. The striker donned the keeper's gloves then produced a superb save to deny Lecce an equaliser Photograph: Ivan Tortorella/AP

It's the final game of the 1998-99 season and Carlisle need a winner at home against Plymouth Argyle to preserve their Football League place. In the fifth minute of injury-time they get a corner and Carlisle keeper Jimmy Glass charges up into the opposition's area, the corner comes in and the ball comes to Glass who leaps and hits a half-volley which flies into the Plymouth net Photograph: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport

Glass is mobbed by his team-mates Photograph: Action Images

The celebrations continue in the dressing room as the players, and a cheeky looking young nipper, celebrate the last gasp victory that ensured their Football League survival Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images

Alan Taylor stabs the ball home for his, and West Ham's, second in the 1975 FA Cup final after another fumble by Fulham keeper Peter Mellor Photograph: Clive Limpkin/Daily Mail/Rex Features

The match-winning hero sports the trophy lid during the pos-match celebrations with Frank Lampard, left, Billy Bonds and Pat Holland, right Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

And then celebrates with a pint of milk when he gets to the dressing room Photograph: PA Archive

There's a hearty crowd in in East End the following day for the returning heroes Photograph: Peter Johns/Guardian

Just nine minutes into the 1982 European Cup final and Aston Villa keeper Jimmy Rimmer, who had been suffering from neck trouble before the game, found the pain too much to bear and had to come off. His replacement was rookie keeper Nigel Spink who'd only made a single first-team appearance in the five years he'd been at the club. Villa fans feared the worst against Bayern Munich Photograph: David Bagnall/Rex Features

They needn't have worried as Spink put in a superlative performance stopping Bernd Dürnberger, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, above, and Dieter Hoeness before Peter Withe scored for Villa Photograph: Peter Robinson/EMPICS Sport

The keeper deserved that big grin on his face as he hoists aloft the trophy on the lap of honour. Later he deadpanned: 'I don't think many players can say their second game as a professional was in the European Cup final' Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty

Goalscorer Withe, left, manager Tony Barton and Spink arrive back at East Midlands airport with the trophy Photograph: PA Archive

The display cabinet at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster where the World Cup trophy was stolen on 20 March 1966. Five guards were detailed to keep constant watch. On the Sunday, though, the guard stationed next to the trophy had the day off. With the others enjoying a cup of coffee or a call of nature, it was only when George Franklin finally inspected the case just after midday that he discovered the theft. The thieves had broken in through the back doors Photograph: Manchester Daily Express/SSPL via Getty Images

The Jules Rimet trophy, which was found in Norwood by a four-year-old mongrel called Pickles, is shown to the press on 28 March Photograph: Manchester Daily Express/SSPL via Getty Images

Pickles with his owner Jeanne Corbett, pointing out the spot on Beulah Hill in Norwood where he found the trophy which was tightly bound in newspaper Photograph: Hulton Getty

Pickles with owners Davide and Jeanne Corbett and the £500 reward offered by Gillette for the safe return of the trophy. The Corbetts received a total of £3,000 in reward money Photograph: PA Archive

David Corbett and Pickles settle down to watch the World Cup final on TV. After England's 4-2 victory Corbett and Pickles attended the post-match victory party and Corbett said: 'The players were out on a large balcony [of their hotel in Kensington]. I went in with Pickles under my arm and Bobby Charlton, all of them, picked him up. But I ate with the wives in a separate room. The women weren't allowed upstairs. They made a fuss of the dog, but God they were upset. "Our husbands win the World Cup and the FA banish us down here!" they said' Photograph: John Downing/Getty Images

After his discovery Pickles began the life of a celebrity. He starred in a feature film, The Spy with the Cold Nose, seen above with Eric Sykes and others discussing the film script, and appeared on Magpie, Blue Peter and many other TV shows. He was made Dog of the Year, awarded a year's free supply of food from Spillers and there were offers to visit Chile, Czechoslovakia and Germany. Click here to read more of the story of Pickles and the World Cup Photograph: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images