The former Wolves striker is the latest guest on the Old Gold Club’s My Golden Game podcast, as he joins Mikey Burrows to discuss his match-winning wonderstrke at Elland Road back in September 2006, as well as his fractured relationship with boss Mick McCarthy.
Having only joined the club less than two months previously, Bothroyd had an impressive start to his Wolves career, scoring three times in his opening six games, with that third strike in Yorkshire being one that will stay in the mind of many Wolves supporters to a long time to come.
On a quick start to his Wolves career
“It was good at the start and I was really enjoying it. I remember when I came, I didn’t even have a pre-season, and Mick just made me do loads of shuttle runs and then all of a sudden, I was playing the next day.
“It was a strange start to the season, but I was enjoying it and that Leeds game was an amazing game and one that I will always remember.
“It was a tight game, away from home, and the fans were really buzzing. The defence were great that day, everyone was quality, but Matt Murray and Gary Breen had a great game, in particular.
“I scored in what was the last minute and the last few seconds and we got the victory. It was an amazing goal and a great away day.”
📆 September 10th 2006
— Wolves (@Wolves) September 10, 2019
🆚 Leeds United v Wolves
💥 An injury time smash from Jay Bothroyd!
🐺🎥 pic.twitter.com/4MRXrcQyvb
On a wonderstrike to win the game
“It was a great strike and definitely in my top ten goals, for sure. I remember that I had a bit of contact from the defender, so I let the ball go across me and as I turned, I thought, ‘Just hit it.’
“I remember the ball sat nice and no-one was coming to close my down, and I knew I could strike a ball well. There was no other thought in my mind other than shooting the ball at that point.
“As a forward, you sort of just want to hit the target, and I knew I wanted to hit that corner, but when it left my foot, it was one of those that I knew was in, straight away. I thought, ‘It’s a goal.’
“It’s a weird feeling when that happens and something I cannot explain, but as soon as it left my foot I was sprinting over to the fans.”
On the wild celebrations
“Everyone went crazy, the boys went crazy and we all went and celebrated with the fans in the corner, and it was amazing.
“It was one of those where it was a great day, and I remember Mick McCarthy coming in after the game shaking his head saying, ‘Jesus Christ, that was an amazing goal.’
“It was a fantastic day because the Leeds fans are passionate fans as well, they’re very vocal and it was a great atmosphere. The Wolves fans were giving it loads as well, and when the goal went in, it put the rest of the crowd to silence.
“The Wolves fans ended up sounding like the home fans, that’s how much the stadium erupted.”
On a day to remember
“That Leeds game and the home game against West Brom were my two most memorable for Wolves, and they were fantastic games because we got the wins as well.
“But it was a great day and one of those games that was always in my mind and will be when I finish football. When I speak to Wolves fans, it’s the first thing they talk about, Leeds fans even contact me to say, ‘What about that goal.’
“On Twitter, you get ‘On This Day’ from 10 years ago or something like that, and fans always send me the goal, so it will be one that is always on my mind.”
