Newport County midfielder Harrison Biggins scored a stunning 77.7-yard goal that may be an English Football League record. The incredible strike came during a 2-1 defeat for the Exiles against Salford City on a wet and windy Tuesday night.
This remarkable effort was featured in a look at long-range strikes. Biggins collected possession deep inside his own half, beat a man, and launched an audacious shot over the head of Salford goalkeeper Norris from a distance measured at 77.7 yards. The goal has sparked debate about whether it surpasses famous efforts from David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.
The goal immediately drew comparisons to some of football's most famous long-range efforts. David Beckham's iconic 57-yard goal for Manchester United against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park is a Premier League benchmark. Wayne Rooney scored from 61 yards for Everton against West Ham United in 2017. Xabi Alonso also netted from 60.6 yards for Liverpool at St James' Park.
In the Bundesliga, Moritz Stoppelkamp holds the record with a 91-yard strike for SC Paderborn against Hannover in September 2014. That effort, from 83 metres, surpassed a previous record by 10 metres. Biggins' 77.7-yard shot for Newport County now enters this exclusive club and may even set a new EFL standard, surpassing Rooney's 61-yard effort.
Hayden Mullins, the Newport County boss, was not entirely surprised by the attempt. "The goalkeeper was pretty high out the box and if there's one person who's going to try that, it is him," Mullins told reporters. He added, "I didn't expect him to score, but it is a fantastic goal."
Mullins revealed this is not the first time Biggins has attempted the spectacular. The midfielder tried a near-halfway lob against Roma in a pre-season friendly and struck the post with a 40-yard volley against Bristol Rovers. Biggins, who previously played for Shrewsbury Town, clearly has a taste for the extraordinary.
This is not the first time a Newport County player has scored from his own half. Goalkeeper Tom King wrote his name into club and EFL history in 2021 with a 105-yard goal against Cheltenham at the Jonny-Rock Stadium. That strike was the first by a goalkeeper in the English Football League since Barry Roche for Morecambe in 2016, and it surpassed Asmir Begovic's previous record of 100.5 yards.
King's goal remains the longer of the two, but Biggins' effort from an outfield position in a competitive league match is arguably more difficult. It highlights a unique attacking threat within the Newport squad, which also includes forward Shaquille Gwengwe.
The spectacular goal came during a challenging period for the team. Newport County currently sit 14th in the League Two standings, having taken four points from their first four games. Their record shows one win, one draw, and two losses, with a recent form of LDLW. The team has scored nine goals and conceded nine, resulting in a zero goal difference.
They find themselves five points behind the early leaders, Bristol Rovers. The squad will be looking to build on moments of individual brilliance like Biggins' goal to improve their league position. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on the club's official fixtures page. Harrison Biggins' next opportunity to add to his tally comes as Newport County prepares for their next League Two fixture.
