Bristol Rovers: Cult hero status was cemented in front of record crowd at Wembley | OneFootball

One moment in time made former Bristol Rovers midfielder Sammy Igoe and instant cult hero

There are moments that arrive in a professional footballer's career that can make their name forever legendary.

Those moments – moments that make even the hardest of individuals fall to their knees weeping with joy – will be discussed over and over again among supporters of all generations on terraces and in homes.

Moments like Pele's overhead kick, Maradona's mazy run, Mansell's penalty, and that Anderson header. For Bristol Rovers supporters, one memorable goal made former Bristol Rovers midfielder Sammy Igoe unforgettable and an instant cult hero.

Wembley History for Gasheads on the edge of their seat

It was the 93rd minute of the 2006-07 League Two play-off final, with Bristol Rovers leading Shrewsbury Town 2-1 in front of a crowd of 61,589 – a record for a fourth tier fixture.

The Shrews had a corner, leaving an anxious Gas faithful on the edge of their seats.

The ball was swung in towards the Shrews' goalkeeper, who had rushed from his position to join a crowded Bristol Rovers penalty area. Too crowded - because the ball would be headed down directly into the path of Igoe, who picked it up from just outside the box and began a drive forward that will forever be etched in the club's history.

The clock ticked down as Igoe, chased by three scrambling Shrewsbury Town defenders, pushed into the opposition half, where an open goal was gaping.

The seconds felt like minutes or even hours as Igoe was hacked down, but not before he pulled the trigger with just enough pace for the ball to bobble over the line, leaving a flailing defender all tangled up in the back of the net and Rovers heading for League One.

With that Sammy Igoe's name was written into Gas folklore.

The midfielder enjoyed two spells at Rovers, first signing on loan from Millwall in January 2006 and playing 11 times that season. He would be released by the Lions at the end of the season and joined the South West club permanently in July.

At the time of signing, Igoe spoke of his gratitude to get the deal over the line and expressed his hopes for promotion. A dream he would help deliver.

On the club website, he said: “It seems to have taken a long time and seemed to drag on forever but, thankfully, I’ve signed a contract now. We have four really hard games at the beginning of the season, but if we keep our best players, I see no reason why this team can’t push for promotion."

Sammy Igoe was made for the big moments at Bristol Rovers

During the 2006-07 season, Igoe had his best period for Rovers, making 40 appearances, but it was his goal in the dying minutes of the play-off final at Wembley that made him a hero to many as he sealed promotion.

And it seems he enjoyed the big occasion during his Memorial Stadium spell, with another of his goals for the Gas coming in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final in 2006. Rovers would be defeated that day, losing 3-2 in extra time to Doncaster Rovers.

Igoe would subsequently move on from the Gas in 2008 after being released from his contract.

He made 93 appearances in total for Bristol Rovers, scoring six goals with five assists – a useful servant but a cult hero for that moment in 2007 when Sammy Igoe made sure his name is remembered positively among Gasheads of all generations, past, present, and future.