Brighton & Hove Albion’s Glenn Murray notched his 100th goal for the club in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolves at the Amex Stadium, and one member of Chris Hughton’s backroom staff foresaw the historic strike.
Kit manager Clive Thompson marked Murray’s match shirt with the milestone number on the inside of the badge, along with the date of the game – but he revealed the forward didn’t find out about the act until after the victory over Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
He said, “I just had a feeling it would be his day – I didn’t do it for Newcastle United the week before, and after everything that happened that afternoon seven days earlier it just felt like it was meant to be.
“Newcastle gave me that feeling he’d score in front of our fans – the day and occasion was made for him.
“Glenn and the team had been in great form at the Amex and I just felt like it would happen that day - it was a fitting goal for him as well, it was the only one of the match and it was inside of the area - a really calm finish that got us a big result.
“He didn’t know about it until after the game and he came into the changing room – I told him to look on the inside of the badge.
“He couldn’t believe it and went around showing all the lads – some of them have jokingly asked me to write numbers on the inside of theirs now too!
“I said I would, but it might start costing the club a few too many shirts!”
Murray’s second half strike at the weekend made it six for the season, and he admitted that he was pleasantly surprised to find the note waiting for him when he left the field at full time.
“I got off the field and told him that I wanted to keep the shirt - he said ‘I know you will – have a look inside! Take it off and look behind the badge’.
“He’d put the date and the 100, it was nice that he’d shown that confidence in me.
“It wouldn’t have changed anything if I had known but it made a good day a little bit more special I suppose - the lads asked to see it and they couldn’t believe it either – I’ll get it framed and it’ll be a keepsake on display in the house.”