Subbuteo Art competition winners

The response to United Rant’s ‘Subbuteo Art’ competition was resoundingly positive, with hundreds of suggestions, ultimately spawning over 60 unique and novel ideas. Many iconic moments, including Matthew Simmons’ attempt to headbutt Cantona’s boot, were proposed on countless occasions, so those who came up with the new idea first were entered into the competition. Many more suggestions had already been Subbuteised by Terry Lee, craftsman par excellence.

It proved extremely challenging to judge the winners, and in all honesty, any three of the 63 – individually listed at the bottom of this article for those interested – could have been selected. Determining an ‘iconic’ moment is a particularly subjective matter for any football fan, with specific episodes holding places in our hearts to varying degrees, and for differing reasons. It might be a moment witnessed live, shared with someone special, or a during a fond period in our lives.

The winning entries are based loosely on the following criteria;

Images indelibly imprinted into the minds of the majority of Reds
Important moments in the club’s history
Images of players or moments that do not already belong to Terry’s impressive collection
Images that would be visually appealing in Subbuteo form.

Congratulations to the trio of winners, who will all be sent their customized (first-of-its-kind) Subbuteo piece by the end of February.

1. @gobble17 – Lee Sharpe’s corner flag celebration!

Sharpey was probably the first glamour player of this generation’s formative years. Sandwiched in between Danny Wallace and Ryan Giggs on the left, Sharpe came to prominence during the 90-91 season, fast becoming one of the most enthralling prospects on the scene. Even when a Giggs assumed the mantle on the left berth, many fans were adamant that Lee could have potentially proven an equally majestic player. Alas, his career was cruelly hindered by a combination of injury and illness.

But the majority of Reds remember Lee with endearment, not only for his raw footballing ability and cultured left-foot, but also his joie de vivre, manifested most vividly through his imaginative goal celebrations. When he wasn’t devising his own dance routines such as the “Sharpey Shuffle” – the ’90s infinitely more creative version of Gangnam Style – he was impersonating Rock ‘N’ Roll royalty, inventively supplanting corner-flag for microphone. Oh how we “Love Lee Tender.”

Whilst his reputation as a bon vivant away from the pitch ingratiated him to the fans, it may ultimately have proven his undoing with the head honcho. Lee was famously scolded by Sir Alex Ferguson for leading a fledgling Giggs astray at a house party. It’s amongst the numerous anecdotes Sharpe recounts with aplomb if you get the chance to attend one of his guest speaker appearances.

2. @Benny_Red – Paul Scholes/Gary Neville kiss!

This amorous embrace transpired following Scholes’ last minute-winner at the Etihad Stadium versus another team in the vicinity who like to make a din. Marvel at its majesty; an instance of platonic puckering up that animated even the most heterosexual of United fans. It doesn’t matter how alpha you are, you cannot but enjoy the sight.

The two men from the “Class of ’92” are polar opposites personality-wise, but shared a passion for their club and everything it represents. G Nev elicited from Scholesey this manifestation of love for United, which ordinarily remained latent, and we are eternally indebted to Gary for it.

3. @teddiehenson – The Schmeichel cartwheel!

It was a spectacle to behold at the culmination of the ’99 Champions League Final: 6’3″ Peter Schmeichel defying gravity by making his own mammoth frame revolve 360 degrees - to mark the most dramatic comeback in the beautiful game’s illustrious history. It was an explosion of sheer cartwheeling joy from The Great Dane, perfectly encapsulating the unadulterated relief experienced by every single United fan at the precise moment, whilst leaving us more rotund Reds to stick to our metaphorical internal cartwheels of elation.

The rest…

@TusharMUFC Sir Bobby hugging Sir Matt after we won the 1968 European cup
@eirebadboy What about Cantona on the goal post after his penalty return V L’pool
@hothorseherbie George Best celebrating his goal, European Cup Final 1968 or Eusebio applauding Stepney same game
@Andrew_Kenyon MACHEDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (Winning goal versus Aston Villa at Old Trafford)
@bigG1511 Gary Nev Kissing Badge after rio’s late winner vs liverpool
@RohanKrishna27 Robin van Persie hugging Sir Alex Ferguson (versus Stoke City)
@doleary02 RVP last minute goal v City. Just as he’s striking it. Perfection.
@Benny_Red Scholes/Neville kiss! (Etihad Stadium after Scholes’ last minute winner)
@WoodZRC berbatovs over head against Liverpool
@MonarchyofKiko Danny Welbeck. Just being dat guy
@RohanKrishna27 Evra pretending to bite a prosphetic arm thrown at him in jest by Red at OT (Evra’s Luis Suarez reference)
@Joe_Cooper_ O’Shea nutmegging Luis Figo
@StretfordEnd361 Solksjaer’s winner vs Liverpool in the FA Cup, 1999. First time I properly lost it for a goal.
@akachesterseven RONALDOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/9gMZcJ2njM (Ronaldo’s free-kick celebration)
@dannyj14 This #Moscow pic.twitter.com/62aHhq1lZ (John Terry head in lap following penalty miss in Moscow)
@MochineGun Keane heading 1st in the revival vs Juve ’99 semi-final
@NicholaMoreland can I have this please #keano pic.twitter.com/hNqRkkpdxL (Keane stamping on Gareth Southgate)
@lanodnugg how about @NormanWhiteside after ’85 cup final goal.
@Benny_Red my 2nd & last. Not as famous but the Evra/Rafa celebration – loved that! pic.twitter.com/KtJ8oZUXdX
@akachesterseven VAN PERSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE pic.twitter.com/am5XGl1Gs1 (RVP striking superb volley versus Villa)
@666bungle Hughes celebrating after goal in the Cup winners cup final v Barca
@Tubs0161 Fergie bowing to the away end at West Brom last season?
@1markcollard Beckham after scoring from half way line
@lanodnugg or how about Fergie & Kiddo celebration v Sheffield Weds in ’93?
@lanodnugg one more…Robbo on fans shoulders after Barcelona in ’84
@MUFCMeash what about Ronnie collapsing to the floor in tears post Moscow shoot out win!?
@AdamRoss7 solakjaer celebrating his first goal after injury at Charlton away
@FalseMidfield Owen celebrating after scoring 4th in 4-3 derby win
@furno_ooo Strachan, equaliser at Anfield 3-3 … smokin’!
@UnitedBeforeFergie Stuart Pearsons trademark fist clench goal celebration
@finchy2385 sparky’s last minute volley vs Oldham in the fa cup semi (as Hughes is striking ball)
@_tom86 Scholes celebrating after his CL semi final winner.
@jackkholt Always sticks in the memory. pic.twitter.com/69wxLSVt5C (John O’Shea and Rio Ferdinand celebration following John’s last minute winner at Anfield ’07)
@p1zza_face Cole’s goal against spurs in 99
@n4lum How about this?? #unitedrant pic.twitter.com/ZWuTlfOjEI (Giggs standing over Patrick Vieira)
@killalldippers How about a recreation of this? Surely one of the beautiful moments in world football. #unitedrant pic.twitter.com/rrKpmPkpdJ (general Eric Cantona glide)
@AdamRoss7 was also wondering about a keane and scholes one like this… pic.twitter.com/VFfX2gWErH (suited and booted holding trophy at CL ’99 final)
@MUFCMemorabilia Giggs and Ince shocking goal celebration :- pic.twitter.com/stE90ASAJA
@barafundler Jimmy Greenhoff celebration after his goal in the 79 SF replay at Goodison
@petejacksonjr Peter schmichaels last minute penalty save vs arsenal fa cup semi 99
@teddiehenson the Scmeichel cartwheel ! (’99 CL final)
@JonathanShrager SAF holding a tea cup in one hand, hairdryer in the other
@JonathanShrager The United Trinity #UnitedRant pic.twitter.com/WwvZAF9SW6
@Andrew_Kenyon Eric FA Cup goal ’96 (moment he strikes ball, body position, technique)
@Alex2PointZero http://t.co/K3VSAHZv1k (John Terry slipping as he’s taking a penalty in Moscow)
@treble99united Sharpey Shuffle
@RedDevil93 Van Nistelrooy’s celebration vs Arsenal after scoring the pen in unbeaten breaker
@Andrew_Kenyon O’Shea’s chip at Highbury
@dezoduck FUCKWHATISAIDBEFORE! This should win EVERYTHING ?#unitedrant??????? ?pic.twitter.com/uMXu2aNsBi???????
@faredealing cantona’s crowd surfing at palace! ?#seagulls???????
@dezoduck Or this ?#unitedrant??????? ?pic.twitter.com/n8MUAjy2q6??????? Becks wearing LUHG scarf post-Milan game
@gobble17 Lee Sharpe corner flag celebration!
@pram_head Keane tackle on Haaland
@kiani93 http://t.co/AP4jWBJPsp Rafael and Fabio celebrating together
@kiani93 http://t.co/1ogNKjQKAr Scholes ’08 CL semi-final strike
@teddiehenson The Babes all lined up on pitch in that iconic image
@ ’08 CL final team lined up on halfway line reacting to winning penalty
@joepetruccio how about his run in with Vieira in the tunnel?
@john_simps Rooney and Ronaldo celebrating towards Kop http://bit.ly/1d2D06y
Tom Parkinson: VDS CL winning save/celebration ‘08
Anirudh Agarwala: Ronaldo’s goal (with Rooney’s assist) against fulham in the opening game of the 2006-07 season. Has to be the moment when I knew united were back in the running to win titles again after the long drought (relatively)
philip young: Hughes open armed celebration at Maine rd after scoriing against the scousers in 85
@MilkyJoe1974 last shout and it’s Adnan scoring the winner today