The greatest hat-trick ever:Tam Hanlon, who plies his trade in Scottish non-league football scores magnificent treble – but is it the best ever?


THIS could well be a contender for the greatest hat-trick ever scored – at least by a defender.

And despite it happening in the Scottish Junior West Premier League, thankfully, for football fans everywhere, it was caught on camera.

class="wp-caption alignnone" This was the first goal scored by Tam Hanlon in his memorable game against Neilston
This was the first goal scored by Tam Hanlon in his memorable game against Neilston
IMAGE: Pollock Juniors
class="wp-caption alignnone" Tam Hanlon had a cup tie to remember as he notched a hat-trick to help his side to a 5-1 win
Tam Hanlon had a cup tie to remember as he notched a hat-trick to help his side to a 5-1 win
IMAGE: Pollock Juniors

Step forward Tam Hanlon, who turns out for non-league outfit Pollock Juniors FC. Two fabulous free-kicks that even Dimitri Payet would be proud of sandwiched a long-range thunderbolt.

It helped his side to a 5-1 victory against Neilston in the group stages of the Sectional League Cup.

And it's even more impressive when you consider the 34-year-old plays at right back.

class="wp-caption alignnone" The second of the three was one a roving attacking midfielder would be proud of, crashing in a 30-yarder
The second of the three was one a roving attacking midfielder would be proud of, crashing in a 30-yarder
IMAGE: Pollock Juniors

Three other memorable hat-tricks...

GEOFF HURST'S hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final helped England to glory, helping see off West Germany 4-2 after extra time.
The first was a downward, glancing header, his second was the well documented 'did it or didn't it' cross the line, and his third followed the now-famous commentator's speak of 'they think it's all over'. The rest, as they say, is history.

RIVALDO'S hat-trick for Barcelona against Valencia in the Nou Camp in 2001 couldn't have come at more important time.
Barcelona had to win to qualify for the Champions League, whereas Valencia needed only a draw to do the same.
But the Brazilian felt no pressure, and cracked a live-in-the-memory treble.
The first was a 35-yard free-kick that dipped and thrashed off a post and into the net. The second was a low 25-yard effort.
But the final glory came 90 seconds from time, with the teams locked at 2-2, when the flamboyant midfielder netted with a spectacular overhead kick.

RONNY ROSENTHAL is still to this day better known for his incredible miss for Liverpool in a league game against Aston Villa, hitting the bar with net at his mercy.
But in 1995 he went some way to redeeming himself with a blistering hat-trick for Tottenham. His Spurs side were 2-0 down to Southampton and heading out of the FA Cup when his introduction, and three goals, helped Spurs to a crushing 6-2 victory, The highlight was the third - a 25-yard shot that swerved wildly to beat Bruce Grobbelaar all ends up.

The first is a sublime free-kick from around 30-yards out, that the opposition goalkeeper can only watch as it sails into the back of the net.

The second was a goal right out of the top drawer.

Hanlon picked up the ball from a Neilston clearance. He brought it under control, advanced five yards before letting fly with a swerving effort that once again left the keeper stranded.

class="wp-caption alignnone" His final net-buster came from 30-yards out in the centre of the goal, but it still beat the keeper easily
His final net-buster came from 30-yards out in the centre of the goal, but it still beat the keeper easily
IMAGE: Pollock Juniors

He completed his hat-trick from another set-piece. This time he was more central, but he spotted a gap and planted the ball perfectly into the keeper's top-right hand corner, as the crowd roared their appreciation.

Thanks to Hanlon's Heroics, Pollock will face Rutherglen Glencairn in the next round.
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