Footage shows Sheffield Wednesday defender scoring stunning winner at Wembley for school team 10 years ago
Mackenzie Maltby made his Championship debut for Wednesday at the weekend
Mackenzie Maltby wheeled away in celebration, grinning from ear-to-ear.
He had just hit a superb winner at Wembley for his school team in a cup final, curling the ball into the top corner from distance with his left foot. Just 11-years-old at the time, ‘Macca’, who was captain, was mobbed by his team-mates as a pocket of friends and family went wild in the home of football. With the number 10 on the back of his shirt, it was a brilliant technical finish befitting the stage and a final. The high-pitched reaction to the ball hitting the back of the net from those there that day said it all. It was a stunning strike.
The fresh-faced kid was playing for his school, Norton Free, in a final against Peterborough United, which they won 1-0 thanks to Maltby’s worldie. The competition was sponsored by Sheffield United, hence the red and white kit.
Fast-forward 10 years and Maltby stepped out as a Championship footballer for the first time on Saturday, coming on at half-time against Oxford United. He has still got his leadership qualities, having worn the captain’s armband right through the youth ranks, although his main task now is to stop goals rather than ping them in. A promising loan spell at Scarborough Athletic last season was cut short because of injury and he had to have surgery over the summer but he is back now and is someone who Owls manager Henrik Pedersen has referred to as ‘interesting.’
Pedersen turned to Maltby on Saturday when there were one or two other options because he wanted to cast his eyes over him at this level of football. He could get another opportunity to show what he can do this weekend in the final game of the season against West Brom. Another winner like he did at Wembley 10 years ago would be grand.
Watch Maltby’s goal from that cup final HERE.