SHARPSHOOTER Peter Collier's name is unlikely to be entered into football's record books, despite scoring possibly the fastest goal in the history of the game.

As reported in the Evening Press, the Selby Town striker lobbed the 'keeper from the half-way line straight from the kick-off to set a new Northern Counties East League record of scoring within approximately three seconds of the start.

The strike - the only goal of the premier division match against Thackley - was also a contender for the fastest-ever goal anywhere.

However, because no-one officially timed it or recorded the match on video, there is unlikely to be sufficient evidence to prove it was a world beater.

"Apparently there was a bloke in South America who scored in 2.8 seconds. That goal was videoed so they could time it but mine wasn't so we can't prove it," said Collier.

The Guinness Book of Records states a number of players at amateur level have scored within about three seconds of the kick-off, though none have been officially timed. Collier's goal, believed to be the only one scored like this in the NCEL, will have to be carded among them.

The 33-year-old hitman is already in the league's record books for scoring the most goals in its history, with more than 200 strikes in about 13 seasons. Most have come for Selby, where he started his career as a 17-year-old, though he has also played for Pickering Town and Pontefract Collieries in that league.

His career has also taken him to Goole, Harrogate Town and Bridlington Town in the HFS Loans - now UniBond - League.

His speedy strike was not the first time Collier had netted from the centre spot. Indeed, he has performed the trick three times before, scoring from restarts for Pontefract four years ago and twice for York and District Sunday Morning League side Hounds.

"I've failed many times as well and usually make a fool of myself," he said.

"If I see the 'keeper off his line I sometimes try it and on this occasion I hit it right. Goalkeepers might be a bit more wary of it now so it's unlikely someone will fall for it again."

Despite his exploits in front of goal, Collier is set to quit NCEL football at the end of the season.

"I've had problems with my knees, and I'm changing shifts at work which will make it more difficult. At this level you can't expect to play one game then miss two and come back. It's likely that this season will be my last in the NCEL."

Selby take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of the President's Cup final against Ossett Albion next week, and Collier added: "It would be good to finish as top scorer and win that cup."

There seems to be some disagreement about the fastest goals in history.

The Association of Football Statisticians (ASF) claim the fastest-ever goal worldwide in first class football was scored by Damian Mori for Adelaide City v Sydney United on December 6, 1995, officially timed at four seconds.

However, the AFS also report that Ricardo Olivers, of Uruguay, hit the net in 2.8 seconds, but don't know if it was a first-class game.

The AFS say the fastest Football League goal was scored by Jim Fryatt for Bradford Park Avenue v Tranmere in the old Fourth Division, on April 25, 1965. This was also timed at four seconds, but by the referee.

The AFS also say the fastest non-League goal was scored by Colin Cowperthwaite for Barrow v Kettering on December 8, 1979 in an Alliance Premier League game. This was timed unofficially at 3.5 seconds.

The Guinness Book of Records (GBR) states the fastest Football League goals were all timed at six seconds.

Albert Mundy (for Aldershot at Hartlepool United, Division Four, October 25, 1958); Barrie Jones (for Notts County v Torquay United, Division Three, March 31, 1962); and Keith Smith (for Crystal Palace v Derby County, Division Two, December 12, 1964) were the scorers.

The GBR claims a number of players in non-first class games have scored goals in under three seconds straight after the kick-off.

Updated: 11:35 Saturday, April 21, 2001