Real Zaragoza is coached by Víctor Fernández

Victor Fernández has taken on the responsibility of coaching Real Zaragoza again.  The first time he did so, he led the team to a historic victory over Arsenal (1-2), and Real Zaragoza won the Cup Winners' Cup Final at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.  The incredible goal that Zaragozan player Nayim scored in the last minute of extra-time was such a remarkable feat that it inspired a modern bard, and Arsenal fan, Murray Lachlan Young, to write a ballad to remember that moment, The Lobbing of David Seaman, dedicated to the legendary Arsenal goalkeeper (you can watch Nayim's goal again on this link). Good luck, Real Zaragoza and Víctor Fernández! (And good luck, Arsenal and David Seaman, too!)

On RTE Radio 1, Ireland, Documentary on One, you can listen to a live performance of The Lobbing of David Seaman from minute 14:58 to 17:03 and later on from 17:38 to 18:43.  It is part of a radio programme, The Loneliness of the Goalkeeper, broadcast on 29th May 2010.  You can download the podcast if you click here.

But if you just want a direct link to a file which contains an extract of the song, the listening task and the key below, you can just click here and download whatever suits you best. 

Listening task for the ballad The Lobbing of David Seaman by poet Murray Lachlan Young:

The Lobbing of David Seaman

Ah, come all ye teenage goalkeepers
And listen unto me,
I'll tell you of a goalie
Who went out to gay Paree;
The Gunners called him '(1) ___________ Hands',
David Seaman was his name,
But that (2) ______________ night in Paris
Was his world consumed in flames.

It was in the final minutes

And the game was surely gone

With oaken heart and broken (3) ___________

He urged the Gunners on,

The (4) ____________ expecting penalties

were whistling full time,

But one (5) _____________ Zaragozan

Saw the keeper off his line.

So up steps Seaman's nemesis

and his name it was Nayim,

He kicked a mighty lofted (6) __________

So high above the scene

Poor Seaman scrambled backwards

To face this final card

To be (7) ____________ by a cannon ball

From over fifty yards.

Oh! The tears of David Seaman

They define the Gunners' (8) ______________,

But he could not change the score line

And he could not change his name.

So he took the well-trod channel

Of a man whose (9) ______________ has failed,

Oh! He posed for lifestyle magazines,

And he (10) ___________ a pony tail.

[Second Part, from 17:38 to 18:43]

And as his pony tail grew longer

The memories did fade

And Seaman soon was recognized

As a master of his trade

A saviour for his country

And a father to his team

Oh! But never could he wash away

The stain left by Nayim.

So, come all ye teenage goalkeepers

And listen to what I say,

Be careful what you wish for,

For it might just come your way

And looking at your jersey

As in loneliness you crave

To be judged on what you miss

And not on what you save.

KEY: (1) Safe; (2) lonely; (3) ribs; (4) crowd; (5) cruel; (6) shot; (7) beaten; (8) pain; (9) luck; (10) grew.