Barclays Premier League awaits 20,000th goal

Which player will score the landmark goal in the competition's history?

Brian Deane scored the first ever Premier League goal back in 1992 for Sheffield United

The Barclays Premier League will commemorate the 20,000th goal in the competition by awarding the scorer of the landmark figure a cheque for £20,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, courtesy of title sponsors Barclays.

Since the competition's inception, 19,964 goals have been scored since Brian Deane netted the first ever Premier League goal in the fifth minute to put Sheffield United 1-0 up against Manchester United at Bramall Lane on 15 August 1992.
Only 36 more are needed until the magic 20,000 figure is reached - but who will score the historic goal?

"Something tells me it will be Robin van Persie will score the 20,000th goal in the Barclays Premier League."
- Brian Deane

To mark the occasion, Barclays are giving fans the opportunity to guess the identity of the player by logging on to Facebook.com/BarclaysFootball, with great prizes on offer for those who are correct.
Overseas fans can win a VIP trip to see a Barclays Premier League team of their choice while British fans have the opportunity to claim a VIP trip for six to see their favourite team, as well as 10 footballs signed by Deane as well Les Ferdinand, scorer of the 10,000th goal.

Former Sheffield United, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Leicester City and West Ham striker Deane thinks Arsenal's prolific Robin van Persie will score the 20,000th goal.
"I played with Jermain Defoe at West Ham and I would like to see him score but something tells me it will be Robin van Persie will score the 20,000th goal in the Barclays Premier League," Deane told premierleague.com.
"He's on fire at the moment and Arsenal are playing to his strengths, he's had a fantastic year and what a way to finish it off."
With an average of 2.96 goals per game this season in the Barclays Premier League, statistics suggest the 20,000th goal will come during next week's round of mid-week fixtures.
The £20,000 donation to the player's charity of choice follow in the footsteps of other landmark goalscorers.

Former Fulham player Moritz Volz scored the 15,000th goal of the competition while Ferdinand netted the 10,000th, with both players donating cheques of the same value to their choice of charities.

Posted in: News