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By LEWIS STEELE, FOOTBALL REPORTER
Published: 21:00 EST, 11 January 2026 | Updated: 21:00 EST, 11 January 2026
Like many young Liverpool fans around the country, Brian Howard grew up dreaming of scoring a last-minute winner at the Kop End. And unlike most, Howard actually did it, so it is something that he never tires of talking about.
February 16, 2008, and Howard lashed in a 93rd-minute winner as Championship side Barnsley came from behind to knock his beloved Liverpool out of the FA Cup fifth round.
It was the upset of the year – for all of a few weeks, until the Tykes beat holders Chelsea at Oakwell for another giant-killing – and something they still speak about around the town to this day. On Monday night, they have a chance to do it all over again.
‘The most shocking thing is that it was 17 years ago… that makes me feel really old,’ says Howard, now 42. ‘I remember I had done an interview with a newspaper and they had sent their pages, I said what it would be like to score at the Kop End. To really do it, though… unreal!’
Howard is now an agent and some of his clients will try to replicate the feat from nearly two decades ago – including manager Conor Hourihane, the 34-year-old former Ireland international taking his first steps in first-team management at the League One club.
Back in 2008, Barnsley toppled a side featuring Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard. Howard was the headline-maker after his drilled shot sent the away end into bedlam – but he was only in the right place at the right time due to the referee.
Like many young Liverpool fans around the country, Brian Howard grew up dreaming of scoring a last-minute winner at the Kop End
February 16, 2008, and Howard lashed in a 93rd-minute winner as Championship side Barnsley came from behind to knock his beloved Liverpool out of the FA Cup fifth round
‘My main emotion or thoughts when I got the ball was one of frustration,’ he says. ‘About 10 or 15 seconds earlier, we had a blatant penalty turned down. The position I was in was only because I had been over to chase after the referee!
‘I had a semi-lucky touch after it deflected off Alonso, I opened up and saw an angle where the goalkeeper’s vision was blocked by Carragher. So I just drilled it into the bottom corner.’
After the game, Howard recalls the team bus struggling to get to the Oakwell car park on arrival back in Barnsley as they were met by swathes of jubilant fans welcoming them home. They all popped into The Mount pub for a swift half… or maybe a bit more.
‘We all had a beer with all the fans,’ he says. ‘Maybe you couldn’t do that these days but it was a great night. After the Chelsea game, too, we were straight into town after and took over some bars after… probably stayed out a bit later than we should have done.
‘Myself and some of the lads had to do Goals on Sunday on Sky Sports with Chris Kamara the next morning - we slept a lot on that journey down and needed a strong coffee before going on air!
‘Barnsley is a special place. These games unite the club with the town and community. The results have not been what everyone wanted in the last run of games but this sort of tie can bring everyone back together.’
Howard kept Alonso’s shirt from his greatest day at Anfield, plus keepsakes from John Terry and Wayne Bridge after Kayode Odejayi’s goal took them past Chelsea in the next round and all the way to the semi-finals, where they were beaten by fellow second-tier side Cardiff.
‘It was incredible,’ he recalls. ‘A home tie against Chelsea was massive, an early-evening game under the lights at Oakwell, packed house and the crowd were buzzing, insane atmosphere. It meant we went into the game with a bit of confidence.
Howard kept Alonso’s shirt from his greatest day at Anfield, plus keepsakes from John Terry and Wayne Bridge after Kayode Odejayi’s goal took them past Chelsea in the next round
Howard celebrates with Odejayi, who won a cap for Nigeria off the back of his FA Cup heroics
But Barnsley's dreams were crushed in the Wembley semi-final as they lost 1-0 to Cardiff City
‘You ride your luck but we deserved to beat Chelsea more than we did against Liverpool. I remember the pitch invasion, I think I had about 50-60 people up from Southampton who took over the town that night!
‘And then walking out with that armband at Wembley (in the semi-final), it was the proudest moment of my career. It was just unfortunate we did not turn up on the day. Maybe the magic of the FA Cup has gone a bit but when you are an EFL team, you always want to pit yourself against the best and prove yourself against the top players.
‘I remember growing up, across the road from my mum and dads house everyone was playing FA Cup singles, doubles, watching the cup, whoever scored the winning goal you would then pretend to be that player on the park. The Cup enabled me to accomplish my dreams. The magic is still there for the players.’
There are a few notable names in the Barnsley team now, too. Captain Luca Connell is a Liverpool lad, while Vimal Yoganathan came from the Reds academy. Some, like David McGoldrick, have been around the block while others, like Jack Shepherd were playing Sunday League two years ago.
Young boss Hourihane, who played 136 times for the Tykes, is at the heart of it and dreaming of a FA Cup giant-killing to reignite the midtable side’s season.
‘Conor is passionate about what he does, he is one of the most driven people I have met in my life,’ adds Howard. ‘You saw what he did as a player, I am sure he will have the same success as a manager. What a game to go and make a name for himself!’