Faceplants and backflip penalties: the amazing world of sport in 2018

Romance at The Valley, a selection of screamers, epic goalmouth scrambles, push-starting an ambulance and racecourse blunders all feature in our end of year roundup

The year began with a truck full of hay bales destroying the inflatable finish line at the Tour Down Under and ended with Jimmy Gressier celebrating his Euro under-23 Cross Country title by faceplanting over the line. In the meantime, there were salutary lessons in how to avoid being hit by a heavyweight boxer (leave the ring as soon as the bell goes), sensational holes in one, football supporters showing their good side by hurling hundreds of toys on to the pitch to be collected for ill children, Peter Sagan’s dad losing his mind, a full-court buzzer beater, plus romance at Charlton (imagine telling the kids about that time you proposed during a Checkatrade Trophy game) and another proposal, after breaking an Ironman course record.

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