# First Touch Goals

> Footballers score with career's first touch.
- Title: First Touch Goals · the Guardian | Shortify
- Summary: Footballers score with career's first touch. Alan Smith scored with his first touch for Leeds United in 1998, a feat also achieved by others including…
- Keywords: alan smith, leeds united, raphael meade, james spencer, first touch, football, european cup, professional debut, goal, first team, huddersfield, doncaster
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/30/footballers-scoring-first-touch-of-careers-the-knowledge
- Published: 2026-09-30T07:00:14+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: alan smith, leeds united, raphael meade, james spencer, first touch, football, european cup, professional debut, goal, first team, huddersfield, doncaster
## Alan Smith's first touch
Alan Smith scored with his first touch for Leeds United in 1998.
## Jamie Spencer's first touch
Jamie Spencer scored with his second touch in a competitive match for Huddersfield.
## Raphael Meade's first touch
Raphael Meade scored with his first touch for Arsenal in a Uefa Cup match in 1981.
## Jack Aitchison's first touch
Jack Aitchison scored with his first touch for Celtic in 2016.
## Matt Hatch's first touch
Matt Hatch scored with his first touch for Central Coast Mariners in 2021.
## Michael Ricketts' first touch
Michael Ricketts scored with his first touch for Walsall against Brighton in 1996.
## Maheta Molango's first touch
Maheta Molango scored with his first touch for Brighton against Reading in August 2004.
## Yan Dhanda's first touch
Yan Dhanda scored with his first touch for Swansea City at Sheffield United in 2018.
## Luke Medley's first touch
Luke Medley scored with his first touch for Bradford in 2007.
## Ibra Sekajja's first touch
Ibra Sekajja scored with his first touch for Crystal Palace in 2011.
## First touch goal record
Players have scored with their first touch in professional careers since 1981.
## First touch goal impact
First touch goals are rare and significant achievements.
## First touch goal history
First touch goals have been documented since 1981.
## Key takeaway

Alan Smith scored with his first touch for Leeds United in 1998, a feat also achieved by others including Raphael Meade in 1981 and Jamie Spencer in 2026.