Key Points
- Dom Ballard’s backheel volley for Birmingham City has been crowned the August Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month.
- The goal, which saw Bristol City go ahead 2-1 at St Andrews, attracted worldwide attention and was deemed as worthy of being nominated for the Puskás Award.
- Ballard beat off competition from Southampton’s Cyle Larin, Watford’s Amin Nabizada, and Blackburn Rovers’ Ryoya Morishita to win the award.
- The striker revealed that he was thrilled about the recognition and is keen on making more contributions to score goals for Bristol City.
Bristol (Bristol Express News) September 18, 2026 — Bristol City forward Dom Ballard has secured the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award for August following his sensational backheel volley against Birmingham City at St Andrews, as officially announced by Bristol Sport. The strike, which briefly put City ahead at 2-1 during the fixture, drew widespread acclaim and global attention for its technical brilliance, with commentators and supporters suggesting the effort is worthy of a FIFA Puskás Award nomination.
Reflecting on the achievement, Dom Ballard stated:
“I don’t think I will score a better goal and I’m of course very pleased to have won the goal of the month.”
The remarkable goal saw off strong competition from a shortlist featuring Southampton’s Cyle Larin, Watford’s Amin Nabizada, and Blackburn Rovers’ Ryoya Morishita.
Looking forward to the remainder of the campaign, Dom Ballard added:
“I want to continue contributing goals – however they come – and hopefully we can push up the table.”
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Background of the particular development
The recognition comes amid the early stages of the 2026/27 Sky Bet Championship season. Dom Ballard, playing for Bristol City, executed the noteworthy backheel volley during an away fixture against Birmingham City at St Andrews. Goal of the Month awards in the English Football League (EFL) are typically judged based on technical difficulty, importance, and public acclaim via fan and panel voting. Ballard’s strike quickly circulated across digital and broadcast media platforms, capturing international headlines due to the audacious nature of the finish. The victory over fellow contenders Cyle Larin, Amin Nabizada, and Ryoya Morishita highlights the high standard of goals scored across the division in the opening month of the season.
This development highlights Dom Ballard’s growing influence and confidence within the Bristol City squad early in the season. For Bristol City supporters and the club’s technical staff, an in-form forward who can produce moments of individual brilliance serves as a vital asset in the competitive environment of the Sky Bet Championship. While individual accolades do not guarantee team success, heightened morale and public recognition can positively impact a player’s performance trajectory. For the broader audience of Bristol City fans, Ballard’s ongoing goalscoring contributions will be central to the team’s ambitions of climbing the league standings as the fixture schedule progresses.
