International Football History and Statistics

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On this day in football history

1879 Rangers FC, who were aggreived by the referee disallowing a goal in the first match, failed to turn up for the Scottish FA Cup Final replay against Vale of Leven FC. They became the first club to lose the Cup by default.

1897 Aston Villa's Charles Athersmith became the first player to win a FA Cup medal, a First Division Championship medal and three international caps in one season.

1902 In the FA Cup Final Sheffield United beat Southampton 2-1 at Crystal Palace in front of 33,068 fans. The first match also at Crystal Palace ended in a 1-1 draw in front of 76,914 spectators.

1910 R.S. McColl scored six goals for Queens Park in a Scottish First Division match against Port Glasgow Athletic. Although an amateur he was considered the best Scottish centre-forward at the turn of the century. In 1902 he turned professional with Newcastle United but was not the force he had been in his amateur days. After a short stay he tried again with Rangers but again things did not go well and he was re-instated as an amateur when he joined Queens Park. He played for Scotland 13 times between 1896 and 1908.

1947 In the first FA Cup final since the end of the war Charlton beat Burnley 1-0 after extra time at Wembley. In an extra-ordinary event the ball burst during the first half for the second final running.

1958 Reserve centre-forward Adrian Thorne scored five of Brighton's six goals at Watford in a win which ensured his club promotion to the Second Division for the first time in their history. They were founder members of the Third Division in 1920.

1975 Derek Dougan (37 years, 96 days) became the oldest player to turn out for Wolverhampton Wanderers when he played against Manchester City.

1992 Manchester Uniteds 2-0 defeat at Anfield by Liverpool means the title goes to Leeds United, who had won earlier in the day against Sheffield United. This was the first time in 18 seasons that Leeds had won the title.

1993 Brian Clough "Old big ed" announces his retirement from Nottingham Forest after 18 years at the club. He took charge in 1975 and would relinquish control at the end of the season.

1994 In an extraordianry event Bayern Munich are ordered to replay their match against Nuremburg which they had won 2-1 as video evidence is used to show one of their goals did not cross the line.