ON THIS DAY

Ebbsfleet United had a nightmare journey to Barrow for a Conference match but the kick off being delayed to 9.15pm and the final whistle being blown just after 11 o’clock.

When Robbie Fowler scored from the penalty spot for Liverpool after a quarter of an hour of their Premier League match against Everton at Anfield a goal celebration was inevitable. Sadly though Fowler got it very wrong – he celebrated by getting down on all fours and sniffing the goal line in front of the Everton fans. And he did it twice. The Liverpool striker had long been the target for unfounded allegations of drug-taking but his simulation of snorting a line of cocaine brought immediate and widespread criticism. His manager at Liverpool, Gerard Houllier, tried to explain Fowler’s actions as him eating grass but a ‘substantial’ club fine was followed by the FA punishing him with a four-match ban and a £32,000 fine which was a record at the time. In the match itself Fowler scored twice in Liverpool’s 3-2 victory over Everton.

The city of Sheffield was deserted with Wembley staging a Steel City FA Cup semi-final local derby. The match was originally due to be played at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground but was switched to Wembley following protests from both Sheffield clubs. A 75,364 crowd watched Wednesday defeat United 2-1. The Owls were later beaten by Arsenal in the FA Cup final as they had been in the League Cup final in 1992/93, both matches needing replays.

April 3rd 1950 saw a fire destroy much of the West Stand at Huddersfield's former Leeds Road ground forcing them to play their next two matches - against Derby County and Newcastle United - at the Elland Road home of Leeds United. Ironically the attendance of 37,766 at the Newcastle match was Huddersfield's best 'home' crowd of the season. The stand was rebuilt during the summer and re-opened at the start of the 1950/51 season.

Players misbehaving isn’t just a modern thing. Oldham’s Billy Cook was sent off in the First Division match against Middlesbrough but refused to leave the pitch and so the referee abandoned the game. Cook received a 12-month ban.