ON THIS DAY

After having made two substitute appearances in the League for Southampton Alan Shearer made his starting debut for the Saints against Arsenal at the Dell and at 17 years 240 days of age became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the top flight. Southampton won 4-2.

In its heyday the Park Avenue sporting complex in Bradford hosted cricket, rugby union and rugby league as well as football. The Bradford football club had its home there but was better known as Bradford (Park Avenue) to avoid confusion with rivals Bradford City. Bradford PA were members of the Football League from 1908 to 1970 and were famously members of the Southern League (yes the Southern League!) before joining the Football League. Their Park Avenue ground was also famously had the 'Doll's House' in one of its corners (pictured) which was similar to The Cottage at Fulham's Craven Cottage home. Less well known though is that Bradford PA were the only League side to have their record attendance recorded in a war-time fixture. You wouldn't have thought large attendances would have been allowed in the war years but on Saturday 8th April 1944 32,810 crammed into their Park Avenue ground for a war cup-tie against Blackpool. The great attraction - Stanley Matthews was playing for the opposition.