ON THIS DAY

In a deal concluded late on Christmas Eve Everton vice-chairman Bill Kenwright took control of the club he had supported since childhood. The ex-Coronation Street actor agreed to buy the 68% of club shares owned by chairman Peter Johnson for around £20m.

When a 14-year-old went for a trial at Huddersfield Town in the 1954/55 season his dream of a professional football career seemed a tad remote - he was described as being 'weak, puny and bespectacled'. But Huddersfield signed him and on December 24th 1956 Denis Law made his League debut for Huddersfield in their Second Division match against Notts County. He was just 16 years and 10 months old, at the time the youngest player ever to turn out for Town in the Football League. His manager back then was one Bill Shankly who tried to sign him when he became manager at Liverpool - but the Anfield club couldn't afford him! Instead Denis Law reached legendary status playing for Manchester United, Manchester City, Torino and of course Scotland.

An early Christmas present for Southampton - they beat Northampton Town 8-0 in a Division 3 (South) fixture at the Dell. Four of those goals came from Bill Rawlings who finished the season as the Saints top scorer and won two England caps - very rare for a third tier player. His goals were to prove vital for Southampton in 1921/22. Back then only one club was promoted from that division and going into the last match of the season, on May 6th 1922, Southampton were in second spot two points behind leaders Plymouth Argyle with just two points for a win in those days. Plymouth - who had been unbeaten in their previous 16 League matches - lost 2-0 at QPR while Southampton beat Newport 5-0 to take top spot and promotion on goal average. That 8-0 victory over Northampton remained Southampton's top score in the League until they beat Wolves 9-3 in 1965 but still ranks as Southampton's biggest winning margin in the League - although it was equalled with a 8-0 victory over Sunderland in 2014.