ON THIS DAY

One of the more unusual managerial appointments (and there have been some unusual ones!) - came on 8th February 2015 when Steve Harmison was appointed boss of Ashington FC. Harmiston was a former Durham and England fast-bowler who had played 63 times for England and had taken 226 Test wickets. Ashington FC were in the Northern League and had a usual home attendance of around 200. Harmison explained that it was his hometown club, he played for them before he joined Durham and trained with them while a Durham cricketer. But his first footballing love was Newcastle United! He resigned from the job in October 2017.

Two stories dominated the sporting news on this day in 2012. First of all Fabio Capello resigned as manager of England. The FA had gone over the Italian’s head to deprive John Terry of the England captaincy following the controversial Anton Ferdinand incident and Capello, believing his authority had been undermined, resigned as a result. On the same day at Southwark Crown Court Harry Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion having been accused of accepting secret untaxed bonus payments while manager of Portsmouth. Inevitably the press connected the two stories believing that ‘Arry’s acquittal removed the only obstacle to him becoming the new England manager. Well, it didn’t quite happen like that – but should it have done?

The day of the match that led to my favourite newspaper headline being printed - mighty Celtic were beaten 3-1 at home by part-timers minnows Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a Scottish Cup tie. In a take on the song in Mary Poppins - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - the headline read 'Super Caley Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious'. In addition to the headline the result also saw the sacking of the Celtic manager, John Barnes, with the former England player being replaced by Kenny Dalglish.

The Bower Fold has been the home ground of Stalybridge Celtic since the club’s formation in 1909. Despite having been members of the Football League for a couple of seasons the highest attendance for a Stalybridge Celtic fixture at the ground was in the FA Cup - 9,753 were present to see them lose 2-0 to West Bromwich Albion in a First Round replay back on 17th January 1923. That wasn't the biggest crowd at the ground though. That was recorded on 8th February1921 for a friendly match – between the Dick, Kerr Ladies team and a Rest of Lancashire XI. The official attendance was 10,400 but it was estimated that over 13,000 were present. Women’s football had become incredibly popular during the First World War with the Preston works side – Dick, Kerr Ladies – being the most popular of the lot. In the match at Stalybridge Dick, Kerr Ladies beat the Rest of Lancashire 10-1 with £600 being raised for the Ashton-under-Lyne Infirmary. Later in 1921 the Football Association banned clubs under their control from staging women’s matches at their grounds – for the safety of women they said!