ON THIS DAY

Tragedy in South America. A plane travelling from Brazil crashed on its landing approach to Medellin airport in Colombia, 71 of the 77 on board being killed. The plane was carrying the players and officials of Brazilian football team Chapecoense on their way to the biggest match in their history – a 2016 Copa Sudamericana final (equivalent to the Europa League in Europe) first leg match against Colombia’s Atlético Nacional. Nineteen players were amongst those killed – just three survived the crash – and as a result the final matches weren’t played and Chapecoense were awarded the 2016 trophy. The reason for the crash was announced shortly later – amazingly the plane had run out of fuel! 29 th November

On this day in 1999 Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilaver scored a hat-trick - all from the penalty spot - in his Argentinian club side Vélez Sarsfield's 6–1 victory over Ferro Carril Oeste. Amazingly Chilavert scored 48 goals in his 341 appearances for Vélez and another 8 in his 74 international matches for Paraguay. That record certainly gives a new meaning to the term 'all rounder'!

George Best made his League debut for Stockport County, yes he really did! After his acrimonious departure from Old Trafford in 1974 he made his first brief return to League football at Edgeley Park and made his debut for Stockport in their home Fourth Division match against Swansea City on 28th November 1975. He scored a goal in County's 3-2 victory and played in their next two home matches, against Watford and Southport, before moving on again.

Goalkeeper Chic Brodie made over 400 Football League appearances but is probably best remembered for the incident with a dog on the pitch. Playing for Brentford against Colchester United in a Fourth Division fixture at Layer Road a dog ran onto the pitch and collided with Brodie, breaking his kneecap. He said ' the dog may have been small - but it just happened to be solid.' Although it is perhaps seen as a comical injury it did effectively end his Football League career and I certainly said 'ouch' when I first saw it........

For the first time two Football League sides played an FA Cup tie under floodlights. The second replay of a First Round tie between Carlisle United and Darlington was played at St James' Park, Newcastle, with Darlington winning 3-1.