ON THIS DAY

The 1970/71 season saw the penalty shoot-out reach the premier club tournament in Europe - the European Cup. The first-ever European Cup shoot-out penalty was taken by an English player and ... it was saved! Joe Royle was the player and Everton his club but despite his failure Everton reached the Third Round 4-3 on penalties. Perhaps that was a surprising result considering the opposition that evening were the Germans of Borussia Mönchengladbach - if only future shoot-outs against the Germans were equally as successful!

The FA Youth Cup was first competed for in the 1952/53 season and in as early as the Second Round in 1952 a record score was set which still stands to this day. At the Cliff training ground Manchester United beat non-leaguers Nantwich Town 23-0 with 'Busby Babe' Duncan Edwards scoring five of the goals.

Well, if you were Welsh and knew how to kick a football you may have been in contention for an appearance for Wales when they played Northern Ireland in a Home international match on this day in 1933. Their team selection problems were so bad that FA of Wales Secretary Ted Robins had to ring round clubs asking for recommendations for the Welsh side. Alf Day of Tottenham made his debut for Wales that day based on such a recommendation – his football up to then having been in non-league and the Spurs reserves side! He didn’t make his debut for the Spurs first team until April 1934 – and he never played for Wales again. Day was one of 4 Welshman to earn his international debut in that match – the others being Tommy Mills of Clapton (now Leyton) Orient, Harry Hanford of Swansea and David Jones of Leicester. Another Spurs player, Eugene O’Callaghan, was the most experienced Welsh international that day, making just his ninth appearance for his country. The match was drawn 1-1 in Belfast.