ON THIS DAY

A World Cup qualifier against Germany seemed the perfect fixture for the final match at the old Wembley. But the twin towers didn't get the send off they deserved with a poor England display and a Dietmar Hamann goal giving the victory to Germany. Soon after the final whistle England manager Kevin Keegan said that he ' wasn't up to the job ' and he resigned while in the Wembley toilets. 8 th October

Chelsea were one of those fortunate clubs who joined the Football League without having played in another league competition. That was back in the 1905/06 season and after two Division Two matches at Stamford Bridge they then played their first ever match in the FA Cup. No, not against Arsenal or Manchester United but on 7th October 1905 they entertained the Grenadier Guards in the first qualifying round of the competition. The programme for the match - sorry the Chronicle of the match, Chelsea were posh even in those days - hardly gives a mention to the 'English Cup' or the visitors apart from on the team page. The Chronicle - which cost 1d (one old penny) - did include an ad for season tickets. A season ticket to the ground and stand cost 'Gentlemen' £1 and a shilling while the price for 'Ladies and School Boys' was half that. Presumably no 'School Girls' were interested! Oh, Chelsea won the match 6-1 in front of around 5,000 fans and survived to the third qualifying round.