ON THIS DAY

West Ham United's Rio Ferdinand made the headlines, but sadly for the wrong reasons. The 18-year-old had been selected for England's squad for the World Cup qualifier against Moldova at Wembley and was widely expected to make his debut and become the youngest England player since Duncan Edwards in 1955. But a night out with the lads to celebrate that selection ended up with him being charged with drunk driving after failing a breathalyzer. On hearing about this England manager Glenn Hoddle removed him from the squad on September 2nd saying that he failed to meet the standards expected of an England player. He made his England debut against Cameroon a couple of months later and went on to win 81 full England caps. And he made a few more court appearances as well....

A bizarre abandonment at Chester's Sealand Road in 1981. A League Cup First Round First Leg tie between Chester and Plymouth Argyle came to a halt when Chester 'keeper Grenville Millington collided with an upright when making a save, breaking the post and presumably not doing his own health much good either. It couldn't be fixed so the match was abandoned after 78 minutes and Plymouth were forced into another long round-trip to replay the tie a week later.

After First Division Southampton defeated Second Division Watford 4-0 in the League Cup Second Round first leg match at the Dell back in the 1980/81 season few gave the Hornets any chance of progressing in the competition. But on September 2nd 1980 those present at Vicarage Road witnessed one of the great come-backs in the competition. Graham Taylor's Watford led 2-0 at half time and were 5-1 up at 90 minutes to force extra time - even the one Southampton goal was a Watford og! Two more Watford goals followed and Watford won 7-1 on the night and 7-5 on aggregate. Amazing. ..

The record books show that Bournemouth's record League victory was a very impressive 8-0 away victory at Birmingham City in the Championship on 25th October 2014. However on Saturday September 2nd 1939 they did beat Northampton Town 10-0 in a Football League Third Division (South) fixture. But the next day war was declared on Germany and the few League matches that had been played in 1939/40 were declared void and expunged from the record books. Various reasons were offered for Northampton's heavy defeat. Unusually alcohol had been permitted on the rail journey, that 'ringers' had been fielded and simply that the Cobblers had not bothered because war was inevitable.

Bob Blanthorne’s debut for Newcastle United against Bradford City lasted just ten minutes before he broke his leg. That proved to be the only time he played in the first team in his two and a half years at the club.