The Football Blog

Archie and co. pile the goals in...

Derby fans will be over the moon with their first win in nearly a whole calendar year at the weekend, when, thanks to an own goal and a dubious looking handball, they managed to squeeze out a 2-1 win over Sheffield United. Well done to all involved.

But just to remind those beleaguered fans that they used to get excited about genuinely exciting things, today in 1970 saw them become the first English side to score 12 goals in a European game. These days, they're more likely to be on the end of such a result, but back then it was poor Finn Harps, the Irish side that sound like a character from Ripley Bogle.

Graham Taylor takes charge of his first England game...

Steve McClaren gave it his best shot recently, but even he wasn’t capable of reaching the heights of Graham Taylor when it came to ruthless tabloid mocking. Taylor began his ill-fated reign as England manager today in 1990, when his new side hosted the not-so-mighty Hungary at Wembley.

The famous trophy is nicked today in 1895

Today in 1895 the world's greatest trophy for the world's greatest cup competition in the world's greatest game was nicked. No, not the World Curling Championship Trophy, but the FA Cup.

Only days after Aston Villa had defeated West Brom 1-0 to win the famous cup, the trophy was stolen from the local equipment shop it was being proudly displayed in. And before we carry on with the story, just how sweet and innocent is it that it was being displayed in a local equipment shop? Those were the days indeed....

Another silly-named football team formed...

After we spoke of Sheffield Wednesday's arrival into the world of football the other day, today sees another of the odder-named football sides born. For today in 1905 saw workers from London's Crystal Palace form a team, probably because they got so bored polishing the building all day.