Let’s review what happened on this day in the history of soccer on March 26th.
1900
In front of 6,000 screaming fans, at Cardiff Arms Park, England drew with Wales 1-1. Despite being with 5 regular players, Sheffield United defeated Newcastle United 3-1 in order to keep the pressure on Aston Villa in Division One.
1958
Manchester United beat Fulham 5-3 in an FA Cup semi-final replay on this day in the history of soccer. As if the tragic events of the Munich air disaster, just a few months earlier, weren’t enough, Manchester United’s win was viewed with even more poignancy and admiration. This is considered to be one of the greatest FA Cup semi-finals of all time.
What Happened On This Day In The History Of Soccer In 1966
A dog named Pickles found the Jules Rimet FIFA World Cup trophy a week after it was stolen in London in Beulah Hill in Upper Norwood in South London. He then gained fame and notoriety for finding the trophy.
In addition to starring in a film, The Spy with the Cold Nose, he has appeared on Blue Peter and other TV shows. Spillers awarded him free food for one year as ‘Dog of the Year’. In his honor, a plaque was erected, and Pickles attended the 1966 World Cup-winning party.
David Corbett was walking Pickles when the cup was found, but you just knew the four-legged member of that duo would get more attention than the two-legged!
1977
Kevin Davies was born on this day in 1977. His career as a striker included Chesterfield, Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers, and Preston North End. Davies played 407 times for Bolton, scoring 85 goals. Kevin was known for his physical, bustling playing style.
Davis is the most fouled player in the history of the Premier League, although he is also the most fouled. Rather than being a goalscorer, he was more of a “goal architect”.
What Happened On This Day In The History Of Soccer In 1980
Ten Afghan footballers defect to West Germany, seven of them members of the national side. Disguised as mountain tribesmen, they slip across the frontier into Pakistan, thence to Karachi from where they fly to Frankfort. They hoped to play football in the West until the Russian troops leave.
1980
Most people know Ian Botham as a cricketer. During the Division 4 match at Bournemouth, he made his debut for Scunthorpe United as a substitute. However, it would be difficult to describe him as a footballing legend at the Old Show Ground.
Botham didn’t make his starting debut until two years later, and that was a 7-2 home loss to Wigan. He played 11 League games for Scunthorpe and one FA Cup match.
What Happened On This Day In The History Of Soccer In 1982
Mikel Arteta was born. He started his senior career with Barcelona in 1999 after being born in San Sebastián. Following his move to Paris Saint-Germain, he joined Glasgow Rangers, winning the Scottish League and Scottish League Cup double in his debut season.
Arteta joined Everton in 2005 after returning briefly to his hometown club, Real Sociedad. In 2011, he signed for Arsenal, where he won two FA Cups and served as captain from 2014 until his retirement in 2016.
1983
Liverpool won their third consecutive League Cup defeating Manchester United 2-1 after extra time. Bob Paisley lifts the trophy in his final season as boss. At the 1983 Milk Cup Final, almost 100,000 fans packed into Wembley.
Ron Atkinson chased his first trophy as United’s manager, while Bob Paisley aimed to win the cup three times in a row. Ronnie Whelan curled in a beautiful winner to seal the Reds’ third consecutive League Cup win in Bob Paisley’s final season as manager.
1987
PFA chief Gordon Taylor wants the FA to take UEFA to the European Court of Justice to force them to lift their ban on English clubs competing in Europe. He claims there is a vested interest in keeping English clubs out. “Many clubs are making a lot of money and gaining a great deal of success because we are banned,” he says.
What Happened On This Day In The History Of Soccer In 1990
Charlton Athletic supporters angered at Greenwich Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for a return to the Valley, launching a campaign to put up 60 candidates in all 32 wards of the borough for the Greenwich Borough Council elections May.
2000
Wimbledon is West Ham’s opponent at Upton Park, and it takes just nine minutes for Paulo di Canio to score a spectacular goal. Trevor Sinclair sends in a pinpoint cross to the far left of the area to find Di Canio, who strikes his volley with the outside of his right foot from 12 yards out, leaving Dons’ keeper Neil Sullivan the job picking the ball out of the net.
The strike is voted Goal of the Season by the BBC Match of the Day viewers and is also nominated as one of the decade’s ‘goals of the decade.’ Paulo was no stranger to publicity, good or bad – he joined the Hammers after he felt his former club, Sheffield Wednesday, had failed to back him after he’d been punished for pushing over referee Paul Alcock.
Then, in December of this year, he spectacularly catches the soccer ball from a cross that he might have converted after spotting the opposition keeper lying injured!
2005
In the World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford, England scored four goals in the second half to end Northern Ireland’s stubborn resistance. With Wayne Rooney hitting the post and Maik Taylor in superb form, Northern Ireland had frustrated England.
A spell of three goals in nine minutes following the break was sparked by Joe Cole. Michael Owen scored a second goal from close range before Chris Baird headed into his own net and Frank Lampard scored with a deflected shot.
2006
An absorbing contest between Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers ended in a victory for the Boro thanks to a Stuart Parnaby strike in injury time. Stelios Giannakopoulos gave the visitors the lead after three minutes. Five minutes later, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink converted a penalty to equalize.
Boro’s 500th Premier League goal came from Hasselbaink’s lob on the stroke of halftime. Mark Viduka had scored before that. A penalty by Jay Jay Okocha made it 3-2 before Radhi Jaidi’s header appeared to have leveled the match before Parnaby’s stoppage-time winner from Yakubu’s cross.
2008
England lost 1-0 to France in a friendly in which David Beckham won his 100th cap for the national team. After Billy Wright, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, and Peter Shilton, he was the fifth England centurion. David Bentley replaced David Beckham after 63 minutes as Fabio Capello’s England team lost to Franck Ribery’s first-half penalty.
What Happened On This Day In The History Of Soccer In 2016
England’s Eric Dier scores a header in the 91st minute to win the international friendly against Germany at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Germany went 2-0 up in the 57th minute, but goals from Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy made the scored 2-2 after 74 minutes.
The clock had ticked past 90 minutes as Germany and England both pushed for a win. In the first extra minute, England won a corner and Henderson crossed to the near post, where Dier met it majestically with a header past Neuer.
