Strange but True....
No wonder referee`s are not well liked
A Danish League match in April 1960 produced a remarkable and controversial finish. With Norager leading 4-3 in the final minute against Ebeltoft, referee Henning Erikstrup was on the verge of blowing the final whistle when his dentures fell out. While he was looking for them, Ebeltoft equalised. To proestations from the Ebeltoft team, Mr Erikstrup disallowed the goal and blew for full time with the result standing at 4-3.
Bad luck
Reaching your local Cup Final is a dream for thousands of Footballers across the country, but for one team their success back-fired after winning their semi-final Lags xI, a prison team from Stockton, Cleveland, were thrown out of the competition because they could only play home matches.
Some people just have a temper
Peruvian broadcaster Mario Sanchez recieved a terrible shock when he asked the striker Corina why he had missed three easy heading chances and how could that part of his game be improved. Corina`s answer was a swift head-butt to Sanchez, who was knocked unconscious by the blow. Corina was later arrested by the police.
Players confidence must have been at an all time low
Stockport United FC of the Stockport Football League created the unenviable record of loosing 39 consecutive League and Cup matches from September 1976 to February 1978.
Maybe we need stricter referees
Billy Abercrombie created history in 1986 by being sent-off three times in the same match. The st. Mirren captain was shown the red card from referee Louis Thow for an offence, then another for talking back and then a third one for dissent. He was banned for 12 matches by the Scottish League.
The money could have gone in the transfer kitee
Queens Park Rangers chairman was so anxious to find out the latest news on his club that he rang the clubcall line on his carphone. Unfortunately he did not replace the handset correctly and only discovered his mistake the next morning when he was hit with a £335 phone bill.
What an expensive trip
After watching their side loose 2-0 in a Uefa Cup tie in September 1992, two Celtic fans were drowning their sorrows in a bar in Cologne. When they hailed a taxi to take them to their hotel they could not remember the name of the digs, or even what town it was located,. After consulting each other they decided on Dortmund which was 90 miles away. After the £70 fare they remembered it was Dusseldorf, which was another 70 miles away.
Some records are just un-wanted
It was the proudest moment in West Ham`s Jimmy Barrett`s career when he was picked to make his England debut against Northern Ireland on October 19, 1929. But after only eight minutes he was injured and carried off. He never played for England again and holds the record for shortest England career.
It just wasn`t ment to be
Goalkeeper Jonathan Gould suffered ill-effects on hearing is fate was to play for the Coventry city first team against Southampton in 1993. Within two hours of the news, his car was pranged twice.
Sometimes its best to just leave it and move on! It can save embarrassment as kidderminster well know!
Kidderminster were ecstatic when their protest of their 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Darwen was approved and the match was to be replayed. Joy quickly turned to tragedy when Darwen beat them 13-0 to record the highest score in the competition.
Not very organised
When Milwall opened their new stadium, The Den, in 1910 Lord Kinnaird, President of the FA, was asked to conduct the ceremony. Unfortunately, Lord Kinnaird went to the opposing end of the ground and while club officials were waiting he was being pushed over the wall. He then ran across the pitch to perform the dignitaries.
Great pay day soon turned to dispair
Cardiff City recieved a bumper pay-out when they entertained Queens Park Rangers in a third round FA cup tie in 1990. Record reciepts of £50,000 were taken, but soon discovered that thieves had stolen the money.
I`ve heard them all now
Former England goalkeeper Dave Beasant presented one of the more bizarre injury excuses when he missed out on the start of the 1993-94 season with a foot injury. The cause of the injury? he dropped a jar of salad cream and tried to stop it smashing on the floor with his foot, severing a tendon. I wonder what the manager said.
Desperation can lead to extravagant scenes
In a despeate bid to stave of relegation a French team laced the opposing team`s drink with knock-out drops. The scenes were hilarious as players started to collapse during the match. The authorities became aware, and when they unearthed the reason for the bizarre behaviour they condemned the offending club to relegation.
Who said Referee`s were well behaved
When two teams of referees met for a friendly game in Spain it shold have boasted 22 of the best-behaved players. But when the match official sent off one of the players he was approched and hit by the player`s father, who also happened to be a referee.
Two of the same
Bognor`s Paul Pullen became involved in a difference of opinion with the referee during a Diadora League match. The referee, however, called twin brother Mick over to him and sent him off. Despite protesting his innocense Mick, Bognor`s player-manager at the time, was ordered off, with his brother laughing loudly in the background.
Shipwrecked
Raith Rovers' first overseas tour was not a happy one. Travelling to the Canary Islands in 1930, the Scottish club found them selves shipwrecked after their boat had capsized. Fortunately all players and officials were rescued, but a decision to play friendlies closer to home was quickly announced.
Fair play to you lads
Despite loosing all their 26 matches in the 1992-93 Darlington and District League, Barton Athletic still managed to pick up a trophy - the League`s fair-play award. A Club official said: "We`ve always been a very popular club - particularly with our opponents."
Wrong time to be getting married
Leicester Fosse were already relegated from the First Division in 1909 before playing Nottingham Forest in a match that Forest needed to win to stay up. The day before the game one of the Leicester players was getting married so his team-mates decided to celebrate in style. They lost the game 12-0 and a Football League inquiry was launched to find out the secret for the then-Football League record victory. They found that the large defeat was due to the fact that the Leicester players were still hung over from their wedding celebrations.
Good job Lofthouse changed his position
Nat Lofthouse became one of England`s best strikers, but it was not always like that. As a Schoolboy in Bolton, Lofthouse played his first Football match in goal. His team lost 7-1.
Optimistic Fulham
Despite loosing 10-0 to Liverpool in the 1986 League Cup first round, first leg, Fulham still printed details of what would happen if the tie should finish as a draw. Unfortunately they managed only 2 goals, with Liverpool scoring three.
Whats the difference between Football & Rugby? well ask Kilmarnock.
When they entered their first Scottish Cup in 1873 Kilmarnock were more accustomedto playing Rugby than Football. As they tried to brush up on their Football knowledge, opponents Renton were constantly awarded free-kicks after the Kilmarnock players had used their hands rather than their feet. To no-one`s suprise Renton won the match 3-0.
Spot the idiots
One of the easiest spot-the-ball competition`s came in Welsh newspaper the Western Mail in January 1993. Instead of publishing that week`s competition the newspaper the previous week`s answer. One thousand copies of the paper were run off before the mistake was realised.
Haven't the Foggiest!
In 1945 at White Hart Lane, a match between Arsenal and Dynamo Moscow became a farce when a dense fog descended onto the pitch. The referee refused to abandon the match because the visiting team had travelled all the way from Moscow. One Arsenal player was sent off for fighting, but sneaked back on again in the fog, Moscow substituted a player but never actually sent him off, and there were even strong suspicions that the Russians were playing with 15 men! The icing on the cake came when the Arsenal goalkeeper became disorientated in the fog, ran into the goalpost, and knocked himself out, only to be replaced by a member of the crowd! Some entertainment you just can't buy.....
The real Invincibles
Leeds United once went without a win in the F.A. Cup from February 1952 to March 1963 - a run of 16 games.
Eat this
Italy in 1989: Fernando d'Erzoli, playing for picanta against Arpax, got so mad at being given a red card by the referee that he snatched the red card away and ate it all.
Vinny Jones eat yer heart out
By 1992, Ricky Goddard of North Warnborough had been suspended for five out of his nine years as a footballer!
Keeper Heroics
Manchester City's goalkeeper Bert Trautmann played the last 15 minutes of the 1956 F.A. Cup final with a broken neck. City won 3-1. Bet you can't imagine Didier Drogba doing that!
Destruction Derby
Sunderland beat Newcastle United 9-1 at St James` Park in 1903 and is still the record away win in England`s top flight.
Lets hope this works
In 1957,the Salisbury and District F.A approved the payment of £10 to hire a Witch Doctor. Salisbury had lost every match the previous season.
Shopping Spree
The Albanian national team were thrown out of England in 1990 after going on a shopping spree at Heathrow. They thought "Duty Free" ment help your self.
Temper,Temper
Barcelona`s legendary Bulgarian forward, Hristo Stoichkov was banned for 6 months in 1990 for stamping on the Referees foot after being sent off in the cup tie against arch rivals Real Madrid.
Fair Game
The only F.A Cup match to be decided on a toss of a coin was in the 1873-74 Season when Sheffield Club went through to the 2nd round at the expense of Shropshire Wanderers.
God wont help you here
Goalkeeper Isadar Irandir was still on his knees saying his pre-match prayers when Revelino hammered the ball home from the half way line after only 3 seconds.
Obviously not learnt your lesson
Tommy Wright (Everton) scored one of the fastest league own goals in history after only 33 seconds.A week later he went one better when he put one through his own net after just 32 seconds.
This is how you do it!
In a Sunday league fixture in Southampton, th Referee told the two teams that he would abandon the match if the persistent fouling continued in the second period.With the message not seeming to get through to the players the ref had, had enough.With the ball in play on the edge of the penalty area, he produced an unstoppable shot that flew into the net. "Thats how you are supposed to play the game". He said as he handed his whistle to the linesman and walked off the pitch.
I predict a riot
With his Brazilian side San Lorenzo 2-1 up over Estudiantes in the final minutes, defender Siminiota picked up the ball thinking it had already gone out of play. To his amazement the referee awarded a penalty. The spot kick was converted and two players were sent off for manhandling the refferee who had to be escorted off the pitch by riot police.
Need a way to stop crowd trouble? look no further!
In the mid 1990`s in the Romanian`s 3rd Division of their football the players and staff were often the centre of abuse and in some cases the fans got onto the pitch, the bored of directors had to act fast to stop the trouble. It was their the drastic action was taken to build a Moat full of Crocodiles in between the stands and the pitch to prevent these scenes happening again.
Dont quit the day job
A few years ago a qualifyer between Australia and a small island in Ociana which had a population of about 10,000 people were on the recieving end of a demolition job at the hands of the Aussies going down 31-0 in a World Cup qualifyer. No wonder Australia have joined the Asian qualifying sector.
Sick Note
Billy Bly of Hull City used to be viewed as Soccer`s most injured player but he has been rivalled by Stoke City`s Dennis Smith, Smith has had the misfortune of having five broken legs, his nose has been broken four times, a cracked ankle, a broken collar bone, chipped spine, most of his toes and fingers were broken and over 100 stitches at various times. not one broken metatarsal though. Back to are good old friend Billy Bly he suffered 13 breaks to hands feet, legs and ribs and they called Darren Anderton sick note.