APRIL 29th BUSY

1922 Huddersfield Town won the FA Cup against Preston North End with a single goal from the penalty spot in virtually the last minute of the match at Stamford Bridge. The scorer was Billy Smith who had missed out on a Final appearance two years earlier through suspension. This was strongly admired as "the worst final in history".The winning goal was a penalty, the first final to be decided by a penalty and the fouled player, Billy Smith, many said, was not inside the penalty box, 67 minutes into the game, the opinion was confirmed by newsreel. Smith converted the spot kick beating Preston's amateur goalie, James Mitchell, who wore glasses and a bandeau, prone to dancing around on his line and waving his arms. As a result of this comedy, the penalty kick law was altered to the keeper staying still when the kick was taken. Town went to win three First Divisions in a row, 1924, 1925,1926. In 1924, Smith became the first player to score a goal direct from a corner, in full time football.

1950 Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 in the FA Cup Final, with 2 goals from Reg Lewis. Two Compton brothers played for The Gunners, and Leslie having had an "indifferent half" was given a tot of brandy at half time and it worked, as he was a major creator of the club's second goal. Leslie later became the oldest debutant to play for England (v Wales) that season, at the age of 38yrs 65days. Other brothers to play in Cup Final are: Hubert and Frank Heron for The Wanderers in 1876, who played against the Old Etonians, who had Alfred and Edward Lyttleton in their eleven. The latest example is of course the Neville brothers for Man Utd in 1996.

1961 Peterborough United beat Barrow 6-2 in the last Fourth Division match of their first season. They not only won the Championship but set a new Fourth Division scoring record of 134 goals. Centre-forward Terry Bly scored three that day, to bring his season tally to 52 and become the first player to hit 50 in a post-war season.    https://ahalftimereport.com/2015/07/13/terry-bly-the-modest-marksman/   He originally played for Bury Town in Suffolk, NOW Isthmian South non-league, whose past players include Alan Butcher and Paul Mariner. Bly was signed by Norwich 1956 (57apps/31goals), then The Posh 1960-2 (88/81), Coventry 1962-3 (32/25), Notts County 1963-4 (29/4), Grantham player 1964-1970 (199/125) and manager till 1978.

1970 Chelsea beat Leeds United in the FA Cup Final replay at Old Trafford 2-1 on the 29th April. The match is regarded as one of the most violent in FA Cup history with David Webbb scoring the winner for the Blues. 1970 Manchester City won the European Cup Winners' Cup by beating Gornik Poland 2-1 in Vienna.

On this day in 1996, Kevin Keegan manager of Newcastle United famously loses his temper on live TV in an outburst against Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson. It's always worth watching.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17hQxD_Ati4