FROM THE PENALTY SPOT

The penalty kick was invented by Irish goalkeeper, William McCrum (7 February 1865 – 21 December 1932) in 1890 to "punish" foul play inside the penalty area. He was a wealthy linen manufacturer and sportsman from Ulster. McCrum played for many years as goalkeeper for his local Milford FC, including in the first season of the Irish Football League (1890–1891). Milford finished bottom of the league with 0 points from 14 games!!! having conceded 62 goals and scored only 10!!! 

"Master Willie" as he was known to the villagers, also spent his spare time taking part in amateur theatrics in the Milford Village Hall, called the McCrum Institute. When not travelling the world, he spent a large proportion of his life living in Milford where he was a JP and representative of many sporting clubs and committees including Milford FC, Milford and Armagh Cricket clubs, and Armagh Rugby Football Club. He played chess for Armagh and participated in individual and team competitions and also submitted games.

The penalty kick was adopted by the International Football Association Board in 1891. It was initially controversial, with some critics calling it "the 'death sentence' for the game," but it quickly became a fundamental and dramatic part of football. The first penalty kick was awarded to Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 14, 1891. 

Inventor: William McCrum, an amateur goalkeeper from Milford, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, proposed the rule in 1890. Motivation: He wanted to punish unfair play that often occurred near the goal, as the game was known to be rough in the 1880s. Official adoption: The proposal, initially rejected, was approved by the International Football Association Board and incorporated into the Laws of the Game for the 1891-1892 season. 

Early controversy and impact The English Football Association was initially opposed, believing a penalty kick was too harsh and went against the "gentlemanly" nature of the game. Public reaction: The press criticized the "Irishman's motion" as a "death sentence" for football. Unexpected popularity: Despite the criticism, players and supporters embraced the rule, which has since become one of the most dramatic and important aspects of the sport. 

Evolution of the penalty kick: Early techniques: In the early 1900s, players primarily used a "toe poke" to shoot. Shift in strategy: Over the decades, techniques evolved to include power shots, placement aimed at the corners, and more powerful long-run-up shots. 

Modern variations: Today, players use a wide range of techniques, including the skilled Panenka penalty (BASICALLY a normal run up and then assuming the GK has anticipated your shot, there is a chip shot) which "sometimes fools the keeper and is chipped nicely into the "empty" net. The Czech footballer cunningly used this audacious technique is named after the Czech footballer, AntoninPanenka, who first used it in the 1976 European Championship final.  

The "panenka" is a penalty kick which begins with a normal run up and then a chipped shot which goes through the middle of the goal anticipating that the goalkeeper had dived to one side! It usually works!!

Panenka played for Bohemians Prague for most of his career, joining the club in 1967. He was named Czechoslovak Footballer of the Year in 1980. In 1981, Panenka left Bohemians for Austrian club Rapid Wien, where he won two Bundesliga titles and an Austrian Cup. In 1985, Rapid reached the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final; Panenka played as a substitute, but his side lost 3–1 to Everton. Later that year, Panenka moved to VSE St Polton and played two more seasons before moving into the lower leagues in Austria, playing from 1987 to 1989 for Slovan Vienna, from 1989 to 1991 for ASV Hohenau and from 1991 to 1993 for Kleinwiesendorf.

Sportklub Niederösterreich St. Pölten is an Austrian second division league club from the city of Sankt Polten, capital and largest city of the state of Lower Austria, in northeast of the country. The city has 59,767 inhabitants as of 1 January 2025. The club was founded in June 2000 and has a stadium capacity of 8,000.  Due to its cultural status, the town (city?) has recently enjoyed an increase of tourists passing through Sankt Pölten on their way to Vienna.