CAPS

The idea of wearing as cap was not unusual in the 19th Century and indeed some players wore team caps during the match. N. Lane (Pa) Jackson, one of the innovators in Association Football introduced the cap for England games in 1886. The original English cap was made of white silk with a red lion.

 Chris Gunter of Reading FC, today sets a record for appearing in most Welsh international matches. He was capped 92 times when he completed Friday's European Nations defeat 1-2 against Denmark equalling Neville Southall's record.
Today's friendly against Albania will see him start in the game in Elbasan, a long journey since his debut in May 2007, when he first played against New Zealand in Wrexham. BELOW.

Kenny Dalglish holds the Scottish record of 102 caps followed by Jim Leighton on 91.
Robbie Keane for Eire 146 caps with Shay Given 134.
Pat Jennings 119 for Northern Ireland with Aaron Hughes 112 and
Peter Shilton reached 125 for England with Wayne Rooney 120.

Fara Williams of England has earned 165 caps.
On 6th January 2011 Kristine Lilly of the USA Women's soccer team achieved 354 appearances.
10 other USA women have topped 100 caps.

Globally 480 males have topped 100 caps and 275 women have too.
Some well known internationals with massive cap hauls are:
Ronaldo 154, Matthaus 150, Ramos 161, Buffon 176, Casillas 167, Ahmed Hassan of Egypt 184 holds the current record.

Also on this day in 2004, Socrates, once of Brazil with 60 caps, was player-coach for Garforth Town and he turned out in the Northern Counties East League against Tadcaster Albion in a league match. He had retired 15 years previously and was 50 years old. Apparently three bottles of Bud and 3 ciggies was his warm up and sent him on his way to the pitch with 12 minutes left and afterwards into oblivion! He died at the young age of 57.