LAW NOT ABANDONED ENTIRELY

On this day in 1974, Denis Law completed a back heel for his team, Manchester City against derby rivals United, which scored a vital goal after 85 minutes, completing the relegation of the club to Division 2. (actually he found out that United would have gone down anyway) Law was substituted as the crowd invaded the pitch. In the next season, under Tony Book's new managership, Law played in a Texaco Cup game, when he scored a goal against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane and then had a final appearance at Maine Road against Oldham Athletic; he retired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HQhV3ujyg
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2135817/Manchester-derby-Goal-haunts-Denis-Law--38-years-on.html
Hearing this week, that Bolton Wanderers were struggling to survive and that the players were not being paid, this is nothing new.

On December 29th 1894 Walsall Town Swifts were on the brink of relegation and their players were not being paid. On the 29th, the players went on strike and said "no pay, no play". Just before kick off the players agreed to a settlement and before a 2000 crowd they played against Newcastle United and by half time were 3-0 down. In the second half the Swifts pulled two goals back but soon it was the weather that took over with rain, sleet and gales along with fading light at that time of the year, the referee decided to call it a day. After 78 minutes the ref abandoned the game, Walsall sacked five players and persuaded the rest to play for expenses. The Swifts conceded twelve goals in the next two matches.

On the 9th March 1895 the Swifts played Newton Heath, you know who??,  and lost the Division Two match, 14-0. The Swifts complained about the state of the pitch, which at that time of year was just sand and mud. The League agreed and the match was declared void and replayed on April 3rd, when Newton Heath won 9-0. Newton Heath eventually came 3rd in the division, Swifts 14th out of 16.  The next season saw Newton Heath remain in mediocrity in Division Two and there was no representative from Walsall. The Walsall club rejoined the league in 1896.

In Division Two that season were Manchester City, Woolwich Arsenal and Newcastle United. Other clubs included Burton Wanderers, Burton Swifts, Leicester Fosse (now City), Darwen and Burslem Port Vale.