REPLACEMENTS

Spending an hour or so this afternoon with cake and tea with a "neighbour", the subject of "Substitutes" in Football came up. The Charterhouse footballers playing in the school's Cloisters at the old school site in Charterhouse Square, City of London, noted that "a substitute was used but in the consequence of the non-appearance of some of those who were expected, it was necessary to provide a substitute" from "Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle." February 22nd 1863. The Captain's books of Charterhouse School date back to 1862.

In the 1850s at Eton College, the substitute was referred to as "an emergency" and would replace somebody who had not turned up to play their style of football or if there was a need for a replacement through injury.

On April 15th 1889 between Wales and Scotland at Wrexham, the Welsh goalkeeper, Jim Trainer had not arrived, having not been released by Preston North End. Local goalkeeper Alf Pugh started the match and after 20 minutes was replaced by Sam Gillam. The game ended 0-0. This was the first example of a subtitute being used in international football.

There were no subs in 1953 when Bolton Wanderers had to keep their injured player Eric Bell on the pitch, who was plauying with a torn hamstring. He subsequently was given the run around by Stanley Matthews in a 4-3 win for Blackpool from being 1-3 down. Bell actually scored a goal to make it 3-1 before Matthews took charge.

On October 11th 1953, Horst Eckel of Germany was replaced by Richard Gottinger in their international World Cup qualifier against Saarland. Germany won 3-0.

Between 1952 and 1961, seven out of ten FA Cup finals were subject to a team being reduced to ten men with no sub allowed. Bert Trautmann of Man City was an example of staying on the pitch despite injury-he had a broken neck and his team won! In 1959 IFAB allowed subs for injury assuming national associations agreed. The moment he broke his neck.

The English Football League allowed the first substitute when Keith Peacock of Charlton Athletic on August 21st 1965, when the team's goalkeeper was injured after 11 minutes against Bolton Wanderers. Injuries had to be judged by the referee, before a replacement was used.

On the same day, Bobby Knox was the first substitute to come on and score a goal when he came on for Barrow v Wrexham and Archie Gemmell became the first to be used in a Scottish League Cup game for St Mirren against Clyde, replacing Jim Clunie after 23 minutes.

Subs were for injury only until 1966, after which tactical substitutions were also allowed.

The World Cup allowed subs in 1958 and over time the number of subs and goalkeeper replacements changed from one sub through to 2 subs and a gk replacement in 1994. Three subs were allowed in 1995.

In 1971 Jimmy Pearce of Spurs came on as sub, crammed a full game's activity into ten minutes when he was playing against Rapid Bucharest, he scored a goal, had one disallowed and then was sent off.

Franz Beckenbauer suffered an injured shoulder in the 1970 World Cup Final but the Germans had used all their subs. He came back in extra time with his arm in a sling and played the rest of game one armed......... against Italy! The Germans won.