PSYCHO

This is not date related but since we have just seen "The Damned United" on TV and Stuart Pearce appears regularly on radio/TV commentary (unfortunately using "at this moment in time" too much), I reckon I can make use of the above bit of history.

When Stuart Pearce, of Nottingham Forest, was called up to play for England, his manager,Brian Clough, called Pearce into his office and told him, "Well, you aren't good enough, in my opinion-now get out!"

Stuart joined Forest in 1985-86, and at the time, asked Clough if he could continue working as a part time electrician in the early period of his contract. Clough agreed, as long as Stuart mended his kettle! Pearce, of course, got his name in the team line up because he was good enough and also got his business advert into the match day programme. Give him a ring, get your tap fixed.

Pearce played 78 times for England. despite that cock up against San Marino! (his 55th cap)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKDh04AN-Us

The game against San Marino was a World Cup qualifier played in November 1993, watched by 2,378 people in Bologna. England needed loads of goals and if you watch the highlights, that's what they almost did, despite conceding the first goal. England's goals include a suspicion of offside in two goals, a shockingly bad decision by the ref, not giving a free kick allowing play on, a hapless goalie, Ian Wright's four goals, a cameo by Stuart Ripley (his first of two caps) and one or two decent passes from Stuart Pearce's left foot trying to make amends.
An uneventful night in the home of spaghetti sauce and the second smallest member of UEFA, whose greatest victory has been 1-0! (not often). Smallest member is?

England, under Graham Taylor never qualified for the 1994 USA hosted FIFA World Cup finals, graciously allowing Norway and the Netherlands from their group to cross the pond instead. The Republic of Ireland did travel too. No other home countries made it.