23rd April 1948 On the eve of playing in the 1948 FA Cup final Blackpool's Stanley Matthews was named as the first winner of Football Writers' Association 'Footballer of the Year' award. The final didn't bring more success for him with Manchester United beating Blackpool 4-2 in a classic Wembley final. Three years later in 1951, Blackpool and Matthews, lost their second final appearance to Newcastle Utd  2-0. Matthews had to wait another two years (1953) for that elusive winners' medal, when he helped Blackpool beat Bolton Wanderers, Nat Lofthouse and all 4-3 from 1-3 down. The match was named The Matthews' Final!

23rd April 1984 A 0-0 draw at Grimsby was Cambridge United's 31st League match on the trot without a win. They beat Newcastle in their next Division 2 match but those 31 matches without a victory set a record that lasted until Derby suffered 36 winless matches in a row in 2008.

24th April 1929 Halifax Town's Bob Suter made his last appearance in the Football League - a 2-0 Division 3 (North) defeat at Darlington - just three months short of his 51st birthday. An injury to regular Halifax Town keeper Howard Matthews - a sprightly 43 year old - saw trainer Bob Suter forced out of a 7-year retirement to become the second oldest player to appear in the Football League.

24th April 1988 After 103 years of trying, and in story-book fashion, Luton Town finally win a major trophy. The penalty save by Andy Dibble and the headed goal from Danny Wilson are climaxed by the winner in the final seconds from Brian Stein.Luton Town beat the strong favourites and cup holders Arsenal to win the Littlewoods (League) Cup in front of 95,732 at Wembley. It was decided in the final 10 minutes when Luton saved a penalty and then scored an equaliser and a winner. It was the first major piece of silverware the Hatters had won – and then they broke the trophy during their celebrations!    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBzrhjaZnTE YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS!!

24th April 1999 Who said that opposing fans can't help each other out? Going into their Premier Division match against Arsenal at the Riverside Middlesbrough were on a high. Only one home League defeat in 36 matches, a 7-match unbeaten League run and only one League goal conceded at the Riverside in 1999. By the time Arsenal had taken a 6-0 lead, hordes of home fans had shown their displeasure by heading home early. But in the 87th minute Middlesbrough scored a consolation goal with Alun Armstrong heading home from an Andy Townsend free-kick. The trouble was there were hardly any Middlesbrough fans left in the ground to celebrate the goal. Sensing the problem the away fans cheered the Middlesbrough goal as if it was one of their own. Thoughtful or what!