ENGLAND v SCOTLAND

On this day, April 12th in 1924, saw the first ever international match at The British Empire Exhibition Stadium, Wembley Park, Wembley, Middlesex; the 36th match between the two countries. (England's 107th match: won 70 draw 22) England drew 1-1 with Scotland in front of a disappointingly low crowd of 37,250.  The stadium had hosted the FA Cup Final in 1923. The international was part of the British Home Championship-a tournament played between the four "Home Nations". Billy Owen scored for England and Willie Cowan replied. Referee, Thomas Dougray was from Belshill, Scotland.

Between 1920-30 England won 2 matches against the Scots, drew 2 and lost 6. For England,  Charles Buchan was a tall, powerful and creative player - one of the Arsenal greats. He had a spell in 1910 as an amateur at Woolwich Arsenal but was allowed to move to Leyton. He was first signing by the great Arsenal manager, Herbert Chapman, purchased from Sunderland - costing £2,000 and £100 for each goal he scored in his first season. He was immediately appointed as Club captain. With Arsenal, he won an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1927. He is credited with inventing the WM strategy as a response to the FA adopting the two man offside law. In later life went into journalism, starting his own football magazine and football annual.

David Jack was England captain, playing with Arsenal as 1st Division Champion in 1931, 1933, 1934, FA Cup winner 1930 and runner-up 1932. He was the first player to appear in the FA Cup final for two different teams (Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal). His goal for Bolton in the "White Horse Final" of 1923 was the first ever Wembley FA Cup Final goal. He was the first ever player to be transferred for a five figure fee, when Arsenal managed to prise him away from Bolton for £10,890. David Jack was a stylish, elegant and devastatingly effective goalscorer and one of the greatest players to play in an Arsenal shirt.

Billy Walker, Tommy Smart and captain Frank Moss were with Aston Villa. Samuel Wadsworth, born in Darwen, and later played for Huddersfield 281 times.

In 1987, Hillsborough hosted the FA Cup semi-final between Coventry City and Leeds United. For Coventry it was the first time they had reached the last 4 of the FA Cup while in the Leeds camp defender Neil Aspin was forced to postpone his wedding which had been arranged for that day. Leeds didn't have a match on that Sunday when the wedding date had been set! Well Coventry won the match - and went on to defeat Spurs in the final - and Aspin got married a couple of weeks later. I guess he was forced to do the washing-up for weeks as his penance!