LOTS ON 2-2-24

On February 2nd 1929

At 38 years and 2 days of age Andy Cunningham of Newcastle United became the oldest player ever to make his debut in the Football League, against Leicester City at St James' Park. The former Rangers player and Scottish international later became player-manager of the Magpies.

Cunningham moved to Newcastle United in 1928, becoming the then oldest player to make his debut in the English Football League at the age of thirty-eight. He began his Newcastle career as player/manager  and then went on to become full-time manager of the club after retiring from playing. Technically, he was the first true manager of the club. 

Back Row: Second from RIGHT (darker shirt) as you face photo.

He guided the club to FA Cup success in 1932 after beating Arsenal 2-1 in the Final. However, the club was also relegated to the Second Division whilst he was at the helm. Cunningham eventually left the club in 1935. He is remembered as a moderately successful manager of the club, having won 105 games out of 251.

After his time with Newcastle, he returned to Scotland where he managed Dundee between 1937 and 1940 before becoming a sports writer after World War 2.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1907–1909	Newmilns
1909–1915	Kilmarnock	184	(74)
1915–1928	Rangers	350	(162)
1928–1931	Newcastle United	15	(1)
Total		549	(237)
International career
1912–1928	Scottish League XI	10	(1)
1915[2]	SFL XI (wartime)	1	(0)
1920–1927	Scotland	12	(5)
Managerial career
1930–1935	Newcastle United
1937–1940	Dundee
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

and also; It's not unknown for goalkeepers to score from penalties - Alex Stepney scored a couple in the League for Manchester United - but its a tad unusual. Back on 2nd February 1929 Newport County 'keeper Jimmy Maidment hit the headlines when he took two penalties for Newport in a Third Division (South) match. He scored one but missed the other in the 4-1 victory over Torquay United. In his career total of 219 League outings for Newport he scored 3 goals, all 

and on 2nd February 1946
On this day in 1946 Arsenal's Kevin O'Flanagan played for Northern Ireland against Scotland in Belfast. Seven days before that he had played for Ireland against France in Dublin....at rugby! And he was pretty good at athletics as well! A doctor, he was one of the last amateurs to play first-team football for Arsenal - he needed to remain an amateur sportsman to continue playing rugby union. The 'Flying Doc' made 14 League and 2 FA Cup appearances for Arsenal in 1946, scoring twice.

and the same date in 1991
Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, the only League defeat suffered by the Gunners on their way to the 1990/91 Premier League title. Arsenal were without captain Tony Adams who was in prison serving a sentence for a drink driving offence.

and finally on 2nd February 2013
Hartlepool United beat Notts County with goals from Peter Hartley and James Poole. So that’s Hartley and Poole score for Hartlepool….