THE TWO RONNIES AND JOHNNY AND TOMMY

One of great comedians, Ronnie Corbett passed on to Heaven's Stage on this day in 2016 and we were inundated with his (and with the other Ronnie!) many brilliant "sketches" over the next 24 hours. Corbett was 85.

Born: 4 December 1930, Edinburgh Died: 31 March 2016 (age 85 years), Croydon  Height: 1.52 m

So I thought, at the time, in tribute to him, since he was little fellow, I would have  look to see who were the smallest players to play football in England. Well, it was a tough job because everything seemed to go to the Premier League, so I shall never know about that midget in 1947 who played for Charlton Athletic, without ridiculously in depth research, Does anyone know who is the shortest footballer in Division Two?

Bear in mind this Blog was published at the time of Ronnie's death.

I do know that the smallest side at the time in the Premier League on average was Arsenal "taping in" at 1.788 metres. Next smallest was Manchester City and then Norwich. There were mms in it.
Tallest unsurprisingly happen to be long ball WBA at 1.841 m with Watford and Southampton in the top three.
As I found out, at the time, more about individuals in the PL, the following names came amongst the "shortest"; Pienaar, Baines ("tall at 1.70m), Lennon and Barmby (now retired I should think) all of whom played for Everton, a team presently ranked 4th tallest on average.
Others you will know who are still playing include Aaron Lennon (5'5" 1.65m), Leon Britton, Nathan Dyer, Jermaine Defoe, Wes Hoolahan and a few others all around 1.68m mark and smaller.

Little footballers are a pest. With a low centre of gravity, quick feet, they dive between your legs as Tommy Harmer, late of Spurs used to do. On March 31st 1928, 80,000 people at Wembley witnessed the "Wee Blue Devils", a Scottish international side with Alex James (5'7") in the forward line. He was the tallest of the five and scored two (one a header) in a 5-1 mauling of England. Alec Jackson snatched a hat trick. Alan Morton of Rangers at 5'4" played on the wing and supplied crosses.

Being little, their skill and science did the trick on the famous turf, Despite the diminuitive Scots having to defend England's long ball tactics, the only England goal came at the end of the game.
In the picture:
The "long", in England kit (Frederick Goodall) and the "short"
(James McMullan) and the ref (William Bell). Heights not available!

and here are Johnny White and Tommy Harmer-two of the greatest inside forwards from Spurs' 1960s squad.

INVINCIBLES?-ARSENAL AND/OR PRESTON

Arsenal's Premier League winning team in 2003-4 was undefeated and crowned "The Invincibles" however, Wenger's side lost their opening game of the season, The Community Shield, to Manchester United on penalties and were beaten in the FA Cup by the same opposition and beaten in the League Cup by Middlesbrough. 

In the Champions' League they lost to Dynamo Kiev and Chelsea....so hardly invincible! Preston's side of 1888-89, however, were the real deal. The season before, manager William Sudell's team had won 42 consecutive matches, only to lose at the last match of the season to West Bromwich Albion, in the FA Cup Final. On the way they had beaten Hyde in the FA Cup 26-0, an English record. So confident was the club that they would win the Final, they had a photograph taken prior to the match. The referee, Major Francis Marindin, President of the FA, suggested they that should win the match first! West Bromwich Albion won the game 2-1 with George Woodhall's goal scored 13 minutes from full time. Tough luck Preston.

The following year, Preston's confidence was less misplaced when they romped the nascent Football League, finishing 11 points ahead of Aston Villa, winning 18 of the matches, drawing 4 and scoring 74 goals. Preston's league campaign only involved 22 matches, whereas Arsenal played 38! The Gunners were also playing in four competitions, not two. However, Preston won the Double, beating Wolves 3-0 in thre FA Cup Final, having not conceded a goal in their "run" to the Final. Only Preston North End can call themselves "Invincible".

The 1888–89 Football League was the first edition of the Football League, which ran from the autumn of 1888 until the spring of 1889. Created and named in Manchester during a meeting on 17 April 1888, the Football League is the oldest professional association football league competition in the world.

The season began on 8 September 1888 with 12 member clubs from the Midlands and North of England: Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County,  Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Each club played the other twice, once at home and once away. The season concluded on 20th April 1889, with Preston crowned as the first league champions; they were also never defeated throughout the season, a very rare achievement that has only been replicated in England once since then, when Arsenal won the Premier league in the 2003-4 season.

The original league rules stated that teams' positions should be calculated "from wins, draws, and losses", without further detail. It was not until late November that a points system was decided upon, with teams being awarded two points for a win and one point for a draw. Goal average was used to separate teams level on points!

Season	1888–89
Champions	Preston NE The first English Title
Matchesplayed	132
Goals scored	586 (4.44 per match)
Top goalscorer	John Goodall (21 goals)
Biggest home win	Aston Villa 9–1 Notts County (29 September 1888)
Biggest away win	Notts Countu 0–7 Preston NE (3 November 1888)
Highest scoring	Blackburn Rovers 5–5 Accrington (15 September 1888) Aston Villa 9–1 Notts County (29 September 1888) Bolton W 7–3 Notts County (9 March 1889)
Longest winning run	6 matches Preston NE
Longest unbeaten run	22 matches Preston NE
Longest losing run	8 matches Derby County

CARDIFF ARMS PARK DEBUT

 On 29 March 2000, Wales played their first match at the new Millenium Stadium in Cardiff and lost 1-2. Built on the site of the old national ground, Cardiff Arms Park, construction on the stadium finished in the summer of 1999 at a total cost of £121 million. The Welsh rugby team hosted the first major event there, beating South Africa in a friendly.

The football team's turn came the following spring 2000, as they hosted Finland in a friendly of their own. A crowd of 65,000 showed up for the event, setting a new national team record (though it has since been broken). Unfortunately for the home fans, however, Finnish midfielder Jari Litmanen (pictured, battling Wales' Robbie Savage) scored the opening goal in the 21st minute. Welsh striker Nathan Blake found the back of the net in the 42nd minute, but it was the wrong net, putting the Finns up 0-2.

Ryan Giggs pulled one back in the 60th minute, but that was the last goal of the day and Finland left as 1-2 winners.

 Wales Manager: Mark Hughes:Gk: Mark Crossley Darren Barnard,Noel Blake,Chris Coleman, Andy Melville Robert Page Ryan Giggs Mark Pembridge John Robinson Robbie Savage Gary Speed

Substitutions:

Gareth Roberts for Darren Barnard	66m
Dean Saunders for Noel Blake	80m
Andy Johnson for Robbie Savage	80m
Iwan Roberts for Mark Pembridge	86m

v Finland 

Games won:	7
Games drawn:	5
Games lost:	4

Date	Match	Result	Score	Competition
26 May 1971	Finland v Wales	W	0-1	UEFA European Championship
13 Oct 1971	Wales v Finland	W	3-0	UEFA European Championship
10 Sep 1986	Finland v Wales	D	1-1	UEFA European Championship
01 Apr 1987	Wales v Finland	W	4-0	UEFA European Championship
19 Oct 1988	Wales v Finland	D	2-2	FIFA World Cup
06 Sep 1989	Finland v Wales	L	1-0	FIFA World Cup
29 Mar 2000	Wales v Finland	L	1-2	International Friendly
07 Sep 2002	Finland v Wales	W	0-2	UEFA European Championship
10 Sep 2003	Wales v Finland	D	1-1	UEFA European Championship
28 Mar 2009	Wales v Finland	L	0-2	FIFA World Cup
10 Oct 2009	Finland v Wales	L	2-1	FIFA World Cup
16 Nov 2013	Wales v Finland	D	1-1	International Friendly
03 Sep 2020	Finland v Wales	W	0-1	UEFA Nations League
18 Nov 2020	Wales v Finland	W	3-1	UEFA Nations League
01 Sep 2021	Finland v Wales	D	0-0	International Friendly
21 Mar 2024	Wales v Finland	W	4-1	UEFA European Championship

Goalkeeper

MARCH 29th

On March 29th 1890, Blackburn Rovers (third in the Football League-at the time this was the only division) beat Sheffield (The) Wednesday (who played in the Football Alliance) 6-1 in the first "Roses" FA Cup Final at the Oval.

Bill Townley scored the first Cup Final hat trick in front of 20,000 spectators. Townley was one nine internationals in the Rovers' team, who were a serious professional unit.

Referee Colonel Francis Arthur Marindin KCMG, officiated his eight and last Cup Final. He was one of the founders of the FA Cup, a founder member of the Royal Engineers FC, twice played in the final, an Old Etonian, captain, ref and administrator. One of the great men to set up our big game. He lived between 1838 and 1900.
He stepped down gracefully from his post as FA President, once he saw that professionalism had taken over football.

On March 29th 1924, Billy Meredith played for Manchester City in the Cup Final against Newcastle United. He was 49 years old and 8 months old, one of the great and oldest players to do this.

The Football Alliance was formed in 1889 as an alternative to the Football League that was running, founded in 1882. Twelve clubs originally joined the Alliance, from the north and midlands. The two leagues joined in 1892 to create two division in the F.L.
Clubs included Ardwick, Birmingham St Georges, Bootle, Burton Swifts, Crewe Alex, Darwen, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Long Eaton Rangers, Newton heath, Nottingham Forest, Small Heath, Stoke, Sunderland Albion, The Wednesday, Wallsall Town Swifts.
The Wednesday, Stoke and Nottingham Forest were champions on each of the three years that the F. Alliance ran.

There were a number of FA Cup Finals held on March 29th
1873 The Wanderers v Oxford University
1879 Old Etonians v Clapham Rovers. 1-0
1882 Old Etonians beat Blackburn Rovers
In 1883 Blackburn Olympic (not Rovers) won the cup beating the Old Etonians 1-0 to name a few.

On March 29th 1884, Blackburn Rovers began a period of dominance in English football, beating Queen's Park (yes the Scottish club) at the Oval, 2-1. 
The match was refereed by Major Francis Marindin, an Old Etonian, who reffed 8 finals. It was his 16th year as President of the FA and he was one of the founders of the FA Cup tournament. Marindin helped found the Royal Engineers FC, and was an Officer Of Railways at the Board of Trade. He was knighted in 1897.

In 1885 (not March 29th!) Queen's Park met Blackburn Rovers again and Rovers won 2-0. Marindin reffed.

In 1886 (not 29th March) Rovers and WBA drew 0-0 the Cup Final first and Rovers won the replay 2-0. Marindin reffed.

On March 29th 1890, at the Oval, The Battle of the Roses took place, as an FA Cup Final was staged between Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday. It was the Rovers who won 6-1 in front of 20,000. With 9 internationals in their side, Bill Townley was one of them and he scored the first hat trick in an FA Cup final. Sheffield Wednesday were in the Football Alliance at the time. Marindin reffed.

In 1891, Marindin didn't ref, Rovers won the Cup for the 5th time, beating Notts County 3-1. James Forrest won his 5th Cup winners medal. Forrest was the first professional to play for England.

Rovers had dominated the Cup as professionals from 1882 when they lost their first final 1-0 to the Old Etonians.

Their next Cup Final was in 1928 when Rovers beat the Terriers (Huddersfield Town) 3-1 at Wembley packed with over a 92,000 crowd. By that time the League programme meant that Cup Finals were played in late April.

This was the first Cup Final since 1910 that BOTH SIDES scored. Rovers narrowly avoided relegation and Town were top dogs! being League Champions in 1924, 1925 and 1926 and runners up in 1927 and 1928.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2DWSkKukB0
Rovers then lost to Wolves in the 1960 Cup Final.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SmzON6BVFw

ARIES-MARCH 27th TODAY

MARCH 27th, my Birthday: I share it with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 1972, Manuel Neur 1986, Gaizka Mendieta 1974, Terry Yorath 1950 and I suspect several other well known footballers. 

1991	The 500th ever game of the Belgium national football team was held in Anderlecht vs Wales.

Games won:	5
Games drawn:	5
Games lost:	7

Date	Match	Result	Score	Competition
22 May 1949	Belgium v Wales	L	3-1	International Friendly
23 Nov 1949	Wales v Belgium	W	5-1	International Friendly
17 Oct 1990	Wales v Belgium	W	3-1	UEFA European Championship
27 Mar 1991	Belgium v Wales	D	1-1	UEFA European Championship
18 Nov 1992	Belgium v Wales	L	2-0	FIFA World Cup
31 Mar 1993	Wales v Belgium	W	2-0	FIFA World Cup
29 Mar 1997	Wales v Belgium	L	1-2	FIFA World Cup
11 Oct 1997	Belgium v Wales	L	3-2	FIFA World Cup
07 Sep 2012	Wales v Belgium	L	0-2	FIFA World Cup
15 Oct 2013	Belgium v Wales	D	1-1	FIFA World Cup
16 Nov 2014	Belgium v Wales	D	0-0	UEFA European Championship
12 Jun 2015	Wales v Belgium	W	1-0	UEFA European Championship
01 Jul 2016	Wales v Belgium	W	3-1	UEFA European Championship
24 Mar 2021	Belgium v Wales	L	3-1	FIFA World Cup
16 Nov 2021	Wales v Belgium	D	1-1	FIFA World Cup
11 Jun 2022	Wales v Belgium	D	1-1	UEFA Nations League
22 Sep 2022	Belgium v Wales	L	2-1	UEFA Nations League

Aries is the star sign and we are often preoccupied with unfeasible ideas; we are a little bossy, but valuable, nurturing, supportive with a gentle nature. I am not sure you will agree if you know me. 

Back to Jimmy.....who was born in Surinam; was run over by a car when 3 years old and broke his leg. He recovered, lost his father when a nipper, moved to Holland and eventually played for Leeds, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Charlton and Cardiff in England. There were many other clubs and plenty of internationals. The midfielder was a major addition for the Riverside club when he joined them in 2003 on loan before making his move permanent a year later. He made 83 appearances in his four years with the Premier League club, later hanging up his boots in 2007. The classy playmaker is now part of a group producing high quality cuisine from his homeland, ensuring Londoners are served fine Spanish food.

Lucky enough to have a less fraught upbringing, Manuel Neuer was the sweeper keeper who played for Germany over 70 times and he was keeper for Schalke 04 all his career. Voted FIFA Balon d'Or third place and Guardian best overseas player in his time. He also was the German voice over of Frank McCay in Disneys "Monsters University" as well as fronting a Catholic Charity raising money for underprivileged children. He is an all time good one!

Gaizka Mendieta retired from Middlesbrough's squad after helping them to win the League Cup and took a house in Yarm! Why? Having spent his life in Spain and Italy it seemed a strange move. But he also appeared in the Secret Tournament TV commercial directed by Terry Gilliam which involved several other footballers refereed by Eric Cantona. 

Terry Yorath was a good egg but lost some favour towards the end of his career. He played for Leeds, Coventry, Spurs, Vancouver and Bradford. He also managed several clubs, most unusually Lebanon and Margate until 2009. His daughter is probably more famous than he although you cannot argue with the 59 caps he earned for Wales. 

In 1991, on this day, the 500th ever game of the Belgian national team was held in Anderlecht, played against Wales.

So you see there is nothing in common with this lot, or me. Happy B'day all you 27th people.