REMEMBHER?ER HER?? TWENTY YEARS AGO!!

Football On This Day – 28th February 2005. Was it really 20 years ago?.....When it comes to football controversies, few would have expected TV chef, Delia Smith, NOW 83 YEARS OLD!! to be at the centre of one, but at the centre of one she was, on this day in 2005. The majority shareholder of Norwich City grabbed a microphone during the interval of the Premier League match between the Canaries and Manchester City and to drum up a bit of vocal support for the home side had this to say. ‘A message for the best football supporters in the world. We need a twelfth man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let's be having you. Come on." Was she drunk? Was it an undignified outburst or a genuine plea from a loyal supporter? The papers were full of it. 

Smith was first invited to invest in the club amid their financial struggles following relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 1994/95 season and after pumping in an initial £2m, she became the majority shareholder a couple of years later.

Sadly though the words didn’t inspire the Canaries – the only goal after the break proved to be the winner for Manchester City and Norwich were relegated at the end of the season. Smith and her husband Michael Wynn Jones, bought Norwich in 1996. They are now Honorary Life Presidents. The 85-year-old, Delia will reportedly not get a penny from giving up her Club shares but the Canaries’s long-term future will be secured by the new owners, who will take on debts understood to be around £59m. “After 28 years as directors of Norwich City, Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones have stepped down to become honorary life presidents. It’s not goodbye, it’s just thank you.”  Most recently she agreed to reduce her share of the club to 10 percent in August 2024. 

During her time in charge, the Canaries were promoted on six occasions and also relegated six times as they became the archetypal Premier League to Championship "yo-yo" club. The Canaries are 10th in the Championship.

https://youtu.be/NiC679ASOyA      = should lead you to her appearance on the pitch! 

During her time as owner of the club, the Canaries have spent seven seasons in the top flight, most recently competing in the Premier League in 2022, under Daniel Farke and Dean Smith, with Thorup now in charge of bringing them back as soon as possible. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Smith and Wynn-Jones have a net worth of $36 (£27.8) million. The pair oversaw the club's rise to the top flight, but have since struggled to maintain the same competitiveness in more recent years, leading to outside investment coming in to aid the Norfolk club. Attanasio's involvement with Norwich began in September 2022, initially purchasing an 18 percent stake in the club. This has since risen to an approximately 85 percent stake in the Championship side, reported in the Mirror, with the American becoming increasingly involved in the running of the Norfolk outfit. It has been reported by the Associated Press, that the American businessman has a net worth of $700 (£540) million.

and there's more....do some research!!

NEWTON HEATH FC

In 1878, Manchester United football club was formed in a suburb of Manchester. Well in those days they came under the name of Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway FC and they were not very good. They entered the FA Cup and refused to play extra time after a 2-2 draw with Fleetwood Rangers and hence they were disqualified. They then were admitted to the top tier of the football league in 1892 finishing last, so they had to play a "test match" against Small Heath (later to become Birmingham City) who were second division champions. They won.

The following year they were last again and were the first first division team to lose a "test match", this time against Liverpool and so became the first club to be relegated.

By 1901 the club was in debt to the tune of £3000 (a bit like now) and decided to hold a bazaar to raise money. Close rivals Manchester City had the generosity to donate money to the appeal but the event hardly raised a penny once the cost of hiring the hall was taken into account.

Newton Heaths's captain, Harry Stafford, took his dog, Major, along to St Jame's Hall in the city, with a collection box attached to its neck. The dog ran away and was found on March 1st by local Brewer John Henry Davies, who liked the dog. He heard the sad tale of Newton Heath's financial predicament and persuaded two other businessmen to invest in the club, so by 1902, they changed the name of the club to Manchester United and the rest is history.

More about the Football Alliance tomorrow. Bet you can't wait!

PAT JENNINGS-GK

Some of you may be "old enough" to understand what  "sideburns" are. Not a pretty name and some of us could never quite match the "set of sideburns" that the youthful males in our village  sported, when ever there was a Youth Dance in the village hall. I could "twist away" all night but never got to walk a gal home, because all the attraction to them, was not twisting, but seemed to be with the older chaps sporting facial hair and girls liked that, apparently. Mind you, there were some girls with sidies as well, but that's another matter. 

Pat Jennings, Spurs' very famous goalkeeper, possessed one of the greatest set of sideburns (see below) along with accompanying  "big hair" which unbelievably was all the rage a few decades ago. Jennings was a very successful goalkeeper with Arsenal and Tottenham (how he chose to cross the divide heaven knows!!) and Northern Ireland. In 1983 on this day, Pat made his 1000th appearance. 

As a youngster, Pat never benefited from proper coaching, so he relied on natural practise and therefore developed an "unorthodox" technique between "the posts". He was 6' 2" tall and had shovel-like hands, as well as being a decent athlete, so he faired well in the goal. He was one of few footballers to have "crossed the divide" in North London, moving to Arsenal after his spell at Spurs. Quite a shock!! He won 119 CAPS for his country.

Personal information
Full name	Patrick Anthony Jennings
Date of birth	12 June 1945 (age 79)
Place of birth	Newry, Northern Ireland
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1956	Shamrock Rovers (Newry)
1961–1963	Newry Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1963–1964	Watford	48	(0)
1964–1977	Tottenham Hotspur	472	(0)
1977–1985	Arsenal	237!!	(0)
1985–1986	Tottenham Hotspur	0	(0)
1986	Everton	0	(0)
Total		757	(0)
International career
1964–1986	Northern Ireland	119	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jennings spent thirteen years at White Hart Lane, where he played in 472 league games for Spurs, and 591 matches in all competitions. He helped win the FA Cup in 1967, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973, and the UEFA Cup in 1972. He also scored once, in the 1967 FA Charity Shield, from his own area!! kicking the ball from his hands and sending a large punt down the field that bounced over "rival" England, the Manchester United goalkeeper, Alex Stepney and into the net.

In 1973 the Football Writers' Association named him as its footballer of the year. Three years later he won PFA's version of the award – he was the first goalkeeper to receive this accolade, and to this date remains only one of two, along with Peter Shilton.

Despite retiring from club football in 1985, Jennings played his final international game at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, on his 41st birthday, making him the World Cup's oldest-ever participant until Roger Milla broke his record at 42 in 1994.

Despite retiring from club football in 1985, Jennings played his final international game at the 1986 Wiorld Cup on his 41st birthday, making him the World Cup's oldest-ever participant until Roger Mila broke his record at 42 in 1994. He is still associated with Spurs and hosts Corporate Hospitality fans in the Pat Jennings' Lounges at White Hart Lane and Windsor Park, Belfast.

EFL DECIDED BY PENS

On this day in history, Liverpool showed signs of emerging from a "mid-90's" slump, winning the club's first silverware for six years, by winning The 2000–01 English Football League Cup. This tournament was known as the Worthington Cup, for sponsorship reasons and was the 41st staging of the Football League Cup, a knockout competition for England's top 92 football clubs, open only to those clubs that play in the English Football League. Below: Trophy of the competition when it was called "Milk Cup".

The original idea for a League Cup came from Stanley Rous, who saw the competition as a consolation for clubs who had already been knocked out of the FA Cup. However, it was not Rous who came to implement it, but Football League Secretary Alan Hardaker. Hardaker initially proposed the competition as a way for the clubs to make up for lost revenue due to a reduction in matches played, for when the league was to be reorganised. The reorganisation of the league was not immediately forthcoming; however, the cup competition was introduced regardless.

The trophy was paid for personally by Football League President Joe Richards, who was proud of the competition, and he had his own name engraved on it.

The competition began on 22 August 2000, and ended with the final on 25 February 2001 at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. Wembley Stadium had been closed for a rebuild.

The tournament was won by Liverpool, who beat Birmingham City 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw after extra-time. Robbie Fowler put Liverpool in front after half an hour but a Darren Purse penalty salvaged the game for Birmingham in the final minute of normal time.

25 February 2001
15:00

Birmingham City	1–1	Liverpool
Purse  90' (pen.)	Report	Fowler  30'

Millenium Stadium, Cardiff

Attendance: 73,500

Referee: David Elleray

Liverpool win 5–4 penalties

This edition was the last competition with two-legged ties in its first two rounds. BUT IT was the first English Final to be settled by spot kicks.

The 2007 League Cup Final between Chelsea and Arsenal also was played in Cardiff, for the last time, as Wembley's "renovation" had just been completed. Chelsea's, Didier Drogba, scored twice, counter acting Theo Walcott's first goal for Arsenal. John Terry had been knocked unconscious by the boot of Abou Diaby and an injury time brawl saw Emmanuel Adebayor sent off as this bad tempered clash reached its climax!

STAY TILL THE END? OR DON'T!!!

February 24th 1951 (me not yet born!)

On this day, Southend United hosted Swindon Town, in a Division 3 (South)  fixture. The away side, Swindon, took a 2-0 lead and must have been hoping for a win. At the end of 90 minutes those hopes had been shattered - they had lost 8-2!

On another "tack", after progressing through the youth system with the south coast club, AFC  Bournemouth, James Hayter made his official début for them in the 1996–97 season, in a 3–1 Division Two defeat to Peterborough United. Despite a promising start, he failed to gain a first-team place and moved to Salisbury City on loan.

His performances for Salisbury eventually earned him a recall to Bournemouth, by club manager Mel Machin and Hayter scored the fourth goal in a 4–0 demolition of Stoke City, on his return. In October 2000, he equalled the club record for the number of goals scored in a match when he scored 4 against Bury. Hayter was soon established as one of the most consistent and sought-after strikers outside the Premier League, and the proudest moment of his Bournemouth career came in May 2003 when he helped them achieve victory over Lincoln City in the Division Three playoff final.

On Tuesday, 24 February 2004, he came on as an 84th-minute substitute while Bournemouth were 3–0 up at home, Dean Court, to Wrexham, in Div 2. Hayter scored the fastest Football League hat-trick ever in 2 minutes and 21.88seconds, beating the record set by *Jimmy Scarth of Gillingham in 1952. His parents and brother were at the match but left 10 minutes before the final whistle, with no sign that James would make an appearance. They left early to catch a ferry back to their home in the Isle of Wight and so missed the history-making achievement.

James Edward Hayter (born 9 April 1979), last played for Weymouth FC. He holds the record for the fastest Football League hat trick ever and 

has been on the winning side in three Football League play offs finals. 

BY THE WAY, the perfect/golden/classic hat-trick is where a player scores with his left foot, right foot and his head. The German's have their own definition of a hat-trick, as they would, it being where a player scores three consecutive goals, no other goals being scored between the three goals of the hat-trick. Bit complicated?

* Jimmy Scarth of Gillingham netted three goals in 2 mins in a Division Three South match v Leyton Orient in November 1952, BUT many question the "timing" accuracy of this event.

JAMES HAYTER-senior career

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2007	AFC Bournemouth	358	(94)
1998–1999	→ Salisbury City (loan)	8	(4)
2007–2012	Doncaster Rovers	162	(39)
2012–2015	Yeovil Town	119	(25)
2015–2018	Havant & Waterlooville	84	(13)
2017	→ Weymouth (loan)	3	(0)
Total		734	(175)

RANIERI

 23rd February 2017

After managing unfashionable 5000-1 outsiders Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2015/16 you would have thought that Claudio Ranieri would have had a job at Leicester for life – but he was sacked just 9 months later! Apart from leading Leicester to the title he had increased expectations at the King Power Stadium and in February 2017 with defending champions Leicester hovering just above the relegation area and with no league win or even league goal since December pressure on him grew. On February 23rd, just two weeks after the City owners had offered him their ‘unwavering support’ and despite club vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (some Scrabble score there) describing him as ‘the most successful Leicester City manager of all time’, Ranieri was sacked. The decision was widely condemned with Gary Lineker describing it as ‘inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad’. Rumours were rife that Ranieri had ‘lost’ the dressing room and that certainly looked the case when the same players won their first six matches for new manager Craig Shakespeare – a winning run they didn’t even manage in the title-winning season. Leicester finished safely in a mid-table position and they were ordinary again!

ALL GOOD AT GOODISON

 1st September 1892!!!!!!

Anfield is the football stadium in Liverpool, which has been the home of Liverpool FC since the club's formation in 1892. The stadium has a seating capacity of 61,276, making it the fifth largest stadium in England. It was originally the home of Everton from 1884 to 1891, before the Toffees moved to Goodison Park, after a dispute with the club president over rent. Mere Green Field was the name of the land where Everton FC built Goodison Park in 1892, on Goodison Road, all named after a civil engineer named George Goodison, who provided a sewage report to the Walton Local Board in the mid-1800s later becoming a local landowner!!! Where there's muck there's brass! AND there were two "toffee shops" nearby-hence the club nickname!

A new club needed to be found by the stadium owners, to play at Anfield, which of course became Liverpool FC, the club, played its first-ever match on this day on September 1st, 1892, beating Midland League champions Rotherham Town 7-1 in a friendly. Around 100 turned up for that match but when Liverpool played its first serious competitive match – just two days later against Higher Walton in the Lancashire League – the Anfield crowd had swelled to around 200!!!! to witness an 8-0 victory. From small beginnings…. 

Goodison Park was the first major football stadium built in England. It was opened on 24 August 1892, by Lord Kinnaird and Frederick Wall of the Football Association. Somewhat confusingly, the 12,000-strong crowd watched a short athletics meeting followed by a selection of music and a fireworks display. Everton's first game there was later on 2 September 1892, when they beat Bolton 4-2.

The publication 'Out Of Doors', reported in October 1892: "Behold Goodison Park! No single picture could take in the entire scene the ground presents, it is so magnificently large, for it rivals the greater American baseball pitches. On three sides of the field of play there are tall covered stands, and on the fourth side the ground has been so well banked up with thousands of loads of cinders that a complete view of the game can be had from any portion.

"It appears to be one of the finest and most complete grounds in the Kingdom, and it is hoped that the public will liberally support the promoters."

A year after moving into the new home, in 1893, Everton were FA Cup finalists. They were then runners up again in the First Division League in 1895. The ground hosted its first FA Cup final in 1894 when Notts County beat Bolton, watched by a crowd of 37,000. At this time,  Everton were the richest club in the country, and regular league gates such as the 30,000 which attended in February 1893 were still regarded as enormous.

Despite the revolutionary, initial developments, however, it was not long before Goodison Park was improved even further. A new Bullens Road stand was built in 1895 at a cost of £3,407 and the open Goodison Road side was covered for £403, according to the records from the time.

Meanwhile, competition in the city was reaching peak levels. Everton were again runners up in both the league and FA Cup, while across Stanley Park, Liverpool won their first championship in 1901.

The Goodison Park of today really began to take shape after the turn of the century, beginning in 1907 with the building of a double-decker stand at the Park End, costing £13,000. In 1909, the large Main Stand on Goodison Road was built. Costing £28,000, it housed all the offices and players' facilities and survived until 1971.

Only Scotland had more advanced grounds; Rangers opened Ibrox in 1887, while Celtic Park was officially inaugurated at the same time as Goodison Park.

Everton's ground-breaking development at Mere Green was to set the trend for football stadia throughout the country. The Blues initially spent up to £3,000 on laying out the ground and building stands on three sides. Kelly Brothers of Walton built two uncovered stands each for 4000 people, and a covered stand seating 3000, at a total cost of £1,460.

Outside, hoardings cost a further £150, gates and sheds cost £132 and 10 shillings whilst 12 turnstiles added another £7 and 15 shillings to the bill.

At the same time another £12,000 was spent on concreting over the terracing and replacing the cinder running track. A reporter from ‘Athletic News' wrote in the summer of 1909: "Visitors to Goodison Park will be astonished at the immensity of the new double-decker stand". The architect was Archibold Leitch, and the front balcony bore his criss-cross trademark, which can still be seen on the Bullens Road stand opposite.

Having regained its status as the best equipped ground in the nation, Everton hosted the 1910 Cup Final replay between Newcastle and Barnsley. A massive 69,000 attended. Then on 13 July 1913, Goodison became the first league venue to be visited by a ruling monarch, when George V and Queen Mary came to visit local schoolchildren at the ground.

It certainly wasn't just football that took place at Goodison though! During the First World War it was used by the Territorial Army for drill practice. Soon after, the US baseball teams Chicago White Sox and New York Giants played an exhibition match at the ground. One player reportedly managed to hit a ball right over the Main Stand.

The next big change took place in 1926, when at a cost of £30,000 another double-decker, similar to the Main Stand, was built on the Bullens Road Side opposite. Again, Leitch was the architect.

In the 1930s, Everton borrowed an idea from Aberdeen, who they had visited for a friendly. Pittodrie was the home to what were reputedly the first ever dug-outs for coaching staff. Having adopted the idea at Goodison Park, it soon spread to other venues, and now the covered dug-out is a feature of almost every ground worldwide.

Goodison enjoyed another royal visit in 1938, when George VI and Queen Elizabeth, (the mother of current Queen Elizabeth II), came to Everton and saw the new Gwladys Street Stand, just completed for £50,000, at the north end of the stadium, behind the goal. Goodison Park thereby became the only ground in Britain to have four double-decker stands and was newly affirmed as the most advanced stadium in Britain.

Goodison Park suffered quite badly during the Second World War, because of its proximity to Liverpool's docks, and the Club received £5,000 for repairs from the War Damage Commission. Shortly after the work was completed, Everton enjoyed their highest ever attendance, 78,299 for the visit of Liverpool in Division One, on 18 September 1948.

Another familiar footballing adornment arrived at Everton in October 1957. The Goodison Park floodlights were switched on for an Everton v Liverpool friendly on 9 October.

A year later the Club made another revolutionary move, spending £16,000 installing 20 miles of electric wire underneath the pitch. The system melted frost and ice most effectively, but the drains could not handle the extra quantities of water, so in 1960 the pitch was dug up and new drainage pipes laid.

SWING THE CLUB

 21st February 2007

Well, the headlines on this day were all about Liverpool winning in Barcelona to become the first English club to win a Champions League match at the Nou Camp, but the main story seemed to be about a fall-out between two of the Liverpool players. 

At a team bonding evening at the pre-match training camp in Portugal two Liverpool players – Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise – had an argument about a karaoke performance which was allegedly followed by a violent confrontation between the two involving a golf club. Both the players were selected for the Barcelona game and scored a goal each in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory but it was Craig Bellamy’s goal celebration that became the talking point – he swung an imaginary golf club! Have a look at these.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWu2hAjdZVo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z-F8ZwpT0Y

FIVERS AND THRILLERS

On this day in 1995, a Premier League inquiry found Arsenal manager, George Graham guilty of accepting an illegal payment from Norwegian agent, Rune Hauge. The dodgey brown envelope in question featured a pile of "fivers" equalling £425,000 from the transfers of Pal Lydersen and John Jensen. It was enough to see Graham immediately given the "boot" from Highbury and a "World wide year long ban from the game".

Rune Hauge (born 23 April 1954). Hauge represented Joihn Jensen and Pal Lydersen during their transfers to Arsenal in the early 1990s. This would lead to Arsenal manager George Graham becoming embroiled in allegations that Hauge paid him a £425,000 "bung" to sign the players. Graham was later found guilty by the FA after admitting receiving an "unsolicited gift" and was suspended for a year. Before this, Hauge was involved in the signings of Andrei Kenchelskis and Peter Schmeichel for Manchester United.

Hauge was banned from operating as an agent for life by FIFA in 1995, but this was later reduced to two years' suspension of his licence. After he regained his licence, he went on to represent several Norwegian players including Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Steffen Iversen and Eirik Bakke. He was also involved in the transfer of Rio Ferdinand from West Ham United to Leeds United.

In 2005, he was involved in the transfer dispute between Manchester Utd and Chelsea over Mikel Jon Obi, claiming (along with others) that he had the right to represent Mikel.

On this day, 1991, Liverpool and Everton played out an historic Merseyside derby when their Fifth Round FA Cup tie ended up in extra time as 4-4 thriller. Everton came from behind four times and ended up beating their rivals 1-0 in a replay at Anfield.

MANAGERS

Manchester City is in a state of stability at the moment...meaning with the man in charge of football, YES, the manager. Bless him. I wonder how much longer his reign will last?

On February 18th 1998, Joe Royle was the latest footballer to sit in the "hot City seat", when he took over following Frank Clark's dismissal, when he became the SIXTH "boss" in 18 months. Royle did not put the brakes on City's slide into the THIRD tier of English Football but he was the man who reversed the slide, taking Light Blues back into the Premier League in 2000. Strap on your seat belt.....HERE are the men at the top since 1965.

Joe Mercer 1965-71, Malcolm Allison 1971-73, Johnny Hart October 1973, Tony Book 1973, Ron Saunders Nov 1973-1974, Tony Book 1974-79, Malcolm Allison 1979-80, Tony Book one month 1980, John Bond 1980-3, John Benson Feb-June 1983, Billy McNeill 1983-86, Jimmy Frizzel 1986-87, Mel Machin 1987-89, Tony Book 1989, Howard Kendall 1989-90, Peter Reid 1990-93, Tony Book 1993-93, Brian Horton 1990-95, Alan Ball 1995-96, Asa Hartford 1996, Steve Coppell 1996, Phil Neil 1996, Frank Clark 1996-98, Joe Royal 1998-2001, Kevin Keegan 2002-05, Stuart Pearce 2005-07, Sven-Goran Eriksen 2007-08, Mark Hughes 2008-09, Roberto Manchini 2009-13, Brian Kidd 2013-13, Manuel Pellegrini 2013-2016, Pep Guardiola 1st July 2016-present = Total 32. 

Joe Royle (born 8 April 1949) former footballer who debuted for Everton at the age of 16 and went on to play for Man City, Bristol City, Norwich City and England. Later, he managed Oldham Athletic, Everton, Manchester City and Ipswich Town. He is currently a director at Oldham Athletic. Here is  his playing career. In December 2006, Royle was appointed as a Patron of Trust Oldham, the official supporter's association of the club.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1966–1974	Everton	232	(102)
1974–1977	Manchester City	99	(23)
1977–1980	Bristol City	101	(18)
1980–1982	Norwich City	42	(9)
Total		474	(152)

Do you know which "League club" has had the longest serving manager?

Simon Weaver (above) - Harrogate Town (15 years, 120 days) Pep Guardiola - Man City (8 years, 79 days) Mark Robins - Coventry City (7 years, 196 days) Thomas Frank - Brentford (5 years, 338 days) Mikel Arteta - Arsenal (4 years, 271 days) Ian Evatt - Bolton Wanderers (4 years, 79 days) Nigel Clough - Mansfield Town (3 years, 317 days) Jon Brady - Northampton Town (3 years, 221 days) Andy Woodman - Bromley (3 years, 173 days) Marco Silva - Fulham (3 years, 79 days).

AND which "Premier" club has had the fewest managers in the similar time span?

GUNNERS AND ROVERS

This week, with the "World of Cinema" very much on our television screens and others, of course, I turn back to 1940 when the Arsenal Football Club made its debut on the silver screen in what was shown as "The Arsenal Stadium Mystery" on February 17th. 

This might work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYkvXwfyr2Q

Manager George Allison and several players, including "well knowns" such as Cliff Bastin and Eddie Hapgood appeared in the film centred around the "poisoning" of a rival player during a friendly match between The Gunners and a team called the Trojans, a fictional amateur club. 

Match action was provided for the film when Arsenal took on neighbours, Brentford, in the last game of ther 1938/9 season. It was to be "The Gunners last game before the outbreak of World War II. Below are results between the two clubs around that time......

08 Sep 1938	Brentford v Arsenal	L	1-0	League Division One
06 May 1939	Arsenal v Brentford	W	2-0	League Division One
12 Oct 1946	Arsenal v Brentford	D	2-2	League Division One
26 May 1947	Brentford v Arsenal	W	0-1	League Division One
26 Sep 2018	Arsenal v Brentford	W	3-1	League Cup NOTE THE GAP!!

The two clubs did not meet between the end of the 1946-7 season and September 2018!! 

Some aggression at Arsenal on this day in 2007, when Cesc Fabregas launched into a verbal tirade aimed at Blackburn Rovers' manager, Mark Hughes, following his team's usual 90 minutes of "rough and tumble" tactics. Cesc referred to the Welshman's time at Barcelona, by saying "That wasn't Barceloina football", the youngster remarked, much to Hughes' chagrin!! Below is the 2006-07 Season's results between the two clubs.

23 Dec2006	Arsenal v Blackburn R.	W	6-2	Premier League
13 Jan2007	Blackburn R. v Arsenal	W	0-2	Premier League
17 Feb2007	Arsenal v Blackburn R	D	0-0	FA Cup before a crowd of over 56,000
28 Feb2007	Blackburn R. v Arsenal	L	1-0	FA Cup nearly 19,000 there!!

Looks like Rovers might have got their own back.....shame about the crowd that missed it.