We are already a quarter of the way through our advent calendar with now only 18 sleeps ‘til Christmas.
Without further ado, let’s dive into more facts around the 6th of December.
The Football Faithful’s Advent Calendar: December 6th
Shirt Number: 6
For a number to be retired at a football club, a player must have made a timeless impact on the club. Bobby Moore did all that and more at West Ham.
The Englishman is widely regarded as the greatest player to ever represent the Hammers, with 544 appearances in Claret and Blue.
When Pele names you as the greatest defender he has ever played against, you know you’re doing something right.
The greatest ❤️
Twenty-eight years ago today, Bobby Moore passed away. pic.twitter.com/y9QjmUiATR
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 24, 2021
During his time in East London, he won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners Cup. Moore would immortalise himself in English football history in 1966 when he lifted the World Cup as captain. Robert Fredrick Chelsea Moore MBE. Mr West Ham United.
Game on this Day: Liverpool 6-0 Hamburg
Kevin Keegan’s return to Anfield didn’t exactly go to plan back in 1977.
The Englishman had a fruitful spell with the Reds, lifting the European Cup and three league titles under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. But, he moved on to new pastures in 1977 and joined German outfit Hamburg in a German record deal.
However, an early return to Anfield turned into a nightmare, as Hamburg faced Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup. Die Rothosen were trounced in Merseyside with a Terry McDermott hat-trick helping Liverpool to a 6-0 win (7-1 on aggregate).
That thrashing didn’t affect Keegan’s reputation as he was crowned the European Footballer of the Year in 1978 and 1979.
Footballer Born on this Day: Tim Cahill
Arguably the greatest Australian footballer of all time, Tim Cahill, celebrates his 45th birthday today.
The Socceroos legend was the first Aussie to score at a World Cup in 2006 before also netting in the 2010 and 2014 editions of the tournament.
Cahill made his name at Millwall where he burst through the youth ranks to eventually make over 200 appearances for the Lions.
He transferred to Everton in 2004 and spent eight successful years at Goodison Park. ‘Tiny Tim’ scored 56 goals in 226 outings and became a modern-day icon for the Toffees in the process. In 2006, he became the first Everton player since Neville Southall to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
‘Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant from @Tim_Cahill!’ 😲
A knockout strike from down under is our #GoalOfTheDay 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/lCSI9ZAUy7
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 23, 2019
The attacking midfielder retired in 2019 after a spell with Indian club Jamshedpur FC.
We can’t discuss Cahill without mentioning his trademark boxing celebration. No corner flags were safe. A pioneer for aspiring Australian footballers, Tim Cahill is truly a legend, mate.
Fact: The Lowest Football League Attendance in History
On this day in 1930, 469 supporters ‘crowded’ into a stadium with a capacity of 120,000.
Admittedly, a Division 3 South fixture between the now-defunct Thames FC and Luton doesn’t have a great interest outside of the die-hard fans.
But the lowest recorded attendance in Football League history can be explained.
Thames FC shared a catchment area with the likes of Charlton, Millwall and West Ham so attracting big crowds was sometimes an impossible task.
They played their games at the West Ham Stadium (no affiliation with West Ham) which was also home to greyhound racing and speedway events.
It’s probably no surprise that Thames FC dissolved in 1932, only four years after they were formed.
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