11th November 1905
On this day in 1905, London witnessed its first all-London Football League encounter. The match took place at Clapton Orient’s Millfields Road ground, where Chelsea faced Clapton Orient in a Second Division clash. Chelsea emerged victorious with a 3-0 win. This match marked a significant moment in the history of London football, as it was the first time two London clubs competed against each other in the Football League. It would take nearly two more years for the first all-London match in the top flight to occur.
11th November 1987
England played their last competitive match against Yugoslavia on this day in 1987, securing a 4-1 victory in Belgrade during a Euro 88 qualifier. The goals came from Peter Beardsley, John Barnes, Bryan Robson, and Tony Adams, all within the first 25 minutes of the match. This win ensured England topped their qualifying group, having dropped just one point from six matches and boasting a goal difference of +18. Despite the strong performance in the qualifiers, England’s hopes for the Euro 88 finals in Germany were dashed as they lost all three matches in the tournament.
11th November 2006
On this day in 2006, Luton Town manager Mick Newell made headlines following a controversial incident during a 3-2 home defeat against QPR. Newell criticised the referee and one of the assistant referees, Amy Rayner, who was among the early women officiating in the Football League. His comments, deemed sexist, led to widespread condemnation. Newell later apologised to Rayner and received a warning from his club along with a £6,500 fine from the FA.
Additionally, on the same day, a First Round FA Cup tie between Barrow and Bristol Rovers at Holker Street saw a significant legal incident. Barrow defender James Cotterill punched Bristol Rovers forward Sean Rigg, breaking his jaw in two places. Although the match officials missed the incident, it was captured by Match of the Day cameras. Cotterill was charged with causing grievous bodily harm, found guilty, and sentenced to four months in prison, becoming the first player in England to be jailed for an incident during a football match.
11th November 2016
The World Cup qualifier between England and Scotland at Wembley on this day in 2016 was notable not just for the football but for the controversy surrounding the display of poppies. The match was played on Armistice Day, and both teams wore armbands displaying poppies. A minute’s silence was observed, the Last Post was played, and poppy T-shirts were distributed to fans. However, FIFA’s ruling against ‘political and religious’ symbols at matches led to England being fined over £35,000 for the display. Despite the controversy, England won the match 3-0.