On this day, Northern Ireland achieved a historic victory in Belfast, defeating Italy 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier. Goals from Jimmy McIlroy of Burnley and Wilbur Cush of Leeds secured Northern Ireland’s place in their first-ever World Cup finals. This result marked a significant moment in football history as Italy, two-time World Cup winners, failed for the first time to qualify for the tournament. The match had a dramatic prelude; a previous attempt to stage the qualifier on 4th December 1957 was thwarted when the Hungarian referee, Istvan Zolt, was fog-bound in London and unable to reach Belfast. Consequently, the match was downgraded to a friendly, ending in a 2-2 draw. Had World Cup points been at stake, Italy would have qualified instead. Ultimately, Northern Ireland joined England, Scotland, and Wales in the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden, where Brazil emerged victorious.
15th January 1959
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In a notable FA Cup upset, Second Division Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Southern League side Worcester City. This unexpected result in the 1958/59 FA Cup highlighted the unpredictable nature of the competition, where lower league teams often challenge and sometimes overcome higher-ranked opponents.
15th January 1997
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Newcastle United embarked on a new chapter under the management of Kenny Dalglish, playing their first match with him at the helm. The team secured a victory against Charlton Athletic in an FA Cup Third Round replay at St James’ Park. Dalglish’s tenure at Newcastle lasted until the start of the 1998/99 season, a period described as the only part of his career that approached failure.
15th January 2000
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In a unique occurrence in football history, Ipswich Town defender Gary Croft made headlines by wearing an electronic tag during a First Division match against Swindon Town at Portman Road. Coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute, Croft became the first player to wear a tag in a League match. This was due to his release after serving one month of a four-month prison sentence for driving while disqualified and perverting the course of justice. The tag was part of his conditions, which included a curfew from 7pm to 7am, limiting him to afternoon kick-offs until his punishment concluded.