On this day in 1931, the Scottish FA Cup First Round matches were a spectacle of goal-scoring prowess. Across 32 ties, a staggering total of 198 goals were netted, averaging over six goals per match. Partick Thistle emerged as the top scorers with a resounding 16-0 victory over Royal Albert. Ayr United also showcased their attacking strength, defeating Clackmannan 11-2. In Dundee, two matches contributed significantly to the goal tally; Dundee United triumphed 14-0 against Nithsdale Wanderers, while Dundee FC secured a 10-1 win over Fraserburgh at Dens Park. Remarkably, throughout the 75 Scottish Cup ties played in the 1930/31 season, not a single match ended in a goalless draw.
17th January 1948
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The First Division match between Manchester United and Arsenal on 17th January 1948 set a record for the highest attendance at a League match in England, with 83,260 spectators. The match took place at Manchester City’s Maine Road, as Old Trafford was still closed due to wartime damage. However, this was not the record attendance for Maine Road itself; that record was set in 1934, when 84,569 fans attended an FA Cup 6th Round tie between Manchester City and Stoke.
17th January 2011
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On 17th January 2011, Liverpool’s Ryan Babel made history as the first footballer to be fined for comments made on Twitter. Babel was fined £10,000 for posting a doctored image of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt, accompanied by the tweet, “And they call him one of the best referees. That’s a joke.” The post was a reaction to what Babel perceived as a poor decision by Webb during a Liverpool versus Manchester United match.
17th January 2015
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Scunthorpe United faced an unusual challenge on 17th January 2015 during their League 1 match against Bristol City at Glanford Park. In a 2-0 defeat, Scunthorpe lost both of their goalkeepers to broken arms in the first half. First-choice goalkeeper Sam Slocombe and substitute keeper Jamie Severn both sustained injuries, forcing outfielder Andy Boyce to step in as the emergency goalkeeper for the remainder of the match.