On this day in 1961, Fulham’s Alan Mullery made an unusual mark in football history by scoring an own goal just 30 seconds after kick-off in a First Division match against Sheffield Wednesday at Craven Cottage. Remarkably, the opposition had not even touched the ball before Mullery’s mishap. The match continued to be a challenging one for Fulham, as they suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
21st January 1997
-----------------
Fast forward to 1997, and Peter Shilton was making history of a different kind. Playing for Leyton Orient against Wigan Athletic, Shilton marked his 1005th and final match in the Football League. This appearance was significant as it made him the first person ever to play in 1000 League matches. Despite Shilton’s milestone, Leyton Orient lost 2-1 to Wigan, who went on to win the Division 3 title that season.
21st January 2005
-----------------
In 2005, Ken Bates, the former owner of Chelsea, made headlines once again in the football world. Having sold Chelsea to Roman Abramovich in 2003, Bates announced his acquisition of Leeds United for £10 million. This purchase marked his return to football club ownership, demonstrating his continued interest in the sport.
21st January 2007
-----------------
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger faced an unexpected challenge in 2007 when Robin van Persie, who had just come on as a substitute, scored against Manchester United at the Emirates. During the ensuing celebrations, van Persie broke a bone in his foot. At the time, he was Arsenal’s leading scorer in the Premier League. Despite not making another League appearance that season due to the injury, van Persie still finished as the Gunners’ top scorer. Arsenal, missing his contributions, ended the season in fourth place in the Premier League.
In 2017, the postponement of a League 1 match between Southend United and Bolton Wanderers due to a frozen pitch highlighted the importance of the team behind the scenes. Southend’s head groundsman, Ken Hare, who had served the club for 27 years, was sacked and held responsible for the postponement. The club issued a statement saying, “People generally lose their position as a result of not doing their job.” Despite a nationwide campaign to reinstate him, Hare did not return to his position. However, a settlement reached four months later included a pair of Southend season tickets for him.