On this day, Southern League side Wimbledon faced a formidable challenge in the FA Cup 4th Round replay against Leeds United, the reigning League champions. The match took place at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, attracting a massive crowd of 45,071 spectators. Wimbledon had previously achieved a remarkable victory over First Division Burnley in the Third Round and managed to secure a draw at Elland Road in the Fourth Round. However, in this replay, the non-league team succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat, with the only goal of the match resulting from an unfortunate deflection. This encounter was a significant moment in Wimbledon’s history, preceding their famous FA Cup final victory over Liverpool thirteen years later.
10th February 1996
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The date also marks a memorable incident in English football involving Grimsby Town and their Italian player, Ivano Bonetti. Bonetti, who had moved from Italy’s Serie A to join Grimsby Town, endeared himself to fans by contributing half of his transfer fee. However, his time at the club is most remembered for the infamous ‘chicken wings’ incident. Following a 3-2 defeat away to Luton Town, Grimsby manager Brian Laws confronted Bonetti regarding his perceived lack of effort. The confrontation escalated, culminating in Laws throwing a plate of chicken wings at Bonetti, resulting in a broken cheekbone for the player. This incident quickly made headlines, overshadowing Bonetti’s on-field contributions.
10th February 2002
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In another notable event on this day, former Tottenham Hotspur stars Paul Gascoigne and David Ginola briefly reunited on the pitch for Everton in a Premier League match against Arsenal at Goodison Park. David Ginola made his debut for Everton in this match, while Gascoigne came on as a late substitute. This game marked the only occasion the two played together in the Premier League, albeit for just about 20 minutes. Despite the presence of these two footballing icons, Everton fell to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal. Ginola’s stint at Everton was short-lived, with the Arsenal match being one of only five league appearances he made for the club.