On this day, Ian Porterfield became the first manager in Premier League history to be sacked. Porterfield, who was perhaps best known as the scorer of the only goal in the 1973 FA Cup Final when Sunderland defeated Leeds United, was managing Chelsea during the inaugural Premier League season in 1992/93. Under his management, Chelsea had a promising start, notably defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at White Hart Lane on 5th December 1992, which saw them rise to fourth place in the league table. However, Chelsea’s form took a downturn as they failed to secure a win in their subsequent 11 league matches, causing them to slip to mid-table. Following a defeat to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, Porterfield was dismissed on 15th February and replaced by David Webb, a former favourite at Stamford Bridge.
15th February 1995
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In a regrettable incident, the friendly match between the Republic of Ireland and England at Lansdowne Road was abandoned due to the behaviour of some England supporters. The match was called off after Ireland took a 1-0 lead with a goal from David Kelly in the 23rd minute. A section of England fans began ripping up seats in the upper stand and throwing them onto the spectators below, making it impossible for the match to continue. This marked only the third time in history that an England match was abandoned due to such circumstances.
15th February 2003
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A football-related incident made headlines when Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson inadvertently injured David Beckham following a match. After Arsenal defeated Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford in the Third Round of the FA Cup, Ferguson, known for his fiery temper, kicked a boot in the changing room in frustration. The boot struck Beckham, famously known as ‘Golden Balls’, above his left eye, resulting in a cut that required stitches. The incident drew significant media attention, highlighting the tensions within the Manchester United camp at the time.