On this day in 1900, Woolwich Arsenal achieved their record League victory by defeating Loughborough 12-0 in a Division 2 match. This remarkable win came just three seasons after Loughborough had handed Arsenal their record League defeat, an 8-0 loss. However, the Leicestershire side had since faced severe financial difficulties and were on the brink of exiting the League. This match remains a significant part of Arsenal’s history, marking their largest margin of victory in a League game.
12th March 1973
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In 1973, the legendary Brazilian footballer Pelé made his only appearance in London when his club, Santos, played a friendly match against Fulham at Craven Cottage. The match attracted a crowd of 21,464, Fulham’s highest attendance of the season, more than doubling their average Second Division attendances for the 1972/73 season. Pelé scored from the penalty spot for Santos, but Fulham emerged victorious with goals from Alan Pinkney and Steve Earle, securing a 2-1 win. The occasion was marred by post-match accusations from the Brazilian side, who claimed that Fulham had manipulated the gate receipts.
12th March 1997
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On this day in 1997, Arsenal made headlines with a surprising £120 million bid to purchase Wembley Stadium. Frustrated by the challenges in upgrading their Highbury home, the club saw Wembley as a potential new venue. However, the Football Association was not pleased, fearing that a club-owned Wembley would undermine their bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals in England. Ultimately, Arsenal moved to Ashburton Grove, and the 2006 World Cup was awarded to Germany. Despite the failed acquisition, Arsenal did play six home Champions League matches at Wembley Stadium in 1998 and 1999.
12th March 2016
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In 2016, former England international Stuart Pearce made a surprising return to football at the age of 53. Known for his nearly 600 League appearances and 78 England caps, Pearce signed for non-league side Langford FC, who were struggling in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division 2. Langford had lost every match in the 2015/16 season, including heavy defeats such as 17-0 against Bibury and 15-0 against Quedgeley Wanderers. Pearce made his debut, and only appearance, for Langford as a second-half substitute against Wootton Rovers on 12th March 2016. Langford narrowly lost 1-0 to the second-worst team in the division, after which Pearce returned to footballing obscurity.