14th March 1973
On this day in 1973, Home Park, the home of Third Division Plymouth Argyle, was the venue for a remarkable friendly match against the illustrious Santos of Brazil. The match drew a capacity crowd of nearly 38,000 spectators, eager to witness the legendary Pelé in action. However, the event was nearly derailed by a last-minute issue that almost led to its cancellation. Despite the challenges, the match proceeded, providing a memorable occasion for the fans in attendance.
14th March 2007
Fast forward to 2007, and another significant event unfolded on 14th March, this time at the Emirates Stadium in London. An FA Youth Cup attendance record was set when 38,187 fans gathered to watch the first leg of the semi-final between Arsenal and Manchester United. Arsenal emerged victorious with a 1-0 win, marking a memorable night for the young Gunners. This attendance figure set a new benchmark for the competition, highlighting the growing interest in youth football.
Interestingly, on the same evening, just a short distance away at White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur were competing in a UEFA Cup Round of the Last 16 match. Despite the significance of the European fixture, the attendance at White Hart Lane was over 4,000 fewer than that at the Emirates, underscoring the remarkable draw of the youth encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United.
The FA Youth Cup attendance record set at the Emirates would stand for over a decade, until May 2022. It was then that Old Trafford hosted a crowd of 67,492 spectators who witnessed Manchester United defeat Nottingham Forest 3-1 in the 2021/22 final, setting a new record for the competition.