On this day, Billy Meredith made history by playing his last match for Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle. At the age of 49 years and 245 days, Meredith became the oldest player ever to play for Manchester City and the oldest to participate in the FA Cup. His remarkable career also saw him as the oldest player for Manchester United and, at 45, the oldest to represent Wales. This match marked the end of an era for one of football’s enduring figures.
29th March 2000
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The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff hosted its first match on this day, with Wales taking on Finland in front of a record home crowd of 65,614. Nathan Blake had the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first Welshman to score at the stadium, albeit with an own goal. Despite Ryan Giggs finding the net for Wales, the visitors, Finland, emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, dampening the celebratory atmosphere of the stadium’s debut.
29th March 2008
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Derby County’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on this day confirmed their relegation from the Premier League, marking the earliest point in the season that a club had been relegated from the league. It was a challenging season for Derby County, with their only league victory being a 1-0 win over Newcastle in September. This result was one of just a few highlights in a season where they failed to secure more than one win in 38 league matches.
29th March 2017
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Cristiano Ronaldo received a unique honour on this day when the international airport on his native island of Madeira was renamed Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo. This recognition highlighted Ronaldo’s impact and legacy in his homeland. However, the event was also noted for the unveiling of a bust of Ronaldo, which drew attention for its less-than-accurate likeness to the Portuguese football star.