18th July 1955
On this day, a new transfer fee record for a Football League player was set. The previous record, held since March 1951, was for Jackie Sewell’s transfer from Notts County to Sheffield Wednesday. However, this record was surpassed when South African Eddie Firmani moved from Charlton Athletic to Sampdoria in Italy. The new record transfer fee was £35,000, just £500 more than the previous record. The Italian club was seen as extravagant, not only for the record fee but also for paying Firmani a £5,000 signing-on fee and increasing his wages from £15 to £150 a week. Firmani spent eight years in Italy, playing for clubs such as Inter-Milan and Genoa, and earned three caps for Italy, being eligible through his Italian grandfather. He returned to Charlton in 1963 and later managed the club at The Valley.
18th July 2000
Nick Barmby made headlines with his transfer from Everton to Liverpool for £6 million. This move was significant as it marked the first time a player had transferred directly from Everton to Liverpool since Dave Hickson in 1959. The transfer was notable not only for its financial implications but also for the intense reaction it provoked among fans, with Barmby receiving considerable abuse for crossing the city’s football divide.
18th July 2002
Leicester City’s pre-season tour of Finland was marred by controversy when Dennis Wise broke the cheekbone of team-mate Callum Davidson following an argument during a game of cards. The incident led to Wise being sacked by Leicester City for serious misconduct. This event highlighted the potential for off-field incidents to impact team dynamics and player careers significantly.
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