On this day in 1889, the Football League witnessed its first double-figure scoreline as Preston North End, famously known as the ‘Invincibles’, defeated Stoke City with a resounding 10-0 victory. This match was a significant milestone in the history of the Football League, showcasing the dominance of Preston during that era. The victory was part of Preston’s campaign to retain the League title, further cementing their status as one of the formidable teams of the time.
14th September 1955
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Fast forward to 1955, and another historic event unfolded in the world of football. Kidderminster Harriers’ Aggborough ground became the venue for the first-ever FA Cup match to be played under floodlights. This Preliminary Round replay saw non-league sides Kidderminster Harriers and Brierley Hill Alliance face off in a match that ended with a 4-2 victory for Kidderminster. The use of floodlights marked a new era in football, allowing matches to be played in the evening and paving the way for future night-time fixtures.
14th September 2017
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In more recent history, 14th September 2017 marked a unique European encounter for Arsenal. The club, accustomed to starting their European campaigns in the prestigious Champions League, found themselves in the Europa League for the 2017/18 season. Their Group Stage opponents, Cologne, were playing their first European match in 25 years. The fixture at the Emirates Stadium was notable not only for the football but also for the unprecedented number of Cologne fans who travelled to London. Despite an official ticket allocation of just 2,900, over 20,000 Cologne supporters made the journey, leading to significant security challenges. Many German fans acquired tickets from touts, resulting in a large presence in the Arsenal sections of the stadium, where flares were set off. Outside the stadium, thousands of ticketless fans caused further concerns, prompting fears of a potential storming of the turnstiles. The match was delayed by an hour, eventually kicking off at 9.05 pm. Arsenal emerged victorious with a 3-1 win and progressed to the knockout stages, while Cologne did not advance. UEFA later fined Cologne €60,000 (£53,000) for the crowd disturbances and ordered them to cover the costs of damages caused at the Emirates Stadium.