On this day in 1931, Dixie Dean continued his remarkable goalscoring streak by netting twice in Everton’s 5-2 victory over Barnsley in a Second Division match at Goodison Park. This performance marked Dean’s 12th consecutive Football League match with a goal, a run that began on 6th December. During this period, Dean scored an impressive 23 goals, contributing significantly to Everton’s dominant performances, including a 9-1 home win against Plymouth and a 7-0 triumph at Charlton. That season, Dean scored 39 of Everton’s club record 121 League goals, plus an additional nine in the FA Cup, leading the team to finish as champions in their first season in Division 2. Notably, three seasons earlier, Dean had set a still-standing record by scoring 60 League goals in a single season.
18th February 1987
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Fast forward to 1987, England’s national football team achieved a memorable victory in Madrid by defeating Spain 4-2. Gary Lineker was the star of the match, scoring all four goals for England. The match was also significant for manager Bobby Robson, who was celebrating his 54th birthday, and for Tony Adams, who made his international debut. This victory was a highlight in England’s football history, showcasing Lineker’s exceptional talent and Robson’s effective management.
18th February 2017
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In 2017, a Guinness World Record was set during the League 1 fixture between Rochdale and Charlton Athletic. Derby fan Ed Wood reclaimed the record for attending matches at all the League grounds in England in the shortest time. Wood began his journey on 14th August 2016 at the League 1 match between Bristol Rovers and Oxford United. By 18th February 2017, he had visited all 93 League grounds, including the 92 Premier and Football League grounds and Shielfield Park, home of Berwick Rangers, a Scottish League side based in England. The original record of 264 days was set by Mike Jones and Bob Wilson in the 1968-69 season. Wood had previously reduced it to 243 days in 1991/92, before Ken Ferris lowered it to 237 days in the 1994/95 season. To reclaim the record, Wood took a six-month unpaid holiday from Lloyds Bank and raised money for Prostate Cancer UK during his travels. His new record averaged nearly a match every two days, with Wood attending two matches in a day on four occasions.
18th February 2023
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On 18th February 2023, Hollywood legend Tom Hanks made his first visit to Villa Park to watch Aston Villa play against Arsenal in the Premier League. Hanks, who announced his support for Aston Villa in 2008, was drawn to the club not by its history or style of play, but by its ‘old world name’, which he described as sounding like a ‘lovely little place’ or a ‘spa’. During the match, Aston Villa took an early lead with a goal from Ollie Watkins in the fifth minute and led twice before Arsenal scored two stoppage-time goals to secure a 4-2 victory, taking them to the top of the table.