15th March 1947
On this day in 1947, New Brighton manager Neil McBain faced an unusual predicament during a Division 3 (North) match against Hartlepools. With a shortage of players, McBain, a former centre-half, was compelled to play himself as the goalkeeper. Remarkably, this was his one and only League appearance for the club, and he did so at the age of 51 years and 4 months. This match remains a notable event in football history due to McBain’s advanced age and the unique circumstances that led to his participation on the field.
15th March 1960
15th March 1960 marked a significant day in the career of Scottish international Denis Law. Having made his debut in the Football League with Huddersfield Town in 1956, Law scored 16 goals in 81 League appearances for the Terriers. Despite interest from prominent managers such as Bill Shankly of Liverpool and Matt Busby of Manchester United, it was Manchester City that secured Law’s services on this day. The club paid a record transfer fee of £55,000, the highest ever paid by an English club at the time. Law’s tenure at Manchester City was brief, lasting just over a year before he transferred to Torino for a fee double that which City had paid. He later joined Manchester United, where he enjoyed the most successful period of his career. Law eventually returned to Manchester City, where he played his final game in the Football League, a match that would become one of the most memorable and poignant of his career.