10th April 1965
On this day, Norbert Stiles, more commonly known as Nobby Stiles, made his debut for the England national team. Stiles, who was a key member of the 1966 England World Cup-winning squad, played 28 times for his country, all while representing Manchester United. His debut came in a 2-2 draw against Scotland at Wembley Stadium. Known for his short-sightedness, Stiles had an amusing incident after the match. He and his teammates attended a banquet at the Café Royal in London. Without his glasses, Stiles got lost in the corridors and inadvertently joined a wedding reception, only realising his mistake when a fellow guest asked him if he knew the bride or the groom.
10th April 1970
Highbury, the historic home of Arsenal Football Club, hosted the inaugural FA Cup 3rd/4th place match on this day. This fixture was introduced to replace the traditional FA Cup Final eve match between England and Young England. In this first edition, Manchester United faced Watford and emerged victorious with a 2-0 win. The match attracted an attendance of 15,105 spectators. However, the 3rd/4th place match format was short-lived, lasting only five games before being discontinued.
10th April 1999
Fulham Football Club’s Division 2 match against Wigan Athletic on this day was marked by the presence of a special guest. Mohamed Al-Fayed, the owner of Fulham, welcomed the legendary singer Michael Jackson to Craven Cottage. This was Jackson’s only visit to the stadium, but it left a lasting impression. Twelve years later, Fulham commemorated his visit by unveiling a statue of Jackson, honouring him as one of their ‘greatest supporters’.
