Wikipedia:WikiProject Football/Did you know

The following football-related facts have appeared on the Did you know? section of the Main Page.

Did you know?

...that the men's tournament of football at the 2004 Summer Olympics was played by "U-23" (under 23-years-old) player) teams, with up to three over-age players allowed per team? (date unknown)
...that Leyton F.C. had to win a High Court action in order to call itself the oldest football club in London? (date unknown)
...that soccer player Paul Reaney was briefly a car mechanic before signing with Leeds United? (date unknown)
...that Nils Liedholm is the last surviving member of the famous footballing Gre-No-Li trio? (date unknown)
...that England football captain Eddie Hapgood was forced by diplomats to give a Nazi salute before a match with Germany in 1938? (date unknown)
...that Nat Lofthouse was the England football team's highest goalscorer of all-time for eight years? (date unknown)
...that Stan Mortensen scored a hat-trick in the 1953 FA Cup Final at Wembley, becoming the first player ever to do so? (date unknown)
...that Ray Wilson, who was the eldest member of England's victorious 1966 World Cup team, became an undertaker after he retired from football? (date unknown)
...that the England football squad for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico contained two players called Gary Stevens? (date unknown)
...that the French footballer Lucien Laurent scored the first ever World Cup goal, against Mexico in 1930? (date unknown)
...that although England centre forward Geoff Hurst had scored a hat-trick and was therefore entitled to keep the match ball, it was German striker Helmut Haller who took it home after the 1966 World Cup final? (date unknown)
...that Mick Mills was made captain of the England national football team which started the 1982 World Cup because Kevin Keegan was unable to play through injury? (date unknown)
...that former England footballer Mick Channon is now a successful horse trainer? (date unknown)
...that Alan Mullery became the first England association football player to be sent off in a full international match during the 1968 European Championship semi-final against Yugoslavia? (date unknown)
...that Norwegian football commentator Bjørge Lillelien famously taunted Margaret Thatcher after Norway's victory over England in 1981? (date unknown)
...that Chris Woods cost Queens Park Rangers 250,000 pounds from Nottingham Forest in 1979 even though he had never played a League game before his transfer? (date unknown)
...that the German prisoners of war built part of the Stade de Gerland stadium in Lyon, France, after the First World War? (date unknown)
...that the Liga Indonesia is the top football league in Indonesia? (date unknown)
...that although Archibald Leitch was the foremost football stadium architect in the United Kingdom in the early 20th century, only two of his works have been listed for preservation? (date unknown)
...that, before Wayne Rooney made his debut in February 2003, England's youngest ever football player was James F. M. Prinsep, who had held the record for more than 123 years? (date unknown)
...that the first ever golden goal was scored in the Cromwell Cup final at Bramall Lane, Sheffield in 1868, giving Sheffield Wednesday a 1-0 victory? (date unknown)
...that in 1930, the footballer Gerard Keizer played for both Arsenal and Ajax Amsterdam simultaneously, flying between England and the Netherlands to play in matches? (date unknown)
...that César Sampaio is a former Brazilian football player who played offensive midfielder for Palmeiras and the Brazilian national team? (2 December 2005)
...that footballer Alan Taylor scored two goals in the quarter final, two goals in the semi final and two goals in the final of the 1975 FA Cup as his club West Ham United won the competition? (date unknown)
...the Stadion Graz-Liebenau in Austria was renamed after controversy over Arnold Schwarzenegger's decisions in recent death penalty cases in California? (30 December 2005)
...that Dimba was the top goalscorer of the 2003 Brazilian football championship? (29 December 2005)
...that the former English football player Eric Brook is the all-time record goalscorer for Manchester City F.C. with 178 goals? (27 December 2005)
...that a 1906 football match between a team of youngsters from Kraków and the troupe of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show is one of the milestones in the history of football in Poland? (date unknown)
...that Deportivo Táchira Fútbol Club is the Venezuelan soccer club with the most appearances in the Copa Libertadores? (17 January, 2006)
...that the Agony of Doha is a term used by fans of the Japanese national football team to refer to the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification match where Japan lost its World Cup place to South Korea? (16 May 2006)
...that Garry Parker ran the full length of the pitch at Wembley Stadium to score a goal for Nottingham Forest in the final of the Simod Cup against Everton in 1989, which Forest won 4-3? (21 May 2006)
...that Dutch football manager Clemens Westerhof is credited with turning the Nigerian national team into a perennial powerhouse in African football, having guided them to victory in the 1992 African Cup of Nations as well as their first FIFA World Cup participation in 1994? (23 May 2006)
...that the first professional football team, The Zulus, was established in Sheffield, England in 1879? (21 July 2006)
...that the English footballer David Layne scored 58 goals in 81 games for Sheffield Wednesday F.C. before he was jailed for his involvement in the British betting scandal of 1964? (6 August 2006)
...that the Gay Football Supporters Network recently voted Steven Gerrard top of their annual "Lust List" for the second year running? (31 August 2006)
...that Charlie Williams, one of the first black football players in Britain after the Second World War and later Britain's first well-known black comedian, responded to heckling by saying: "If you don't shut up, I'll come and move in next door to you"? (14 September 2006)
...that the rules of Swedish football played in the late 19th century were a mix of association football rules and the rugby football rules because of a misunderstanding? (28 September 2006)
...that Sheffield Wednesday Ladies F.C. were formed at the Star Inn public house in Rotherham in 1971 following a charity match between men and women at the pub?(28 September 2006)
...that Swedish goalkeeper Karl Svensson was given his nickname Rio-Kalle after two heroic matches in the 1950 FIFA World Cup that were actually played in São Paulo and not in Rio de Janeiro? (18 October 2006)
... that English lower-league football team Bristol Rovers once beat the Netherlands national football team 3-2? (12 November 2006)
...that West Ham Stadium in London holds the record for the lowest ever attendance of a football match in The Football League, despite its capacity of 120,000? (6 December 2006)
...that Göteborgs BK, founded in 1875, is the oldest football club in Sweden known by name, also played Swedish football, a local variant? (20 December 2006)
...that the cope given to the Rt. Revd. David Urquhart upon his inauguration as the ninth Bishop of Birmingham in November 2006 featured the emblems of Aston Villa and Birmingham City, the two most prominent football teams of the city? (23 December 2006)
...that Les Taylor only captained Watford in the 1984 FA Cup final because regular captain Wilf Rostron was suspended? (22 January 2007)
...that Torbjörn Nilsson is considered to be one of the greatest Swedish footballers of all time, despite only having played 28 matches for the national team? (7 February 2007)
...that the fourth Nordic Football Championship tournament was started in 1937 but did not end until eleven years later as it was interrupted by the Second World War? (28 February 2007)
...that Harry Kent worked both as a manufacturer of munitions and as a pub landlord whilst managing Watford F.C.? (13 March 2007)
...that Peter Knowles, a popular English football player, voluntarily ended his football career at the age of 24, after becoming a Jehovah's Witness? (19 March 2007)
...that when Archie Goodall scored for Northern Ireland in their 9–1 loss to Scotland, he became the oldest footballer to score an international goal in the 19th century? (2 April 2007)
...that footballer Francis Lee earned his nickname Lee One Pen by setting an English record for the most penalties scored in a single season? (17 April 2007)
...that Uruguayan footballer Víctor Rodríguez Andrade helped found Uruguayan Basketball Federation team 25 de Agosto? (19 April 2007)
...that Pankaj Gupta was one of the earliest Indian sports administrators involved in football, hockey and cricket? (21 April 2007)
...that 1927 Italian football champions Torino F.C. were stripped of their title for match fixing? (21 April 2007)
...that Jacqui Oatley is the first female football commentator in the history of BBC football programme Match of the Day? (24 April 2007)
...that Alex Stevenson is the only footballer to play for both the Republic of Ireland and Rangers F.C.? (25 April 2007)
...that English cricketer and footballer Arthur Milton was the last surviving person to have played Test cricket for the England cricket team and international football for the England football team? (1 May 2007)
...that the football stadium Nya Gamla Ullevi which is under construction in Gothenburg, Sweden, is only the second Swedish top league stadium built since 1966? (8 May 2007)
..that in 2003, aged 70, former English Football League and international soccer referee Pat Partridge took over as linesman in a non-league match he was watching, after the original linesman took over from the injured referee? (18 May 2007)
...that footballer David Weir scored Manchester City's first ever FA Cup goal? (1 June 2007)
...that Itzik Zohar scored Israel's first international goal in football after gaining full admittance to UEFA? (5 June 2007)
...that the 1902 British Home Championship football tournament was won by Scotland in a replay after the deciding match was marred by the deaths of 25 spectators when a stand collapsed at Ibrox Park? (6 June 2007)
...that footballer George Wynn was Manchester City's leading goalscorer in three consecutive seasons? (8 June 2007)
...that Dutch amateur football club IJsselmeervogels received the Dutch Sports Team of the Year Award in 1975, for reaching the semi-final of the KNVB Cup? (10 June 2007)
...that football players Billy and John McPhail are the only brothers to have both scored hat-tricks for Celtic F.C. against their Old Firm rivals, Rangers F.C.? (21 June 2007)
...that the football song Hampden in the sun celebrates the record scoreline of the 1957 Scottish League Cup final? (28 June 2007)
...that Scottish footballer Billy McPhail launched a legal case claiming that heading heavy leather footballs contributed to him developing Alzheimer's disease? (28 June 2007)
...that money donated in 1905 by the fans at Celtic Park football stadium in Glasgow, Scotland was given to the mother of international Scottish footballer Barney Battles, Jr. while Battles was still in the womb? (1 July 2007)
...that Stoke City F.C. is the second-oldest English football league club, as it was founded in 1863? (6 July 2006)
...that on the same day Arbroath beat Bon Accord 36-0 in the Scottish Cup that 18 miles away in Dundee, Dundee Harp had beaten Aberdeen Rovers 35-0? (19 July 2007)
...that Eddy Brown, an English football player who had originally planned to take Holy Orders, was well known for his goal celebrations as early as the 1950s? (23 July 2007)
...that the famous black-and-white striped shirts of Italian football club Juventus were based on the kit of English Notts County, replacing the club's initial pink and black colours in 1903? (1 August 2007)
...that Russian émigré Jerzy Bulanow captained the Poland national football team through the 1920s and early 1930s? (5 August 2007)
...that the football (soccer) stadium at Tehelné pole, in Bratislava, was the largest in the former Czechoslovakia?(10 August 2007)
...that Tommy Sale scored 282 goals during 14 years at the English Football club Stoke City F.C.? (10 August 2007)
...that Bob McGrory managed the English football team Stoke City for a period of 17 years, having previously played for the club for 14 years? (20 August 2007)
...that the first Italian football (soccer) club, Torino Football and Cricket Club, was founded by Edoardo Bosio (pictured) in 1887? (21 August 2007)
...that Alex Leake was offered a £10 bribe by Manchester City player Billy Meredith to throw the final match of the 1904–1905 season? (29 August 2007)
...that the England national football team is to train on the football pitch of the Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College, as it is the only one identical to one in Russia on which they are due to play in October 2007? (28 September 2007)
...that despite being organised on St. Andrew's Day, the first official international football match did not result in a home win? (28 September 2007)
...that Harry Newbould was the first-ever manager of Derby County F.C.? (29 September 2007)
...that Sam Ormerod was the first manager to gain promotion to the First Division, the highest level of English football, with Manchester City F.C.? (5 October 2007)
...that Wilf Wild was the first Manchester City manager to win the League Championship? (13 October 2007)
...that the Portuguese football champion has been one of S.L. Benfica, F.C. Porto or Sporting Clube de Portugal on 78 out of 86 occasions? (17 October 2007)
...that English football referee Matt Messias once urged a Portsmouth defender not to kick an opposing player during a match against Newcastle United because "the devil was trying to get him sent off"? (23 October 2007)
...that Niek Loohuis is now a Dutch First Division football (soccer) player, despite having been declared unfit and removed from FC Twente's youth academy at age 18? (19 November 2007)
...that football referees in England officiate at eleven different levels according to ability, activity and age? (24 November 2007)
...that football (soccer) player Law Adam of Grasshopper-Club Zürich played for Switzerland against Austria in 1929, but played for his native Netherlands against Switzerland a year later? (1 December 2007)
...that the Galatasaray S.K. has origins from the Ottoman Empire era? (4 December 2007)
...that former Hampshire wicketkeeper Adi Aymes went on to manage football club Fleet Town F.C., and is the current fitness coach of Havant and Waterlooville? (8 December 2007)
...that English football referee Gary Willard once had to be given a police safety escort off the pitch after sending off three home team players in a single game? (14 December 2007)
...that the Hungarian politician and Nazi collaborator Andor Jaross was also president of the football (soccer) club Ferencvárosi TC? (21 December 2007)
...that footballer Roy Cheetham was the first Manchester City player to be used as a substitute? (29 December 2007)
...that a steam-powered portable engine drove the dynamo for the first floodlit football match in the UK in 1878? (7 January 2008)
...that football (soccer) midfielder Evan Berger was nominated for an informal Australia Day award by his local council for representing Australia in the national under-20 team? (10 January 2008)
...that Tommy Fleming was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005, one of five soccer players unanimously selected to represent overlooked players from before the 1950s? (16 January 2008)
...that football manager Yvon Pouliquen led two clubs to victory in the French Cup Final and relegation from the top division in consecutive seasons? (18 January 2008)
...that Tommy Johnson holds the record for the most goals scored by a Manchester City player in a single season? (18 January 2008)

...that Frank Loughran played for the Socceroos at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, scoring a goal in the first game his adopted country of Australia ever played in Olympic soccer? (22 January 2008)
...that footballer John Hewitt scored the fastest recorded goal in Scottish Cup history, timed at 9.6 seconds? (26 January 2008)
...that Mretebi Tbilisi was the first openly professional football club to be founded in the Soviet Union? (31 January 2008)
...that Association Footballer Billy Mosforth was a leading exponent of the screw shot, which allows players to bend the ball's trajectory? (1 February 2008)
...that Billy Mercer became caretaker assistant manager of Sheffield Wednesday in October 2006, having previously played for rivals Sheffield United? (9 February 2008)

Did you know? from Portal:Association football

The following are undated DYK's that appeared on Portal:Association football.

...that India withdrew from the 1950 World Cup because their team was not allowed to play barefoot?
...that the first player to score a hat-trick during the final of a World Cup was Geoff Hurst in England's 4-2 win against Germany in the 1966 World Cup? Two of his goals scored within 120 minutes are controversial, though.
...that Frenchman Just Fontaine set a world record for goals scored in the finals of a World Cup with 13 in the 1958 tournament, with a hat-trick against Paraguay and four against Germany?
...that the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland was the first time that the tournament was televised worldwide?
...that the German brothers Fritz and Ottmar Walter shared four goals between themselves in the team's 6-1 defeat of Austria in the 1954 World Cup which the Germans eventually won, too?
...that the Dutch East Indies were the first Asian representatives in the World Cup, qualifying for the 1938 tournament?
...that Uruguay declined to defend their title in the 1934 FIFA World Cup in Italy, as a protest against the meagre European participation in the previous competition held in Uruguay in 1930 during the Great depression?
...that France beat Mexico 4-1 in the first ever World Cup match, with Frenchman Lucien Laurent scoring the first ever goal?
...that Canada striker Christine Sinclair was named one of the 25 most influential people in Canadian sports before she turned 20?
...that Sophus "Krølben" Nielsen of Denmark was the first player to score ten goals in an international match, doing so against France in the 1908 Summer Olympics?
...that Barbados scored an own goal on purpose in order to move ahead of Grenada in the 1994 Caribbean Cup?
...that Malmö FF was degraded from Allsvenskan the 1933-34 season since their nemesis IFK Malmö had reported the club for paying their players, which was against rules at that time?
...that numbers were worn on the back of football shirts for the first time on August 25, 1928?
...that the first corner kick was taken in the 1870s?
...the first ever football tournament was the Youdan Cup in 1867. The final took place at Bramall Lane and was won by Hallam F.C..