A few weeks back I got linked onto the wiki page for English football league records. Our trophy history is painful enough, with just 3 division three trophies keeping the play off final one company, but we didn't feature in any of the player appearance, goals, attendance records either. It got me thinking about our place in football history and the little facts, titles and landmarks we've accrued along the way. Without being able to recall the ins and outs I can remember being told that we took part in the first penalty shoot out in English football (am I correct in thinking this was at home to Man U in a now defunct cup competition?). I also believe we were a part of the first floodlit football league game, but I don't remember the fixture to back it up. This season when we faced Chelsea at lunchtime on the opening day we took part in the first premier league game using goal line technology; and providing all goes smoothly with the FA's no vote we'll still be the only team in the football league that you can't 'colour in' any of the letters in its name. I remember the season in league one when I think only Kevin Kuranyi and Roy Makaay pipped Elliott to being Europe's top scorer. Ian Ashbee was the first man to captain a club in all four league divisions, dedicating the prime years of his career and two knee's to our club on the way. Was our rise through the leagues the quickest since the premier league formation? We were definitely quicker than the two welsh sides but Wigan or Fulham could have us beat on that one. Does anyone else know of any other chunks of history, or have any weight to add to the ones I can recall?
We hold the attendance record for a playoff at Wembley. Involved in the first penalty shootout in English football history.
The only club name with no enclosed letters that can be filled in - and Mr Allam will take this magnificent record away from us if he gets his name change wish.
Swansea and Northampton did bottom to top league in 4 seasons City took part in the first Associate Members Cup final, now the Johnstones Paint Trophy. Lost 2-1 to Bournemouth at Boothferry Park, every subsequent final has been at Wembley/Millenium Stadium.
I think this is the game I was referring when I mentioned the floodlit game. Perhaps the game was floodlit, but that was irrelevant to the landmark.
Swansea in the early 80s, and Wimbledon rose from bottom to top in four seasons. The only ones to better our record.
We have had some effect on the rules - I believe that the rule requiring ref's permission to return to the pitch after an injury was introduced after one of our players got up, ran onto the pitch and scored/made a goal. Also, I'm pretty sure that Ray Henderson was one of the first substitutes to score when he scored in a 2-1 away win at Brighton. I always thought he must have been the first but apparently not.
I believe Tony Norman, whilst playing for us, was the first goalkeeper to, when taking a goal kick from his hands, choose instead to roll the ball to the floor and travel beyond the 18 yd box and kick it from there. Now common practice.
