International Football History and Statistics

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On this day in football history

1946 Everton signed Peter Farrell, a right half, and Tommy Eglington, a left winger from Shamrock Rovers. They were to be two of the most consistent players signed by the club in the post-war period and remaining at Goodison Park until the end of 1956-57, Farrell playing in 420 League games and Eglington in 394. In the summer of 1957 they joined Tranmere Rovers. Farrell became player manager a year later and manager in the summer of 1960 but resigned in December that year. Eglington continued to play until the end of 1960-61. Both men appeared in international football for Northern Ireland and Eire. Farrell captaining the Eire team which won 2-1 at Goodison in 1950 and became the first side outside the British Isles to beat England at home. At the end of their League careers their final figures were:- Farrell 534 matches, 14 goals and Eglington 566 matches and 112 Goals.

1966 H.M. the Queen opened the 8th World Cup Finals at Wembley Stadium. In the match which followed the opening ceremonies England were held to a 0-0 draw by Uruguay. The 75,000 crowd were disappointed that the home side could not penetrate the South Americans' nine man defence. Throughout the finals England did not play the usual 1-2-3-5 line-up but a 1-4-3-3, i.e. 4 defenders in front of the goalkeeper, 3 linkmen and 3 strikers.

1977 Don Revie resigned as England manager. He had transformed Leeds United winning two league titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and two fairs cups and hopes were high of him transforming the England team. However failure to qualify for the 1976 European Championships and a poor start to the 1978 World Cup Finals qualification process saw him resign and manage the United Arab Emerates.