On This Day in Football: 20th December

20th December 1958

On this day in 1958, Brighton faced Middlesbrough in a Second Division clash at the Goldstone Ground. This match was part of Brighton’s inaugural season in the second tier of English football. Earlier in the season, Brighton had suffered a heavy 9-0 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough, marking their record defeat in the League. The return fixture promised excitement, and it delivered with a total of 10 goals scored. Middlesbrough emerged victorious once again, defeating Brighton 6-4. Brian Clough was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick to add to the five goals he had netted in the previous encounter against Brighton. The match was witnessed by a crowd of 21,000, who were treated to a goal fest that remains memorable in the annals of both clubs’ histories.

20th December 1974

Fast forward to 1974, and the football world witnessed an unusual incident during a First Division match between Leicester City and Ipswich Town. Leicester’s England international, Keith Weller, found himself at the centre of controversy. At half-time, with Leicester trailing and having lost seven consecutive matches, Weller was dealing with multiple pressures. He had recently been fined by the FA for bringing the game into disrepute, his transfer request had been denied, and he was facing criticism from the crowd. Additionally, tensions flared as he argued with his teammates in the tunnel during the break. In a dramatic turn of events, Weller decided to take matters into his own hands. He ran a bath, got in, and refused to return to the pitch for the second half. This one-man protest resulted in a club fine, but it ultimately led to his transfer request being granted. Despite the incident, Weller remained at Filbert Street for another four years, with all seemingly forgiven in the end.