Is this true?
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2024 10:38 am
This item popped up on my Facebook page just now from some outfit called 'The English Football Record'.
Only 27 of the more than 208,000 league matches having been played since 1888 have resulted in the bottom-of-the-table club defeating the top-of-the-table club at the latter’s home ground. And for more than 125 years, the first of those 27 matches held the record for the biggest of those wins for the visiting side. At the start of 1897, reigning champions Aston Villa, who had won 10 and drawn the remaining two of their last 12 matches, were three points clear at the top of the Division One table; despite having played no less than four matches fewer than second-placed Liverpool. And at the other end of the table, Burnley were one point adrift of Stoke (later to become Stoke City) and Sunderland. On the second day of 1897, 2nd January 1897, Aston Villa took on just Burnley at Wellington Road in front of a maximum crowd of 12,000. Despite of Aston Villa having scored in all but one of their first 17 matches of the season, Burnley goalkeeper Willie Tatham, who had conceded 30 goals in his first 14 appearances for Burnley during the 1896/97 season, managed to prevent the home favourites from scoring. At the other end of the field, David Black gave Burnley a 1-0 half-time lead, and in the second half, a goal by Billy Bowes and a second by Black secured the visitors a quite surprising 3-0 win. Despite of the loss, Aston Villa went on to clinch The Double, while Burnley remained at the bottom of the table. As a consequence, they entered the Test Matches, which eventually resulted in their ever relegation from the top flight.
Just for the record, Burnley’s record was bettered at the start of last season, the 2023/24 season. On 19th August 2023, top of the League One table Bolton Wanderers lost 4-0 at home to Wigan Athletic thanks to braces from Charlie Wyke and Stephen Humphrys. Before the match, Wigan had been bottom of the table after having eight points deducted.
Personally, I find it hard to believe that it's only occurred on only twenty-seven occasions; there must've been more times when a team had an unexpectedly good or bad opening game to the season and bottom then beat top in the second fixture?
Only 27 of the more than 208,000 league matches having been played since 1888 have resulted in the bottom-of-the-table club defeating the top-of-the-table club at the latter’s home ground. And for more than 125 years, the first of those 27 matches held the record for the biggest of those wins for the visiting side. At the start of 1897, reigning champions Aston Villa, who had won 10 and drawn the remaining two of their last 12 matches, were three points clear at the top of the Division One table; despite having played no less than four matches fewer than second-placed Liverpool. And at the other end of the table, Burnley were one point adrift of Stoke (later to become Stoke City) and Sunderland. On the second day of 1897, 2nd January 1897, Aston Villa took on just Burnley at Wellington Road in front of a maximum crowd of 12,000. Despite of Aston Villa having scored in all but one of their first 17 matches of the season, Burnley goalkeeper Willie Tatham, who had conceded 30 goals in his first 14 appearances for Burnley during the 1896/97 season, managed to prevent the home favourites from scoring. At the other end of the field, David Black gave Burnley a 1-0 half-time lead, and in the second half, a goal by Billy Bowes and a second by Black secured the visitors a quite surprising 3-0 win. Despite of the loss, Aston Villa went on to clinch The Double, while Burnley remained at the bottom of the table. As a consequence, they entered the Test Matches, which eventually resulted in their ever relegation from the top flight.
Just for the record, Burnley’s record was bettered at the start of last season, the 2023/24 season. On 19th August 2023, top of the League One table Bolton Wanderers lost 4-0 at home to Wigan Athletic thanks to braces from Charlie Wyke and Stephen Humphrys. Before the match, Wigan had been bottom of the table after having eight points deducted.
Personally, I find it hard to believe that it's only occurred on only twenty-seven occasions; there must've been more times when a team had an unexpectedly good or bad opening game to the season and bottom then beat top in the second fixture?