August 4, 1905: Billy Meredith is often thought of as the first football superstar, with his speed, skill and mazy runs down the wing. However, he's likely to be remembered more for his role in perhaps the first football match-fixing scandal, after he and a number of teammates were banned for 18 months on this day 103 years ago, for apparently offering Aston Villa player Alec Leake £10 to lose a match. Meredith, a Manchester City player at the time, later moved to United, playing 335 times and winning two league titles.
August 4, 1994: And while we're on the subject of alleged match-fixing, this day 14 years ago saw John Fashanu move from Wimbledon to Aston Villa. While Fashanu was cleared of those charges, he can be definitely (and legally) remembered as a despicable character after denouncing brother Justin as an 'outcast' after he came out in 1990. And of course he presented Gladiators.
And On This Day In Real History...
1914: Britain declares war on Germany after Kaiser Wilhelm and the boys invade France.
1944: Author of the second most famous diary in history (after Adrian Mole, natch) Anne Frank is captured in Amsterdam. Adrian's tales of trying to get into Pandora's pants turn out to be far more entertaining.
1966: John Lennon declares the Beatles are more popular than Jesus. Americans don't take the joke, rest of the world thinks he might have a point after screaming teenagers spectacularly fail to scream and pass out at mass. Unless the priest is feeling a bit...(Whoah there. Steady on - Ed)
1978: They don't do political scandals properly these days, do they? A Foreign Secretary writing a naughty article is put firmly in the shade after former leader of the Liberal Party Jeremy Thorpe, is charged with conspiracy to murder male model Norman Scott. He is later acquitted.
And At Number One...while Fash was bashing his way to Brum was 'Love Is All Around' by Wet Wet Wet.