August 21 – First Sub Used in a League Match

CLASSIC pub quiz fodder today here at On This Football Day as we ask: who was the first player to come on as a substitute in a league match?

Who was the player that went off? Where was the match and which teams were playing?

So far this story is throwing up more questions than an episode of Lost but fear not, because unlike Lost, we have all the answers and we’re going to tell you.

Firstly, this historical event happened on this day back in 1965 at Bolton’s former ground Burnden Park. The home side were hosting Charlton Athletic and the match was just 13 minutes in when Addick’s keeper Mike Rose went down injured.

Charlton manager Bob Stokoe (more noted for his FA Cup success over Leeds with Sunderland) sent on . . . . wait for it . . . . Keith Peacock for the injured man. John Hewie went in goal but couldn’t prevent Bolton winning 4-2.

Keith went on to manage Gillingham and assist Alan Curbishley both at Charlton and West Ham, but has since retired from football.

Keith’s son Gavin of course played for various clubs including QPR and Chelsea, and can now been sporting a silly facial hair creation and shiny bald head on BBC footy programmes like Football Focus and Match of the Day 2.