August 5 – First British Match Decided By Penalty Shoot-out

IF there is one thing England fans dread at every major tournament, it is a penalty shoot-out.

Including the 1990 World Cup, England have exited three world cups and two European Championships thanks to profligacy from the spot, losing out to Germany and Portugal (both twice), and Argentina.

Even when they did win one in the quarter final against Spain in Euro 96, it was only to prolong the agony as Germany eliminated the team on penalties in the semi.

Penalties have always been a cruel way to decide a match, and it was on this day in 1970 that Hull City became the first British casualty of the shoot-out as they lost at home to Manchester United in the long-forgotten Watney Mann Invitation Cup.

The curiously named competition was named after the Watney Mann brewery, in the first sponsorship deal of its kind in England, and was held before the start of each season for four years, between 1970 and 1973.

It was contested by the teams from each of the four football leagues who had scored the most goals in their division, but were neither promoted, nor entered into European competition. Two teams from each league took part in the knock-out tournament, with the final being played at one of the finalist’s home ground, rather than a neutral venue. A delightfully pointless and over-complicated competition that only English football could have dreamed up.

Manchester United had fielded a full strength side at Boothferry Park but were trailing to an early Hull goal before Denis Law equalised late on. After goalless extra time, the match went to penalties.

George Best took the first and scored, while Denis Law became the first man to feel the shame of missing as his shot was saved by Hull keeper Ian McKechnie.

McKechnie missed the chance to become a hero by missing his spot-kick, and the next Hull miss put the home side out.

In the same year, FIFA and UEFA both adopted the shoot-out as a way of deciding matches – a decision that would dog England for many years to come. Before penalties, knock-out ties were deciding simply by drawing lots – perhaps England should have stuck to this method, they couldn’t have done any worse.

Even the England Under 21s are under the curse: despite scoring 12 spot kicks in the European U21 semi-final with The Netherlands, they still lost 13-12. The 32 penalties taken that night remains an international record.

If you really want to, you can watch the whale darn shooting match here, if not, come back tomorrow to find out which club chairman was putting his oversized foot right in it.