On this day 17 July

Premier football...

A corporate giant is born...

 

Today in 1991 marked the day when English football would be changed forever. No, it wasn't when Gazza cupped Vinnie Jones' knackers, nor was it when Ron Atkinson decided to buy his first tub of perma tan. It was in fact the very day that The Founder Members Agreement was signed by England's top-flight clubs, who agreed to the formation of a new league that we now know and love (don't you?) as The Premier League.

With commerical independance from the Football Association and the Football League, it paved the way for TV deals and separate sponsorship. For you quiz lovers out there, Brian Deane was the first player to score a goal in the league, when Sheffield United beat Manchester United 2-1. But since we couldn't find a pic of said goal, you've got Chris Armstrong scoring for Palace a week later. Enjoy...

It was also on this day in 1917 that the British Royal Family changed their name, With the nation at war with Germany and them being, well, Germans, they decide to ditch Saxe-Coburg Gotha and pretend they’re English. The new name, Windsor, narrowly beats Bumstead in a poll to find the family a new, less Teutonic name.

Bumps today to Brazilian legend Carlos 'that goal' Alberto (64), the actor Donald Sutherland (73); the Baywatch bampot David Hasselhoff (56) and Princess Di replacement Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall (61).