Although Liverpool failed to extend their record number of League Cup Final wins in yesterday’s Carling Cup defeat by Chelsea, at least John Arne Riise’s spectacular goal is a new entry into the Reds’ record book.Although Liverpool failed to extend their record number of League Cup Final wins to seven in yesterday’s Carling Cup defeat by Chelsea, at least John Arne Riise’s spectacular goal is a new entry into the Reds’ record book.

The Norwegian’s strike was officially timed at 43 seconds to become the quickest goal in the 45 Football League Cup Finals.

The ‘old’ record had lasted only twelve months as it was set in the 2004 Final when Joseph-Desire Job’s opener for Middlesbrough against Bolton Wanderers was timed at 1 minute 45 seconds.

The previous holder was Stoke City’s Terry Conroy, also against Chelsea, after five minutes of the 1972 Final at Wembley.

The UEFA Champions League returns this week with the first leg of the Round of 16 knockout stage. Here we confirm the players who won’t be taking part due to suspension and those who are a yellow card away from missing the second leg. The UEFA Champions League returns this week with the first leg of the Round of 16 knockout stage. Here we confirm the players who won’t be taking part due to suspension and those who are a yellow card away from missing the second leg.

Werder Bremen v Olympique Lyon

Suspended:
Werder: Frank Baumann (one-match ban)
Lyon: none

Will miss next match if booked:
Werder: Valerien Ismael, Johan Micoud, Christian Schulz, Paul Stalteri
Lyon: Cris

Manchester United v AC Milan

Suspended:
United: none
Milan: none

Will miss next match if booked:
United: Gabriel Heinze, Liam Miller, Paul Scholes
Milan: Gennaro Gattuso

Barcelona v Chelsea

Suspended:
Barcelona: none
Chelsea: none

Will miss next match if booked:
Barcelona: Rafael Marquez
Chelsea: Mateja Kezman, Alexei Smertin

Porto v Inter Milan

Suspended:
Porto: Diego (one-match ban), Jorge Costa (one-match ban)
Inter: none

Will miss next match if booked:
Porto: Derlei, Pepe
Inter: Ivan Cordoba, Giuseppe Favalli, Juan Sebastian Veron

Bayern Munich v Arsenal

Suspended:
Bayern: none
Arsenal: none

Will miss next match if booked:
Bayern: none
Arsenal: none

PSV Eindhoven v AS Monaco

Suspended:
PSV: none
Monaco: none

Will miss next match if booked:
PSV: Andre Ooijer
Monaco: Patrice Evra

Liverpool v Bayer Leverkusen

Suspended:
Liverpool: Steven Gerrard (one-match ban)
Leverkusen: none

Will miss next match if booked:
Liverpool: Jamie Carragher, Stephen Warnock
Leverkusen: Hanno Balitsch, Paul Freier, Robson Ponte, Carsten Ramelow, Bernd Schneider

Real Madrid v Juventus

Suspended:
Real: none
Juventus: none

Will miss next match if booked:
Real: Luis Figo, Francisco Pavon
Juventus: Manuele Blasi, Fabio Cannavaro

Source: Reuters

Please note that a record of recent suspensions in English club football can be found in the Suspensions Section of our Domestic Database.

Manchester United are still football’s richest club according to the Football Money League 2003-04 Report published by consultants Deloitte this week.Manchester United are still football’s richest club according to the Football Money League 2003-04 Report published by consultants Deloitte this week.

Deloitte’s Sports Business Group have issued a list of the top twenty earning clubs and they anticipate that their combined income will exceed £2billion this year.

Their key findings are:
- Manchester United maintain top position for the eighth year in a row with income of £172m
- In second place Real Madrid have halved the gap between themselves and Manchester United
- Chelsea and Barcelona are the biggest climbers, up from tenth to fourth position and thirteenth to seventh position respectively
- AC Milan, Chelsea, Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona are also expected to challenge strongly for a top three position in future seasons
- Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 slip down the Money League despite the German corporate market’s significant contributions to the Bundesliga clubs

The Deloitte Football Money League for 2003-04 is:

For a further explanation or to apply for a copy of the report, please click here.

If the money league was to have a relegation zone, sadly, it would seem two famous clubs would be prime candidates.

Borussia Dortmund - the 1997 Champions League winners - are the only Bundesliga publicly-listed club on the stock exchange, and they are on the brink of bankruptcy after another poor financial year.

Although they have the highest average attendances in German football and one of the top in European football with 75,000 fans turning up to the Westfalen stadium every week, Dortmund are set to reveal massive losses of £47.5 million for the financial year ending in June.

The story is even worse in Switzerland where their top flight will be missing a club when the season resumes this weekend following confirmation that Servette are no longer in business.

Reuters reports that the Genevan side announced on Wednesday that a late bid to rescue the bankrupt club had failed to materialise.

Formed 115 years ago, Servette were the only Swiss club never to have been relegated from the top division.

Matters off the pitch were to ensure the club’s collapse, however, following the club’s takeover by former player’s agent Marc Roger.

The Frenchman ran up debts of more than ten million Swiss francs after authorising the acquisition last summer of 21 players, including French World Cup winner Christian Karembeu.

Many of the players, including Karembeu, have since left the club after their wages stopped being paid.

Servette Geneva will continue to exist only as an under-21 side, playing in Switzerland’s lower divisions.

A Swiss league spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday that the top division will resume play as planned this weekend, but with nine clubs instead of ten.

Points taken from matches against Servette will still be valid as every club in the division had played the Genevan side twice before the winter break.

While European clubs are facing the run-in to the end of the 2004-05 campaign, the USA’s Major League Soccer announced the schedule for its 10th season earlier this week.While European clubs are facing the run-in to the end of the 2004-05 campaign, the USA’s Major League Soccer announced the schedule for its 10th season earlier this week.

192 MLS games which will be played between Saturday 2 April and Sunday 16 October. The 2005 All-Star break will take place on the weekend of July 30 with the MLS Cup champion being crowned on 13 November.

The League has been expanded to twelve teams with the addition of Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA. Each MLS team will play a 32-game programme, an increase of two from 2004. All clubs will play each of their conference opponents four times and each of the six teams in the opposite conference twice.

The first of four games between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy on 23 April with break new ground as it will be the first-ever local derby in MLS history.

The new FC Dallas soccer stadium at the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center in Frisco, Texas is due to host the MLS Cup on 13 November. DC United won its fourth MLS championship when they defeated Kansas City Wizards in last season’s final played at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California before a crowd of 25,797.

The complete 2005 season schedule can be found at the MLS’ official web site.

The draw was made earlier this week for the Sixth Round of the FA VaseThe draw was made earlier this week for the Sixth Round of the FA Vase, in partnership with Carlsberg, as follows:

Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA or Tipton Town v Frome Town
AFC Sudbury v Stourbridge
Bedlington Terriers v AFC Newbury
Didcot Town v Bury Town

AFC Sudbury, the beaten finalists in each of the last two seasons, are now the clear favourites to lift the trophy for the first time.

Ties are due to be played on Saturday 5 March with the final due to take place at Tottenham Hotspurs’ White Hart Lane on Sunday 15 May.

The FA Vase is the competition that replaced the FA Amateur Cup in 1974. Full details can be found at the FA’s official web site.

There’s hardly a weekend goes by now during the season that there are no senior matches played on a Sunday but it was only 24 years ago today that the first-ever Sunday match was played in the Football League in, what could be termed, normal circumstances.There’s hardly a weekend goes by now during the season that there are no senior matches played on a Sunday but it was only 24 years ago today that the first-ever Sunday match was played in the Football League in, what could be termed, normal circumstances.

Some Sunday games had been allowed between January and March in 1974 due to the power crisis and three-day week, but it wasn’t until 15 February 1981 that the League allowed a first-class match to be staged on a Sunday.

The FA had firmly rejected Port Vale’s request to stage their FA Cup First Round tie with Bradford City on the Sunday but, despite continuing opposition due to moral and social reasons, the League chairman were keen to follow the trend of several European countries and see if the public had a desire from Sunday football.

The opening game took place in the unlikely surroundings of Darlington’s Feethams, complete with its neighbouring cricket ground.

The aptly nicknamed Quakers played Mansfield Town in the Fourth Division. A 2-2 draw was watched by a crowd of 5,932. Darlington’s previous home game against Bury had attracted only 1,914.

Manchester City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips made his first start for England in Wednesday’s friendly against Holland to extend the record of one of football’s most exclusive ‘clubs’, but do you know how many fathers and sons have proudly worn the three lions at full international level?Manchester City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips made his first start for England in Wednesday’s friendly against Holland to extend the record of one of football’s most exclusive ‘clubs’, but do you know how many fathers and sons have proudly worn the three lions at full international level?

Of course, Shaun - who won his fourth cap at Villa Park - is the stepson of legendary striker Ian Wright who won 33 caps during his time with Crystal Palace, Arsenal and West Ham United.

In all four of Shaun’s England outings, he has been joined by another member of this elite group - Chelsea’s Frank Lampard.

The former West Ham United midfielder has now reached the 30-cap mark since making his debut against Belgium at Sunderland in October 1999. Despite many years of fine service at left-back for the Hammers, Frank senior won only two caps. He made his debut against Yugoslavia at Wembley in October 1972 but had to wait until May 1980 before winning his second cap against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The England father / son account was opened on 8 May 1963 when George Eastham played against Brazil at Wembley. The Arsenal and Stoke City forward went on to win 19 caps. His father - George ‘Diddler’ Eastham - won only one cap. Then a Bolton Wanderers inside forward, George senior played against Holland in the Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam on 18 May 1935.

And the only other members of this fine band are the Cloughs, Brian and Nigel.

Before becoming one of the game’s greatest-ever managers, the late former Nottingham Forest boss and Middlesbrough striker won both his caps in the space of a fortnight in October 1959 - against Wales at Cardiff and Sweden at Wembley.

Nigel, now honing his managerial skills at Burton Albion, won 14 caps during his days at Forest. He made his debut against Chile at Wembley in May 1989 with his last appearance taking in place in the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit against Germany in June 1993.

If you think there are more examples of England international father and sons, or have other similar information that you feel will be of interest to our members, please contact the AFS office or Contributions

As Bury continue their battle against on-going financial problems, an era came to an end at Gigg Lane this week as John Forrest has left the club after serving the Shakers for a span of almost forty years.As Bury continue their battle against on-going financial problems, an era came to an end at Gigg Lane this week as John Forrest has left the club after serving the Shakers for a span of almost forty years.

Bury’s official web site reports that he was one of the four members of staff who were recently made redundant.

John - or Jungle, as he is popularly known - signed pro forms with them in March 1966. The Bury-born goalkeeper made his debut in a 4-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion in the old Third Division on 17 January 1968.

The last of his 497 appearances for the Lancashire club wasn’t a particularly auspicious occasion, if somewhat of a coincidence. It was a 0-7 defeat in the League Cup against Nottingham Forest on 23 September 1980. He was succeeded between the Shakers’ sticks by Neville Southall.

Only three players have made more than John’s 430 league appearances for Bury - Norman Bullock, Wally Amos and Brian Turner.

After going on to play for Macclesfield Town, he was soon back at Gigg Lane as the goalkeeping coach.

John went onto become chief scout and kitman while his son, Martyn, kept up the family tradition by playing for the Shakers before he was released in October 2003.

In paying tribute to John, manager Graham Barrow, whose son James was on the Bury bench for the first time this week, said: “I was hoping that something could be sorted out and John could stay, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. John desperately wants to stay.

“During my time here, John Forrest has been invaluable to me and the staff, with everyone here at the club. It’s sad that these things have to happen, but more than anything I’m sad about John leaving

“He’s Bury through and through and he is going to be badly missed.”

The AFS is not renowned for backing a break in tradition but that’s the case tonight when, for the first time in 133 years of international football, an England shirt will carry more than the famous three lions badge and manufacturer’s logo.The AFS is not renowned for backing a break in tradition but that’s the case tonight when, for the first time in 133 years of international football, an England shirt will carry more than the famous three lions badge and manufacturer’s logo.

The very good reason is that England and Holland are spreading the anti-racism message in their friendly at Villa Park this evening.

England will wear red shirts with a slogan on the front and the badge of the ‘Kick it Out’ campaign - the organisation that aims to rid football of racism - on the sleeves.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson told the FA’s official web site: “This is a unique opportunity for fans and players to join together to speak out against racism. The players are always very proud to wear the England shirt but this time it will have even more meaning for them.

“The message is a simple one, but very important. The team and the fans will be saying ‘no to racism. It is a message that will be heard across football and around the world.”

The Dutch are making their own stand by foregoing their familiar orange strip and will be playing in a black and white kit.

A spokesman for the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (the Dutch FA) said: “It’s a big step for us to give up our national colours, but it’s something we feel strongly about and are prepared to do.

“We don’t feel we have a problem in Dutch football. Fans treat black and white players exactly the same but we have visited other countries where our black players have been abused, and there is obviously a problem.

“It’s something that should be highlighted and anything we can do to make sure racism is wiped out, we’re happy to go along with.”

Spectators attending the game are also being given the chance to participate as they will be asked to hold up cards with an anti-racism message during the national anthems.

Supporters can also buy black and white wristbands with funds going to ‘Stand Up Speak Up’ campaign. If you would like to add your support to the campaign, please click here.

To view a selection of England shirts over the years, please click on the Toffs logo below.

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve opened up a couple of statistical queries and here we bring you up to date with their progress.Over the last couple of weeks we’ve opened up a couple of statistical queries and here we bring you up to date with their progress.

Our AFS Performance of the Week last week featured Chesterfield’s first-ever league win in the city of Bristol. As the first attempt dates back to 7 December 1901, we wondered if this had ended the longest hoodoo in English football.

AFS member and Chesterfield historian Stuart Basson has been in touch and he informs us that it hasn’t even ended the Spireites longest hoodoo!

They’ve tried to win at Manchester United on ten occasions over the years but have yet to be successful.

The first attempt dates back to Chesterfield’s first season in the Football League when United were then known as Newton Heath. Before an attendance of 3,000, the Second Division match was played at the Bank Street Ground in Clayton on 28 April 1900.

The Heathens won 2-1 with goals from J Holt (in his only League appearance) and J Grundy. The Spireites scorer was Bill Gooing.

We also related the story of the three Holsgrove brothers who all scored in Windsor & Eton’s 3-3 draw with Heybridge Swifts in a Ryman League Premier Division game on Saturday 8 January.

We suspect this occurrence of three brothers scoring in the same game is a unique event and, as yet, we are unable still unable to prove otherwise.

If you think it has happened before or know of a longer hoodoo, we’d be delighted and grateful to hear from you. Please forward the details to mark@11v11.com

Our photo shows the Chesterfield team from the 1949-50 season