The England striker fractures the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during Newcastle United’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

Clyde Best and Lawrie McMenemy are amongst those named in the New Year’s Honours List.- A mixed year for Michael Owen ends in injury.The England striker fractures the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during Newcastle United’s 0-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. He faces 2-3 months on the sidelines but should be fully recovered in time for the summer’s World Cup in Germany.

- Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge means the champions have collected 101 league points in 2005 - they are only the third team to accumulate a hundred points in a calendar year in Premiership history. Manchester United celebrate manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s 64th birthday with a 4-1 win against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford. Liverpool record ten league games in a row for the first time since 1982 with a 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield. Sunderland’s frustration continues at the bottom with Everton’s Tim Cahill grabbing a last minute winner at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats end the year seven points adrift with only six points.

- Sheffield United cut Reading’s end-of-year lead in the Championship to seven points. The Blades beat Stoke City at Bramall Lane with a last gasp winner from skipper Chris Morgan. Reading need a late goal from Shane Long to salvage a point at Derby County. Sheffield remain 11 points clear of third placed Leeds United who beat Hull City 2-0 in the Yorkshire derby at Elland Road. Crystal Palace ease up to fifth with a 2-1 win at fourth-placed Watford. Millwall move off the bottom with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion. Their place is taken by Crewe Alexandra who lose 3-4 at home to Queens Park Rangers.

- Only one point separates the top four in League One. Swansea City (0-0 at Swindon Town), Southend United (2-1 win against AFC Bournemouth) and Brentford (beaten 0-2 at Griffin Park by improving Colchester United) are just one ahead of Huddersfield Town, who share four goals in an exciting derby with Barnsley. Milton Keynes Dons slip to bottom place with a 0-3 defeat at Gillingham.

- The top two in League Two, Wycombe Wanderers and Grimsby Town, both win 2-1 away - at Bristol Rovers and Wrexham, respectively. Rushden & Diamonds’ 1-2 defeat at Torquay United means the Diamonds swap places with the Gulls and drop in to the bottom two.

- Clyde Best and Lawrie McMenemy are amongst those named in the New Year’s Honours List. Best is awarded an MBE. He was one of the first post-war black players in British football, playing almost 200 games for West Ham United and also regarded as the best player in the history of the Bermudan national team. McMenemy, who is best known as the former manager of Southampton and England assistant manager, is also awarded the MBE although the citation describes him as ‘honorary manager, Parliamentary Football Club’. Other football honours include Rachel Yankey MBE (England Ladies’ most capped player) and Barnoldswick Town’s 91 year-old physio Sydney Parkinson MBE for services to football.

Demands are made to investigate the allocation of holiday fixtures.

Wycombe Wanderers move back to the top of League Two.- The football authorities feel the heat following the fall-out of yesterday’s cold weather casualties as demands are made to especially investigate the allocation of midweek holiday fixtures. After pointless dangerous round trips exceeding 600 miles, a seemingly unsympathetic response from the Premier League sees Sports Minister Richard Caborn step in: “They need to consider how far people are travelling, and the likely weather conditions, to stop this unacceptable situation happening again.” Appreciating the demands of a packed calendar, Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, sensibly suggests it could be reasonably expected that fixtures computer should be able to allow only the five shortest distances for each club to be allocated for such winter midweek slots: “What the football authorities have not programmed in is the distance the away support have to travel and that is what we would like to see. Often the travelling supporter - the game’s best customer - is the most abused.” Torquay United must be wondering what they’ve done wrong. After their aborted journey to Stockport County yesterday, they face a round trip of over 700 miles to Darlington on Monday.

- Wycombe Wanderers return to the top of League Two with a 4-2 win against promotion rivals Leyton Orient at the Causeway Stadium.

- Former Yeovil Town manager Dave Webb returns to the Somerset club as majority shareholder and chief executive. The ex-Chelsea star buys out Jon Goddard-Watts but John Fry will remains as chairman.

17 of the scheduled 45 games are called off due to snow and frost.

Chelsea beat the elements, and Manchester City, to establish an 11-point Premiership lead.- The folly of a full league programme on an evening at the end of December comes home to roost.
17 of the scheduled 45 games are called off due to snow and frost. Three Premiership games are hit including at Newcastle United where the game with Charlton Athletic is postponed less than half-an-hour before kick-off due to safety reasons. Preston North End at Plymouth, Scunthorpe United at Colchester and Torquay United at Stockport are others who endure long, hazardous wasted trips.

- Chelsea beat the elements, and Manchester City, to establish an 11-point Premiership lead. Joe Cole hits the late winner at the City of Manchester Stadium while Manchester United are held 2-2 at Birmingham City. Liverpool concede their first Premiership goal in 12 hours and 42 minutes of play but comfortably win complete their ninth consecutive league win to take the Mersey derby at Everton by a 3-1 margin. Everton finish the game with only nine ment as Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta are sent-off. Arsenal put the skids under Portsmouth with all four goals coming in the first-half at Highbury.

- Reading and Sheffield United maintain their Championship stranglehold. The Royals beat Leicester City 2-0 while the Blades win 1-0 at Southampton. Leeds United are third following a 1-0 win at Stoke City. With Darren Anderton’s opener at Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhampton Wanderers become the first club to score 7,000 goals in the Football League. Wolves win 2-0. Wednesday have now failed to score in their last seven games.

- Huddersfield Town fail to take advantage of Brentford and Swansea City’s inactivity in League One as Port Vale win 3-0 at the Galpharm Stadium. Southend United take close order in fourth with a 2-1 win at Hartlepool United. Bristol City’s revival continues with a 3-1 win over Rotherham United with the Millers dropping into the bottom four.

- Only four games survive in League Two with Grimsby Town making the most of the opportunity to go back to the top with a 3-0 win against Lincoln City at Blundell Park.

The Football League’s bottom club lost 0-6 at local rivals Macclesfield Town yesterday.

The death of Tottenham Hotspur legend Ted Ditchburn is announced.- Manager Chris Turner and his assistant Colin West step down at Stockport County. The decision appeared to be on the cards after the Football League’s bottom club’s dismal 0-6 loss at local rivals Macclesfield Town yesterday where half of the 4,453 crowd were Hatters supporters. The former Hartlepool United and Sheffield Wednesday boss had been in charge at Edgeley Park for 12 months. He had been unable to stave off relegation from League One and halt County’s dramatic slide. At Christmas in 1999, they were sixth in the First Division with genuine hopes of making a tilt at the Premiership. Jim Gannon, who made 480 appearances for the Cheshire club between 1990 and 2000, is named caretaker manager.

- Following a long illness, it is announced that the legendary Tottenham Hotspur keeper Ted Ditchburn died yesterday. The former England goalie joined Spurs from Northfleet in 1939 and was an ever-present in the 1950-51 championship-winning side. From April 1946 to March 1954 he missed just two games and made a total of 452 appearances for his only league club. He was 84.

A full league programme in England and Scotland sees 22 players sent-off - only three short of the record for one day. 25 saw red on 16 October 1999.

Michael Owen makes his first return to Anfield but can do little more than look on as Liverpool beat Newcastle United 2-0.- Michael Owen makes his first return to Anfield but can do little more than look on as Liverpool beat Newcastle United 2-0. Heidar Helguson becomes the first player score against Chelsea in the second-half of a game since 12 April as Fulham come back from two-down at Stamford Bridge before Hernan Crespo’s classy finish gives the Premiership leaders a 3-2 win to maintain their nine-point advantage. Rio Ferdinand scores for the second time in four games as Manchester United beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at Old Trafford. In a thrilling game at the JJB Stadium, Wigan Athletic beat Manchester City 4-3 including a brace from Jason Roberts. In a dour goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland end a run of ten consecutive defeats but they seem unlikely to follow West Bromwich Albion’s example from last season on being bottom at Christmas and avoiding relegation. The Black Cats, with six points, are ten points adrift of safety.

- It seems increasingly likely that Reading will replace Sunderland in the top flight. The Royals go nine points clear as they win 2-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers while Sheffield United lose their unbeaten home record as Norwich City win 3-1 at Bramall Lane. The George Burley reign at Southampton begins with a 0-3 defeat at third-placed Watford. David Tuttle’s first game in charge of bottom-of-the-table Millwall ends in a 1-1 draw at Leicester City.

- Brentford replace Swansea City at the top of League One as the Swans lose 1-2 at Griffin Park. Kevin O’Connor and Eddie Hutchinson score the Bees’ goals in the first half. Colchester United lose for the first time in 13 games as they go down to a last minute Rory Fallon goal at bottom club Swindon Town. Midweek Carling Cup heroes Doncaster Rovers crash 0-4 at Nottingham Forest.

- Grimsby Town and Leyton Orient move to within two points of League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers. Grimsby record their seventh away win of the term when they come from behind at Bury and Leyton trounce Rushden & Diamonds 5-1 at the Matchroom Stadium. Struggling neighbours Macclesfield Town and Stockport County meet in the league for the first time and it’s troubled Macc who triumph by a 6-0 margin - their biggest-ever win in the Football League.

- There’s Boxing Day high jinx in the SPL. Celtic maintain their four-point lead with a 2-1 win against Livingston but only after new signing Roy Keane is paraded in front of the Parkhead crowd - then kick-off is delayed by 45 minutes due to a power failure. Power is supplied in different ways at Tynecastle where Heart of Midlothian thump five past Falkirk.

Sir Clive Woodward becomes director of football.

FIFA are to investigate Paolo di Canio’s recent raised-arm salute- Former Derby County and Ipswich Town boss George Burley is appointed new head coach at Southampton with ‘complete control of team selection, tactics and coaching issues’. Burley, who quit as manager of Heart of Midlothian in October, inherits a team who are 12th in the Championship, just four points off the Play-Off places, following 13 draws from their 23 games. Sir Clive Woodward becomes director of football who states he will ‘concentrate on strategic issues which affect the club in less obvious but equally important ways’. Following Harry Redknapp’s departure, speculation in recent days had linked former Feyenoord technical director Mark Wotte with the St Mary’s vacancy.

- FIFA are to investigate Paolo di Canio’s raised-arm salute during Lazio’s Serie A match against Livorno on 11 December. The former West Ham United striker also made a Nazi-style salute against Juventus last week and has so far received a one-game ban and fined nearly £7,000.

- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hits out at Barcelona president Joan Laporta for stating the club ‘will do all we can to sign Thierry Henry’ in the summer. The French striker has refused to discuss a new deal with the Gunners and Wenger believes Barcelona’s methods are ‘unfair and unsettling’.

Only a goal in added time in extra time and penalties saves the Gunners blushes.

UEFA reject Abel Xavier’s appeal against his 18-month drugs ban- League One Doncaster Rovers come desperately close to knocking Arsenal out of the Carling Cup at the Earth Stadium. Rovers led 2-1 going in to added time of extra time only for skipper Gilberto Silva’s last-gasp strike to take the Quarter Final to penalties. The Premiership giants hold their nerve to win the shoot-out 3-1. In the night’s other tie, a last minute Paul Dickov goal gives Blackburn Rovers victory at Middlesbrough.

- UEFA reject Abel Xavier’s appeal against his 18-month ban. Xavier tested positive for a banned steroid after Middlesbrough’s UEFA Cup game in Xanthi on 29 September. The Portuguese defender can now either accept the punishment or appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

- David Tuttle becomes the Millwall’s fourth manager of the year after new chairman Peter De Savary announces a backroom reshuffle. Current boss Colin Lee becomes director of football while Tuttle, who was assistant manager, becomes the Championship’s bottom club’s caretaker manager until the end of the season. The 33-year-old takes over from Watford’s Adie Boothroyd as the youngest manager in the Championship.

- The Football Association remain confident that the new Wembley Stadium will be ready for the FA Cup Final on 13 May. The project has been delayed and is £75million over budget. Builders Multiplex have admitted that there is a risk it may not be ready for the Cup Final. Other reports suggest Hungary, who became the first non-British team to win at Wembley in 1953, could be the opposition for England’s first game at the new stadium on 30 May.

- Charlton Athletic’s Mark Fish announces his retirement after finally admitting defeat in his battle against a knee injury. Fish, who won 62 caps fro South Africa, was originally reported to have retired in August having aggravated the injury while on loan at Ipswich Town.

The Latics beat Bolton Wanderers in the fifth round of the Carling Cup.

Sports minister Richard Caborn appeals for Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho to ‘grow up’.- Wigan Athletic reach their first-ever semi-final of a major competition. The Latics beat Bolton Wanderers in the fifth round of the Carling Cup with two first-half goals from Jason Roberts. Birmingham City’s woes continue as Manchester United win 3-1 at St Andrews.

- Sports minister Richard Caborn appeals to Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho to ‘grow up’ as their unseemly feud continues. Mourinho refused to shake Wenger’s hand following Chelsea’s win at Highbury on Sunday because, according to reports, the Arsenal manager did not acknowledge his goodwill message in a Christmas card.

- Conference clubs Kidderminster Harriers and Hereford United beat League One clubs Bradford City and Scunthorpe United, respectively, in the North area quarter finals of the LDV Trophy. Tranmere Rovers goalkeeper Steve Wilson is the only player from both teams to fail to score as Carlisle United win a penalty shoot-out 11-10. Wilson was in goal for Macclesfield Town when they beat Forest Green Rovers by the same margin in the FA Cup in 2001. Cheltenham Town, Colchester United and Walsall advance in the Southern section.

Frank Lampard is the runner-up.

The Football Association will ask Arsene Wenger to explain his comments about the match officials after yesterday’s defeat by Chelsea.- Barcelona’s Ronaldinho is named FIFA’s World Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He is only the third player to have been voted world player of the year more than once, following his fellow Brazilian Ronaldo (1996, 1997 and 2002) and France’s Zinedine Zidane (1998, 2000 and 2003). Chelsea’s Frank Lampard is the runner-up with Ronaldinho’s Barca team-mate Samuel Eto’o third.

- The Football Association will ask Arsene Wenger to explain his comments about the match officials after yesterday’s defeat by Chelsea. The Arsenal manager seemed to question the impartiality of referee Rob Styles and his assistants when he said: “We scored a regular goal but the referee made a very bad decision. I associate the referee and linesmen in the same team - the Chelsea team.” Keith Hackett, the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, confirms that Robin van Persie’s disallowed ‘goal’ should have stood.

- Manager Adrian Boothroyd agrees a new four-and-a-half-year contract with Watford that will keep him at Vicarage Road until 2010. The former Mansfield Town defender is rewarded after guiding the Hornets to third in the Coca-Cola Championship. 34 year-old Boothroyd, who was the league’s youngest manager when he was appointed last March, had been linked with the managerial vacancy at Southampton.

- Macclesfield Town’s future is thrown into doubt after they are fined £62,000 and told to re-pay the Football Foundation £195,000 following a FA Disciplinary Tribunal inquiry into the funding of their Estate Road Stand. The investigation looked at payments made to the previous administration at Moss Rose. The Cheshire outfit are the Football League’s worst-supported club with an average attendance of only 1,904 so far this season. With additional costs, a club statement says they will now have to raise nearly £300,000 within six weeks to avoid insolvency. The League Two club has the right to appeal.

- Swansea City’s Ijah Anderson is suspended for six months by the FA of Wales after failing a drugs test. The 29 year-old defender is also fined £500 for testing positive for cocaine after a random test on 1 November.

The Brazilians beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final in Yokohama.

Chelsea end Arsenal’s Premiership title aspirations with a 2-0 win at Highbury. Sao Paulo win the FIFA Club World Championship. The Brazilians beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final in Yokohama with a 27th minute goal from Mineiro. The Reds can count themselves unlucky not to lift the world crown for the first time as they created numerous chances, had three ‘goals’ ruled offside and won the corner count by 17 to nil.

With the first league win at the North London ground since March1990, Chelsea end Arsenal’s Premiership title aspirations with a 2-0 win at Highbury. In a bruising, tetchy battle, goals from Arjen Robben and Joe Cole see the Gunners lose three consecutive Premiership games for the first time since March 1995. They are now 20 points behind the Blues. Neither manager appears entirely happy with the day’s events as Arsene Wenger questions the match officials’ impartiality while Jose Mourinho snubs the recognised tradition as he refuses to shake his counterparts hand at the end of the game.

Allied with Rangers 1-0 win against Heart of Midlothian yesterday, Celtic move four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League despite being held to a 1-1 draw at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Craig Dargo gave Cally a first minute lead but later missed a penalty. John Hartson claimed the Buoys ‘ goal.