A mixed year for Michael Owen ends in injury.
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.