Villa spoil Emirates party

Pompey are first leaders

—– The 15th Premiership campaign opens with a dream debut for Reading.
In their 135-year history, the Royals trail by two goals to Middlesbrough in their first-ever top flight game before storming back at the Madejski Stadium to win 3-2. Leroy Lita nets the winner.
In front of a crowd of 60,023, Arsenal play their first competitive game at the Emirates Stadium. But Aston Villa, under new manager Martin O’Neill, spoil the party with a 1-1 draw.
The first leaders of the 2006-07 table are Portsmouth who beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 at Fratton Park. Nwankwo Kanu scores twice on his debut while Rovers have Lucas Neill and Andy Todd sent-off.
There are encouraging starts for the other two new boys. Sheffield United are denied victory against Liverpool at Bramall Lane by a dubious penalty decision while Watford also come out on the wrong end of key decisions as they lose 1-2 at Everton.

—– The last 100% record in the Championship goes as Crystal Palace lose to a stoppage time winner by Sebastian Larsson at new leaders Birmingham City.
Cardiff City move in to second with a 1-0 win at Leeds United. City deputy chairman Peter Ridsdale - the man in charge at Elland Road when United almost went bust and still suffering the consequences - claims he was thrown out of the boardroom by current Leeds chairman Ken Bates and banned from the ground for life.
Relegated Sunderland disastrous start to the season continues as they are still pointless and fall to the bottom of the table after a 1-3 loss at promoted Southend United.
Colchester United are still in search of their first Championship point after a 1-2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

—– Port Vale and Nottingham Forest retain their 100% records after four games in League One.
Leon Constantine scores twice as Vale come out on top of a five-goal thriller with Chesterfield while Grant Holt nets a brace as Forest beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1.
Bradford City move up to third with a 3-0 win at Crewe Alexandra.
Having started the season with a ten-point deduction, Rotherham United reduce the gap at the bottom to six points with a 2-1 win against Scunthorpe United at Millmoor.

—– Swindon Town, under new boss Dennis Wise, take over at the top of League Two with a 2-1 win at Darlington. The Robins have won all of their first four games.
Walsall drop their first points but retain their unbeaten record as a last-minute goal from debutant Carlos Fangueiro earns a 2-2 draw at Lincoln City.
Lancashire duo of Rochdale and Bury are still without a point after Dale lose 0-1 to Notts County and the Shakers lose 0-3 at Wycombe Wanderers.

—– Rangers are the new SPL leaders with a 2-0 win against Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox. Kris Boyd scores both the goals in a pulsating game.
Motherwell are still looking for their first point after a 1-3 defeat at Hibernian.

McClaren starts with emphatic win

Ireland trounced by Holland

—– The new England era is off to a cracking start as Steve McClaren’s Lions blow away reigning European champions Greece at Old Trafford.
They win the friendly 4-0 with all four goals coming the first-half.
New captain John Terry sets the ball rolling with the opening goal after 14 minutes.
Frank Lampard puts the frustration of Germany 2006 behind him with the second before Peter Crouch - who wouldn’t have played but for the injury to Dean Ashton - bags a brace to take his England goals tally to eight in only 12 games.
From the drab listless displays that became the hallmark of the Eriksson era, McClaren’s men do much to restore the feel good factor - although, in fielding seven of their successful side, how on earth did Greece win Euro 2004?
At the end of a dream debut, the new England coach proudly emphasises the many positives: “It was a great performance, especially that first half, it was the one that we wanted and the one that we asked for.
“We controlled the game through our possession, passing, our patience and our switching of play.”
“We brought out the best in our players and we played with a bit of freedom.”

—– A bad week for rookie Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton gets even worse as Holland cruise to a 4-0 win in Dublin.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar nets twice on his international to add to further strikes from Chelsea’s Arjen Robben and Arsenal’s Robin van Persie.
It’s Ireland’s biggest-ever losing margin at Lansdowne Road. Their heaviest defeat in Dublin came in December 1931 when they lost 0-5 to Spain at Dalymount Park.

—– Northern Ireland win on foreign soil for the first time in over two years with a 2-1 victory in Finland.
David Healy is made captain-for-the-day on his 50th appearance and the Leeds United celebrates with his 20th international goal.
Burnley youngster Kyle Lafferty nets his first before Mika Vayrynen replies for the Finns.

—– With the new season just three days away, the Premier League announce they have asked players, managers and referees to end the custom of the ball being kicked out of play when a player goes down injured.
Decisions on whether a break in play is necessary will now be taken by the referee.
The gentlemen’s agreement has been increasingly taken advantage of with frequent breaks in play especially noticeable during the 2006 World Cup finals.

Wonderboy Walcott breaks Under-21 record

Lively Wales held by Bulgaria

—– Dean Ashton is cruelly denied his England debut by a freak training ground injury.
The West Ham United striker was due to be named in Steve McClaren’s first starting line-up, against Greece at Old Trafford on Wednesday, but broke his left ankle as a training session came to a close.
He could be sidelined for over three months.

—– Theo Walcott - the controversial selection for England’s World Cup squad in the summer - marks his Under-21 international debut with a goal inside three minutes.
At 17 years and 152 days, the Arsenal forward becomes the youngest scorer in England Under-21 history but, despite the perfect start, the young Lions are held by Moldova to a 2-2 draw in their opening Euro 2008 qualifying tie at Ipswich.
Peter Taylor retains his position of coach but, while the Under-21 regime is reviewed by Steve McClaren, it will be on a match-by-match basis.

—– In preparation for their opening Euro 2008 qualifying tie next month, Wales are held by Bulgaria in a lively goalless friendly draw at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium.
Coach John Toshack experiments with a 4-4-2 line-up but later reverts to the 3-5-2 formation he is likely to use against the Czech Republic in the Euro 2008 opener in Teplice on 2 September.

Villa takeover moves closer

Staunton confronted at gunpoint

—– A takeover at Aston Villa moves a considerable step closer as the board accept a £62.6million offer from American billionaire Randy Lerner.
An official statement on the Stock Exchange confirms a stake of 56.85% of majority shareholders had been secured by the owner American Football team Cleveland Browns at 547 pence per share.
Although four consortia had been linked with a buy-out, the Villa board have recommended the 44-year-old’s offer to shareholders.
With the Lerner offer accepted, it now seems only a matter of time before new owners move in to Villa Park.
It means 82 year-old Doug Ellis - chairman from 1968 to 1975 and since 1982 - will be standing down.

—– Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton is confronted by a man with a replica gun outside the team’s hotel near Dublin.
The man allegedly threatened to kill the 37 year-old but the former Liverpool defender fled and alerted staff.
The Football Association of Ireland confirmed: “Steve is absolutely fine and looking forward to training.”
A 31-year-old man is later arrested on a beach near Portmarnock Hotel where the Ireland are preparing for a friendly match with Holland.

Palace top Championship

Rangers below par at Pars

—– Liverpool lift the FA Community Shield with a 2-1 win against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium.
The FA Cup winners went ahead when John Arne Riise beat Carlo Cudicini with a dipping shot but record signing Andriy Shevchenko equalised before the break with a classy finish.
A low key second-half was brought to life when new signing Craig Bellamy crossed for Peter Crouch to head the winner ten minutes from time.

—– A last-ditch goal from Clinton Morrison preserves Crystal Palace’s 100% record to go top of the Championship.
Visitors Leeds United are down to ten-men for most of the game at Selhurst Park with Geoff Horsfield sent-off after 15 minutes.

—– Rangers miss the chance to go top of the SPL as Dunfermline Athletic fight back for a deserved draw at East End Park.
Thomas Buffel gave Rangers the lead following the break but the Pars hit back through former Sheffield Wednesday winger Owen Morrison.

Vale top League One

Saddlers lead in Two

—– Of the teams who went in to Championship action with 100% records today, none of them are retained.
Burnley still lead despite being held to a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.
Luton Town are subjected to the comeback of the day. Leading 2-0 at Norwich City, the Canaries hit back with three goals in 14 minutes to grab the points.
Mikael Forssell misses a penalty and Birmingham City miss the chance to go top with a goalless draw at Stoke City.
Despite scoring in the first minute, Sunderland are still without a point as Plymouth Argyle make the long trip north to win 3-2 and move up to second.
Cardiff City are third after they beat Coventry City 1-0 at Ninian Park.

—– Port Vale continue to make a great start to their League One campaign as Leon Constantine gives them a 1-0 win at Cheltenham Town. The vibrant Valiants haven’t conceded in their first three games.
Nottingham Forest are the only other League One team with a 100% record as new boss Colin Calderwood returns to Northampton Town with a win via an own goal from former Forest defender Chris Doig.
The result of the day is at Saltergate where Nigel Spackman’s new-look Millwall crash 1-5 to Chesterfield. It’s the Spireites first home win since January.
Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford both fail to make it three wins out of three as they draw 2-2 at the Withdean.
Rotherham United clinch their first points of the season with a 1-0 win at next-to-bottom Blackpool but the Millers remain at the bottom on minus seven points due to their ten-point sporting sanction.

—– Relegated Walsall are top of League Two win a 2-0 win against Hartlepool United at the Bescot Stadium.
Another relegated club Swindon Town are second after a 1-0 win against Rochdale.
Accrington Stanley post their first Football League win for 44 years as Benin international Romuald Boco scores twice in a 2-1 win against Barnet. However, the attendance at the Fraser Eagle Stadium is only 1,639. There was only one lower attendance in the whole of last season’s Football League campaign.

—– Heart of Midlothian go to the top of the SPL despite being held to a goalless draw by Falkirk at Tynecastle.
St Mirren’s 100% start is halted by a 0-2 defeat at Celtic.

New England boss names first squad

Venables returns to Three Lions fold

—– Having already relinquished the captaincy, David Beckham’s England career appears to be over after he is left out of the first squad selected by Steve McClaren.
Although the new coach insists the door is still open, it seems likely that Beckham’s caps tally will stall at 94: “He was a fantastic captain for England, a great player, and still is a great player. He took the news very well, although he was disappointed.
“I got the reaction I wanted, and the reaction was he would continue to fight for his place, and I will never close the door on that.”
In a statement, the Real Madrid star accepts the decision graciously: “Having spoken to Steve McClaren this week I can fully understand that a new manager should want to make his mark on the team and build towards the next World Cup.
“I’m proud to have played for England for ten years and my passion for representing my country remains as strong as ever.”
McClaren’s decision dispels the media theory that Martin O’Neill’s chances of being appointed England coach when he allegedly refused to confirm that he would have selected Beckham in his squad.

—– For the friendly with Greece at Old Trafford next week, West Ham United forward Dean Ashton receives his first call-up to an England squad along with Tottenham Hotspur’s Michael Dawson and Manchester United’s Ben Foster.
Luke Young, Kieran Richardson, Darren Bent, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermain Defoe, Phil Neville, Wes Brown and Chris Kirkland are all recalled.
Along with the rested Wayne Rooney, Sol Campbell and David James are the other members of the World Cup squad have also been left out.
Steve McClaren’s first England squad is:
GOALKEEPERS
PAUL ROBINSON (Tottenham Hotspur) age 26, caps 26
CHRIS KIRKLAND (Liverpool) age 25, caps 0
BEN FOSTER (Manchester United) age 23, caps 0
DEFENDERS
WAYNE BRIDGE (Chelsea) age 26, caps 23
JAMIE CARRAGHER (Liverpool) age 28, caps 29
WES BROWN (Manchester United) age 26, caps 9
ASHLEY COLE (Arsenal) age 25, caps 51
MICHAEL DAWSON (Tottenham Hotspur) age 22, caps 0
RIO FERDINAND (Manchester United) age 27, caps 52
GARY NEVILLE (Manchester United) age 31, caps 81
PHIL NEVILLE (Everton) age 29, caps 52
JOHN TERRY (Chelsea) age 25, caps 29
LUKE YOUNG (Charlton Athletic) age 27, caps 7
MIDFIELD
OWEN HARGREAVES (Bayern Munich) age 25, caps 34
STEWART DOWNING (Middlesbrough) age 22, caps 5
STEVEN GERRARD (Liverpool) age 26, caps 47
JERMAINE JENAS (Tottenham Hotspur) age 23, caps 15
FRANK LAMPARD (Chelsea) age 28, caps 45
AARON LENNON (Tottenham Hotspur) age 19, caps 4
KIERAN RICHARDSON (Manchester United) age 21, caps 4
SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS (Chelsea) age 24, caps 8
FORWARDS
DEAN ASHTON (West Ham United) age 22, caps 0
DARREN BENT (Charlton Athletic) age 22, caps 1
PETER CROUCH (Liverpool) age 25, caps 11
JERMAIN DEFOE (Tottenham Hotspur) age 23, caps 16

—– As expected, Terry Venables is confirmed as Steve McClaren’s assistant.
The 63 year-old was England’s coach between 1994 and 1996 and led the team to the semi-finals of Euro ‘96: “I feel wonderful to be involved again. It is a great privilege. I was asked and I was very interested from the word go.”
Middlesbrough head coach Steve Round, who worked under McClaren at the Riverside, will also join the England staff on a match-by-match basis. 35 year-old Round is staying in his full-time role at Boro. He replaces Sammy Lee.
Former Middlesbrough assistant manager Bill Beswick will also join McClaren’s backroom staff as a sports psychologist.
Ray Clemence remains as goalkeeping coach.

—– In the Championship, Wolverhampton Wanderers miss the chance to go top as Preston North End win 3-1 at Molineux.

Newcastle take UEFA Cup advantage

Gretna’s grim Euro debut

—– John Terry is named as the new captain of England.
The 25-year-old is confirmed as David Beckham’s successor by new coach Steve McClaren. Steven Gerrard is named vice-captain.
The delighted Chelsea skipper says: “It is the ultimate honour to be the captain of your country and I am very proud to be given this great opportunity.”
McClaren explains: “John has all the attributes an international captain needs - leadership, authority, courage, ability, tactical awareness and a total refusal to accept second-best.
“Over the five years I’ve been involved with the England coaching set-up I’ve seen first hand the respect that John has among his fellow players.”
Terry has so far won 29 caps since making his debut against Serbia and Montenegro in June 2003.

—– Newcastle United come away from Latvia with a one-goal lead in their UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie.
The Toon take control of the first leg at FK Ventspils with a goal from centre-back Titus Bramble.

—– Gretna’s fairytale European debut turns out to be the grim variety as Derry City with 5-1 at Motherwell’s Fir Park.
Playing in English non-league football as recently as 2002, Gretna qualified for the UEFA Cup having reached last season’s Scottish Cup Final.
The Second Division champions’ remarkable story seemed set to continue when Ryan McGuffie gave them an early lead.
The Eircom League side hit back in style though to extend their best run in Europe since 1965 as they are now almost certain to reach the First Round proper.

Greek tragedy for Hearts

Blues day for Black Cats

—– Five times European champions Liverpool start their Champions League campaign with a narrow win against Maccabi Haifa at Anfield.
Goals from Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez - both on debut - spare the Reds’ blushes after the visitors take the lead through Gustavo Boccoli.
With Israel, and the city of Haifa in particular, still under fire from Lebanon, the venue for the second leg of the Third Qualifying Round tie has still to be decided.

—– Heart of Midlothian’s Champions League hopes are in tatters after AEK Athens grab two last-gasp goals to win 2-1 at Murrayfield.
Against the run of play, Saulius Mikoliunas gave Hearts a 62nd minute lead but then had Bruno Aguiar sent-off.
The Edinburgh outfit now face a tough task to qualify for the group stages when they travel to the Greek capital in two weeks time.

—– Birmingham City retain their 100% record in the Championship but Sunderland are still without a point after a Mikael Forssell penalty settles the meeting of two of last season’s relegated clubs.
A crowd of 26,668 witness Niall Quinn’s first game in charge at the Stadium of Light.
Southampton beat Coventry City 2-0 at St Mary’s with second-half goals from Gareth Bale and Grzegorz Rasiak.

—– In League One, Chesterfield and Carlisle United fail to score at Saltergate while, in League Two, Peterborough United win 1-0 at Boston United.

With the current total standing at 499,937, it is very likely that the 500,000th goal to be scored in English league football will be netted tonight.

With a near-full programme to be played, the scorer of the 63rd goal will bring up the landmark half-million goal since league football began in 1888.

The scorer will also receive a special award from the Football League.

The 499,937 tally is split between 485,405 in the Football League and 14,532 in the FA Premier League.

We would like to thank John Russell for verifying the figures in the AFS Database.