On This Day – 18th December
A unique moment in Football League history occurred on this day in 1954 in a First Division match at Stamford Bridge.
Leicester City were the visitors to Champions-elect Chelsea and the crowd of 33,215 witnessed the first – and so far only – joint own goal!
It was scored by both Jack Froggatt and Stan Milburn. Both players got a touch to the ball at the same time and diverted it past their goalkeeper John Anderson into the back of the net. This sort of thing would go to the Dubious Goals Committee if it happened today and get scrutinised by pundits in the television studios! Sadly there is no footage of the own goal, just the written words from those present on the day.
Eric Parsons and Johnny McNichol scored Chelsea’s other goals. Andy Graver scored Leicester’s goal on his debut for The Foxes following a move from Lincoln City.
Chelsea won the First Division that season, the last time that they would win the title for fifty long years. Leicester City finished second bottom and were relegated to the Second Division.
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