Sunday Football

[slightfold]

The Millwall Fulham game dated 20/1/74 is listed as being the first ever Sunday League game. Yet the Darlington Mansfield Town issue 15/2/81 also makes the claim, and even has an insert stating this! There must be some explanation for this apparent contradiction? Can someone please enlighten me?

[martino]

For those of us old enough to remember there was an Energy Crisis in 1973/74. Perhaps some games were switched to a Sunday.

[CanaryHonestMan]

Games in 1973/74 went ahead on Sundays due to a Football League special dispensation, but once the three-day week crisis was over, they were banned again. A special meeting of the Football League in early 1981, in response to falling gates, allowed clubs to play up to six games on a Sunday, and the Darlington match was the first one following this change - hence the claim on the programme.
Presumably after 1973/74 fixtures in Scotland continued to be allowed to be played on a Sunday, as I remember Ayr playing Scottish Cup ties at Celtic and Hibernian in 1977 and 1980 on a Sunday.

[RIKERBCFC]

The FA cup tie between Cambridge United & Oldham Athletic was the first match played on sunday 6th January 1974 with an early kick off , a number of other ties also played on a sunday. Bradford City played Alvechurch on the same date with a 3pm kick off. The Millwall v Fulham match 2 weeks later was the first league match as it Kicked off at 11-30pm in 20th January,

[slightfold]

Many thanks to forum members for all your informative replies. So the earlier 1974 games were the result of a temporary dispensation because the 'fuel crisis,' and the 1981's were as a result of a permanent change in the rules. Cheers!

[slightfold]

Many thanks to forum members for all your informative replies. So the earlier 1974 games were the result of a temporary dispensation because the 'fuel crisis,' and the 1981's were as a result of a permanent change in the rules. Cheers!