Plus: worst-ever penalty shoot outs, poachers turned gamekeepers … and footballers donating antiques?!
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“Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s final game of last season was for York City against Rochdale in the National League. His first competitive game of 2026-27 season was for Hearts against Sturm Graz in a Champions League qualifier. Has a player ever made a bigger leap in competitive levels between consecutive club games?” asks Tom Reed.
Does a jump from the Welsh League to the FA Cup count as a bigger leap? Probably not, but this was an FA Cup semi-final, rather than a Champions League qualifier, and it’s a cracking yarn regardless. “I’ll nominate Gary Plumley,” writes Russell Connor. “Gary made almost 200 appearances for Newport County in four separate spells over the course of a decade but by 1987 he had effectively retired and was running a wine bar while making occasional appearances for Ebbw Vale in the Welsh League.
Steve Baines, the only referee in the English professional leagues to have had significant experience as a player.
Dick Jol, who refereed the 2001 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Valencia.
Ben Haverkort, who as a player received 73 yellow cards and six reds, many for verbally abusing referees.
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