| 1900 |
German Football Asscociation formed in Liepzig.
GBR win the Olympic Football gold. |
| 1901 |
Spurs win the FA Cup whilst members of the Southern League, and to date the only amateur winners of the cup. |
| 1902 | During the Scotland v England match at Ibrox terracing collapses and kills 25 fans. |
| 1903 | |
| 1904 |
FIFA formed in Paris on 21st May. The first president being Robert Guerin.
Woolwich Arsenal become the first southern club to be promoted to the top flight in England. |
| 1905 |
First £1000 transfer (see milestones in transfers).
1st South American international takes place, between Argentina and Uruguay.
England join FIFA.
Rule declaring that goalkeepers must stay on the line at penalties instigated this year.
English FA persuaded to join FIFA. |
| 1906 | |
| 1907 |
Amateur FA formed.
Players Union (now PFA) reformed.
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| 1908 |
England's 1st overseas international takes place - Austria v England.
1st Olympic soccer tournament in London won by the UK.
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| 1909 |
The 'Charity Shield' or as it is known today the Community Shield is 1st contested. Newcastle being the 1st winners. Brighton win it the following year.
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| 1910 |
Scotland, Ireland and Wales all join FIFA. |
| 1911 |
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| 1912 |
New rule - goalies not allowed to handle ball outside his own penalty area. |
| 1913 |
10 yard rule for opposition not to encroach at a free-kick instigated. |
| 1914 |
10 yard rule for opposition not to encroach at a corner kick instigated. |
| 1915 |
Several European leagues suspended because of WW1. |
| 1916 |
The oldest international tournament is first held - the South American Championships (now Copa America), the winners being Uruguay. |
| 1917 |
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| 1918 |
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| 1919 |
Football League Div 1 expanded from 20 teams to 22. |
| 1920 |
Division Three South formed.
New rule states that players cant be offside from a throw in. |
| 1921 |
Division Three North formed. |
| 1922 |
Promotion and relegation introduced in the Scottish League. |
| 1923 |
st FA Cup Final at Wembley - Bolton beat West Ham Utd. |
| 1924 |
New rule: goals can be now be scored directly from a corner kick. |
| 1925 |
Offside law changed so now 2 instead of 3 defenders permitted between attacker and the goal.
At throwins both the takers feet have to be behind the line. |
| 1926 |
Huddersfield Town become the 1st team to win a hat-trick of League Championships. |
| 1927 |
Cardiff City take the FA Cup out of England for the only time.
Mitropa Cup begins. |
| 1928 |
1st £10 0000 transfer.
Dixie Dean scores a record 60 goals in a season (still a record.) |
| 1929 |
England's 1st defeat on the continent comes in a 4-3 defeat in Spain.
Goalies compelled to stand still on his goal-line at penalty kicks. |
| 1930 |
Uruguay win the 1st World Cup |
| 1931 |
Goalies allowed to take 4 steps with the ball instead of 2.
Scotland lose to Austria 5-0, their 1st defeat on the continent. |
| 1932 |
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| 1933 |
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| 1934 |
Italy win the 2nd World Cup.
English League record of 13 goals let in by Halifax Town keeper Steve Milton (on his debut) |
| 1935 |
Arsenal equal Huddersfield's hat-trick of League Championships, and Arsenal's Ted Drake scores 7 in a game v Aston Villa, still a Div One record. |
| 1936 |
From a goal-kick players no longer allowed to kick ball back into goalies hands.
Joe Payne of Luton Town scores 10 in a game, a football league record. |
| 1937 |
A record attendence of 149,547 at Hampden Park watches Scotland v England.
Defending players no longer allowed to kick ball into goalies hands from free-kick inside area.
Arc of 10 yard radius drawn outside of penalty area for first time. |
| 1938 |
Italy crowned World Champions again as they retain the World Cup. |
| 1939 |
2nd World War |
| 1940 |
2nd World War. Pele is born, 23rd of October. |
| 1941 |
2nd World War |
| 1942 |
2nd World War |
| 1943 |
2nd World War |
| 1944 |
2nd World War |
| 1945 |
nd World War |
| 1946 |
British Football Associations rejoin FIFA.
The Burnden Park Tragedy: 33 people killed and over 400 injured during the FA Cup tie between Bolton and Stoke. |
| 1947 |
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| 1948 |
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| 1949 |
The entire Torino team perish in an air disaster near Turin, everyone on board, not just the team, is killed.
Eire beat England at Goodison Park, becoming the first team outsde the home countries to do so, therefore ending England's unbeaten record. |
| 1950 |
Uruguay win the 4th World Cup, England lose 1-0 to the USA.
Scotland's unbeaten home record goes after defeat to Austria.
Ranger's win the 1st 'treble' of league, and 2 cups.
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| 1951 |
Obstruction is included as an offence punishable by indirect free-kick.
Studs must now project three-quarters of an inch instead of half an inch. |
| 1952 |
Newcastle become the 1st team to retain the FA Cup in the 20th Century. |
| 1953 |
Hungary thrash England 6-3 at Wembley, ending England's unbeaten home record against continental opposition. |
| 1954 |
West Germany win the 5th World Cup.
England are beaten 7-1 by Hungary in Budapest, their biggest defeat to date.
UEFA is founded on 15th June. Henri Delaunay is named the 1st General Secretary, and Ebbe Shwartz the president. |
| 1955 |
The European Cup of the Champions and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup is started. |
| 1956 |
Real Madrid become the first winners of the European Cup.
The first floodlight match in the football league takes place: Portsmouth v Newcastle Utd on 22nd February. |
| 1957 |
John Charles becomes the first British player to be transferred to a foreign club for a substantial fee (Juventus). |
| 1958 |
Februay 6th, and Man Utd lose 8 players in the Munich Air Disaster. Brazil win the 6th World Cup. Divisions 3 and 4 started. |
| 1959 |
Billy Wright plays his 100th cap for England v Scotland, and retires at the end of the season with a record 105 caps. |
| 1960 |
USSR win the first European Nations Cup in Paris.
Real Madrid win their 5th consecutive European Cup.
Maradona is born, October the 30th.
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| 1961 |
Sir Stanley Rous becomes president of FIFA.
Spurs win the first domestic double of the 20th century.
The PFA succeed in the abolition of the maximum wage.
Fiorentina win the 1st European Cup-Winners Cup. |
| 1962 |
Brazil win and retain the 7th World Cup.
Denis Law signs for Man Utd from Torino for a fee over £100,000, the first six-figure fee paid by a British club. |
| 1963 |
The centenary of the English FA is celebrated by England v Rest of the World at Wembley, England win 2-1.
Spurs win the European Cup Winners Cup, the 1st British success in Europe. |
| 1964 |
Spain win the 2nd European Nations Cup in Madrid.
300 people are killed and over 500 injured following rioting
during a qualifying game between Peru and Argentina for the
Olympics. |
| 1965 |
Sir Stanley Matthews becomes the 1st knighted footballer.
The Football League agree to 1 substitute for 1 injured player.
August 21st: Keith Peacock becomes 1st substitute used in the Football League. |
| 1966 |
England win the 8th World Cup.
Substitutes can now be used for any reason. |
| 1967 |
Sir Alf Ramsey is knighted.
Celtic become the 1st British club to win the European Cup. |
| 1968 |
Italy win the 3rd European Nations Cup in Rome.
Man Utd become the 1st English winners of the European Cup.
Leeds Utd become the 1st British club to win the Fairs Cup.
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| 1969 |
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| 1970 |
Brazil win the 9th World Cup.
Bobby Charlton wins his 106th cap to overtake Billy Wright's 105. |
| 1971 |
66 fans are killed in an Old Firm derby at Ibrox.
Arsenal do the 'double'. |
| 1972 |
Spurs beat Wolves in the first ever all-British European final in the inaugural UEFA Cup Final.
West Germany win the 4th European Nations Cup in Brussels. |
| 1973 |
Ajax win a hat-trick of European Cups.
Bobby Moore wins his 108th cap for England, a new record.
Johan Cruyff becomes the 1st £1,000,000 transfer moving from Ajax to Barcelona. |
| 1974 |
West Germany win the 10th World Cup.
Joao Havelange is named the new FIFA president.
Denis Law wins his 55th cap for Scotland, a new record. |
| 1975 |
Leeds Utd are banned from competing in Europe for 2 years thanks to their rioting fans during the European Cup Final in Paris. |
| 1976 |
Bayern Munich achieve a hat-trick of European Cup wins.
Czechoslovakia win the 5th European Football Championships in Belgrade.
Pat Jennings wins his 60th cap for N.Ireland - a new record.
The Football League abandon the 'goal average' rule and introduce 'goal difference'. |
| 1977 |
Liverpool win their 10th league title and their first European Cup.
Kevin Keegan signs for SV Hamburg from Liverpool in a record £500,00 deal, the highest involving a British club.
Kenny Dalglish transfers to Liverpool from Celtic for a British transfer record of £440,000. |
| 1978 |
Argentina win the 11th World Cup.
Ipswich become the 40th different club to win the FA cup.
Kenny Dalglish's 56th cap makes him Scotland's most capped player. |
| 1979 |
Trevor Francis becomes the 1st £1,000,000 transfer between British clubs. |
| 1980 |
West Germany win the 6th European Championships in Rome.
John Trollope plays 770 games for 1 club, a record. |
| 1981 |
Spurs win the 100th FA Cup after a replay, the 1st to be played at Wembley.
The Football League changes to 3 points for a win, starting in the 1981-2 season. |
| 1982 |
Italy win the 12th World Cup. |
| 1983 |
Canon become the 1st sponsors of the Football League.
Bob Paisley retires after winning 20 trophies with Liverpool. |
| 1984 |
France win the 7th European Championships, in Paris. |
| 1985 |
A fire kills 56 supporters at Bradord City's Valley Parade, and more than 200 are also injured.
10 fans are killed and 29 injured after crowd panic in the Mexican Cup Final.
Tragedy also at the Heysel Stadium in the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus, with 39 deaths (31 Italian) and 437 injured.
English clubs are banned from Europe indefinitely.
Kevin Moran becomes the 1st player to be sent off in the FA Cup Final.
Celtic win the 100th Scottish Cup. |
| 1986 |
Argentina win the 13th World Cup.
Liverpool do the 'double' in Kenny Dalglish's 1st season in charge.
2 substitues are allowed in the FA Cup and League Cup.
Luton Town ban away supporters from their ground. |
| 1987 |
The English FA introduce play-offs to decide end of season promotion and relegation.
2 substitutes are allowed in the Football League.
Today are replaced by Barclays as sponsors to the League. |
| 1988 |
Holland win the 8th European Championships.
Centenary of the Football League.
Wimbledon win the FA Cup just 11 years after being elected to the Football League. |
| 1989 |
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| 1990 |
Germany win the 14th World Cup.
The offside rule is changed again: now an attacker level with the defender is not offside and the proffesional foul is now a sending off offence. |
| 1991 |
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| 1992 |
Denmark win the 9th European Championships.
The English FA Premier League is formed: Divisions 2,3 and 4, become Divisions 1,2 and 3.
League Cup is sponsored by Coca Cola. |
| 1993 |
Sponsorship of the Premier League is now by Barclays, whilst Divisions 1,2 and 3 are sponsored by Endsleigh. |
| 1994 |
Brazil win the 15th World Cup. |
| 1995 |
The English Premier League is reduced from 22 teams to 20.
Division 3 is now increased to 24 teams. |
| 1996 |
Germany win the 10th European Championships, beating Czechoslavakia on the 'Golden Goal' rule, the first team to score one in a major competition.
Divisions 1,2 and 3 are now sponsored by Nationwide. |
| 1997 |
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| 1998 |
France win the 16th World Cup. |
| 1999 |
The European Cup Winners Cup is contested for the last time, Lazio beating Real Mallorca at Villa Park. |
20th Century Milestones