NEWS, NOTES & MILESTONES

1966 - Albion play their first ever game in European competition when they take on Dutch side DOS Utrecht in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The Baggies qualified for the competition by winning the previous season's League Cup.

BIRTHS

1991 - Romaine Sawyers

Birmingham-born Romaine Sawyers progressed through the club's youth system to become a regular in the under-18 and then under-21 sides. He signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2009 but despite appearing in a number of first team friendlies he never made a competitive appearance for the club. He was released by Albion at the end of the 2012/13 season and was quickly snapped up by Walsall.

1980 - Diego Lugano

Born in Canelones, Uruguay, Diego Lugano started his playing career with his hometown club Club Atlético Libertad. He was soon spotted by bigger clubs and in 1999 he joined Nacional where he spent four years before moving on to Brazilian side São Paulo. In 2006 Lugano moved to Europe, joining Turkish giants Fenerbahçe. He spent five successful years in Turkey before he moved to France joining Paris Saint-Germain but his time there was not so successful, making just 12 appearances in two seasons. In January 2013 he joined Spanish side Málaga on loan but again failed to really impress and so returned to France. August 2013 saw the Uruguay captain make a surprise move to England by joining Albion on a free transfer.

1947 - Graham Smith

Liverpool-born goalkeeper Graham Smith had spells as an amateur with both Tranmere Rovers and Liverpool before signing professionally for Notts County in 1968. Just one year later he left for Colchester United from where in November 1971 he joined Albion for a fee of £10,000. He spent just over two years at The Hawthorns and made only ten first team appearances before he left for Cambridge United on a free transfer. He would spend the rest of his playing career at the Abbey Stadium before retiring due to a back injury - he played his last game for United in November 1977. After hanging up his boots he had a spell working for sports giant Adidas before returning to football by becoming a director at Chelsea. Moving to the United States, Smith had a spell in charge of Californian team Ventura County Fusion before in 2013 he was named as Sacramento's Technical Director.

1878 - Freddie Fenton

Freddie Fenton started his playing career in 1898 with his hometown club Gainsborough Trinity. He spent two seasons with Trinity before leaving to join then-Southern League West Ham United. After one season with the Hammers he rejoined Gainsborough but his return was short-lived, the player leaving to join Preston North End in March 1902. His stay at Deepdale lasted for just over a year before he moved to the Midlands joining Albion. Much in keeping with the rest of his career his spell at The Hawthorns was short, making just six appearances in 17 months at the club. After leaving the Baggies he had spells with Bristol City, Swindon Town and Croydon Common before retiring through injury in May 1910 at the age of 32. It is believed that he died during the 1940s or 1950s.

(Some sources give November 15 as Fenton's birth date)

DEATHS

None known.

DEBUTS

None known.
 

FAREWELLS

1996 - Lee Ashcroft (as substitute) v Portsmouth, Fratton Park, League Division One.

1994 - Micky Mellon (as substitute) v Port Vale, The Hawthorns, League Division One.

1991 - David Pritchard v Bury, The Hawthorns, Third Division.

TRANSFERS

None known.

RESULTS