NEWS, NOTES & MILESTONES

1935 - Albion register their best ever league victory over Aston Villa by handing out a 7-0 thrashing at Villa Park. William 'G' Richardson hits four of the Baggies' goals.

BIRTHS

1974 - Danny Dichio

London-born Danny Dichio began his career at Queens Park Rangers, joining as an apprentice in June 1991 before turning professional in May 1993. He spent four years at Loftus Road before he left for Italian side Sampdoria. After just one year in Italy he returned to England, joining Sunderland. His time in the north east was a success, helping the Black Cats win promotion to the Premier League as Division One champions and then helping them to two seventh place finishes in the Premier League. After three and a half years with Sunderland he joined Albion, initially on loan. He stayed at The Hawthorns for two and a half years, finishing as the club’s top scorer during their first ever Premier League season of 2002/03.

On leaving Albion he had spells with both Millwall and Preston North End before moving to Canada in 2007 to join newly created MLS club Toronto FC. Dichio, who became a permanent resident of Canada in April 2009, spent three years playing for Toronto before retiring to take up a role with the club’s academy, a role which he still holds to this day.

1954 - Sam Allardyce

Dudley-born Sam Allardyce began his playing career with Bolton Wanderers, turning professional and making his league debut in November 1973. He made over 200 first team appearances for Wanderers before joining Sunderland in 1980. He spent just one season at Roker Park and further short spells followed at Millwall, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Coventry City and Huddersfield Town before he returned to Bolton. After just one season back at Burnden Park he joined neighbours Preston North End, whom he captained to promotion from the fourth division in 1987.

In the summer of 1989 Allardyce joined Albion as reserve team coach. Whilst at The Hawthorns Allardyce was also registered as a player but appeared in only one game, coming on as a substitute in a 5-1 home defeat against Newcastle United in November 1989. In January 1991, after Albion’s FA Cup defeat against non-league Woking, Allardyce was sacked along with manager Brian Talbot.

After leaving The Hawthorns he became player/manager of Irish side Limerick, guiding them to promotion in his only season with the League of Ireland club. In the summer of 1992, Allardyce returned to England and to Preston North End to take up the role of coach/assistant manager under Les Chapman. Ten games into the season however, Chapman was sacked and Allardyce given the role of caretaker manager. Despite impressing as caretaker the full-time job was given to John Beck. Allardyce remained a coach at Deepdale until July 1994 when he was handed the Blackpool manager’s job - a job he held for two years before being controversially sacked.

Allardyce’s next managerial role came at Notts County where he spent two and a half years before he returned once again to his first club - Bolton Wanderers. He enjoyed a hugely successful eight years in charge at the club, establishing them as a Premier League force. He left in April 2007 citing a desire to win trophies but spells at Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers were both unsuccessful. In June 2011 he was named manager of recently relegated West Ham United and despite being generally unpopular with fans at Upton Park he led them back into the Premier League at the first attempt.

DEATHS

None known.

DEBUTS

1957 - David Burnside v Leeds United, Elland Road, First Division.

1907 - William Bowser v Stockport County, The Hawthorns, Second Division.

1889 - James Nicholls v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoney Lane, First Division.
 

FAREWELLS

1957 - Len Millard v Leeds United, Elland Road, First Division.

1907 - William Bowser v Stockport County, The Hawthorns, Second Division.

TRANSFERS

None known.

RESULTS