NEWS, NOTES & MILESTONES

2004 - Sean Gregan looks set to leave The Hawthorns with reports claiming he is close to joining Leeds United for a fee of around £500,000. Darren Moore is also linked with a move away from The Hawthorns with Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Coventry all being linked with the defender.

2001 - Defender Darren Moore joins Albion from Portsmouth in a £750,000 deal. The transfer had been in doubt due to haggling over the player's  wages and claims Moore wanted to remain at Fratton Park.

1999 - Albion's 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers in the Worthington Cup sees Brian Little's men equal the club's longest unbeaten record from the start of the season - nine games. The record was originally set at the start of the 1953/54 season.

1995 - Albion reserves beat Oldbury United 8-4 in a testimonial game at York Road for long-serving United goalkeeper Steve Johnson. The keeper had a brief spell at The Hawthorns during the 1980s.

1963 - Manchester United legend George Best makes his league debut  for United in their 1-0 win over the Baggies at Old Trafford.

BIRTHS

1969 - Paul Mardon

Paul Mardon started his career as a trainee with his local club Bristol City and spent three years at Ashton Gate before moving to Birmingham City. He left St Andrews in November 1993 to join Albion in a £400,000 deal. His impressive form at The Hawthorns earned him the club captaincy and saw him become a popular figure amongst supporters. The central defender, capped once by Wales, retired in 2001 due to a knee injury at the age of just 31.

1957 - George Reilly

Belshill-born George Reilly joined Albion in a £100,000 deal from Newcastle United in December 1985. He started his career with Corby Town and spells at Northampton Town and Cambridge United followed before he joined Watford where he won a FA Cup runners-up medal in 1984. His time at The Hawthorns was not a success with the Scottish striker hitting just 10 goals in 50 games for the club although a number of those games saw him actually deployed as a central defender. After leaving The Hawthorns at the end of the 1987/88 season Reilly returned to Cambridge United and then had short spells at Barnet and Alvechurch before retiring.

1905 - Len Darnell

After signing professionally for Albion in October 1925, Irchester-born Len Darnell went on to make over 60 appearances for the Baggies during a near five year stay at the club. Darnell, who had joined Albion originally as an amateur from Rushden Town in  May 1924, joined Reading on leaving The Hawthorns. He died in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, in November 1968 at the age of 63.

1890 - Arthur Cook

Arthur Cook joined Albion from Wrexham in May 1911 after just a year with the Welsh club. He had previously spent four years with Stafford Rangers. He would stay at The Hawthorns for ten years but would make just 55 first team appearances due to the presence of England international Joe Smith in the right-back position. He left the Baggies to join Luton Town in June 1921 and short spells with Swansea Town and Whitchurch FC followed before he retired to become a licensee in his hometown of Stafford. Cook, who featured for Albion in the 1912 FA Cup Final, died in 1930 at the age of just 39 after falling from a window at his pub The Doxey Arms.

DEATHS

None known.

DEBUTS

2013 - Morgan Amalfitano & Victor Anichebe v Fulham, Craven Cottage, Premier League.

1991 - Stewart Bowen & David Pritchard (as substitute) v Stockport County, The Hawthorns, Third Division.
 

1985 - Robbie Dennison & Carlton Palmer (as substitute) v Newcastle United, St James' Park, First Division.

1963 - Campbell Crawford v Manchester United, Old Trafford, First Division.

1938 - Ernie Hoyland & Bill Tudor v Newcastle United, St James' Park, Second Division.

1907 - Ike Evenson v Oldham Athletic, Boundary Park, Second Division.

1889 - George Evans v Derby County, Racecourse Ground, Football League.

FAREWELLS

1895 - Sid Saunders v Preston North End, Stoney Lane, First Division.

TRANSFERS

2001 - Darren Moore joins the Baggies from Portsmouth for a fee of £750,000.

RESULTS