Top 5 Opening Day Memories

With the opening day of the Premier League 08/09 season just around the corner, I thought I would reflect on the big moments of prior opening days of the seasons. I actually struggled to find a top 5, so feel free to argue with what I've had to present. In no particularly order we have...

Premier League 92/93 - Brian Deane scores opening goal

At the dawn of a new era for English football, with Rupert Murdoch throwing millions of pounds into the sport, and Richard Keys' gorilla hands welcoming a whole new world of what would become 'arm chair fans', 22 top-flight clubs felt a sense of excitement about what was to come. And so there was a record to achieve... and it occured at Bramall Lane where Brian Deane scored the first ever Premier League goal in a 2-1 win for Sheffield United over Manchester United.

Premier League 95/96 - "You'll never win anything with kids"

After failing to win the league on the last day of the season, and losing the FA Cup Final to Everton, it was a year of change for Manchester United selling Paul Ince (Inter Milan), Andrei Kanchelskis (Fiorentina) and Mark Hughes (Chelsea) to allow their next crop of youth players to come into the team. However on the opening day of the season, with Alex Ferguson switching to a 3-5-2 formation, Aston Villa tore them apart 3-1 leading Alan Hansen to comment "You'll never win anything with kids". Manchester United went on to win the Premier League and FA Cup Double.

Premier League 96/97 - The White Feather

Following in the illustrious footsteps of Uwe Fuchs and Jan Age Fjortoft, came a well known Italian from Juventus in Fabrizio Ravanelli. At a time when European football was still off the radar for the common football fan, not too much was known of Ravanelli except for his occasional victories over Manchester United in the European Cup, so there was a lot of excitement over his transfer to Middlesbrough. The excitement was justified, as on the opening day Ravanelli put a hat-trick past Liverpool, although Middlesbrough could only manage a 3-3 draw. Ravanelli was to get used to scoring goals and not winning as he finished the season with over 30 goals in all competitions but saw his side get relegated.

Premier League 96/97 - David Beckham scores from the half way line

Nothing to say, just watch.




Premier League 03/04 - Blackburn 5-1 Wolves

There's no fan in England that could not have been aware of how hard Wolverhampton Wanderers had been trying to reach the glory hights of the Premier League, and the millions of pounds they'd spent attempting to achieve this under a number of inadequate Managers. Finally in 2003, Wolves managed to secure promotion, the hard work was done. However, quite hilariously... on the opening day of the season an average Blackburn side smashed 5 goals past them to teach them a harsh lesson about top-flight football.