The first ever penalty shootout in England took place on this day back in 1970, with Manchester United beating Hull City at Boothferry Park in the Watney Cup.
United won 4-3 in the shootout to win the semi final, with Hull goalkeeper Ian McKechnie saving Denis Law’s penalty. He then went from hero to villain by stepping up and crashing his penalty against the crossbar, meaning that it was United who progressed to the final against Derby County.
The Watney Cup was a short-lived tournament that was played between 1970 and 1973 between the top two goalscorers of the four divisions in the Football League. This wouldn’t include any of the sides who qualified for European competition or had been promoted the previous season.
It was also the first tournament that the Football Association allowed to be sponsored. It really was a groundbreaking competition!
Derby County won the first tournament, beating Manchester United 4-1 in the Final at their Baseball Ground. They eight teams that were in the inaugural tournament were Derby County, Manchester United, Hull City, Sheffield United, Fulham, Reading, Aldershot and Peterborough United.
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