Brian Viner: From Munich to Bradman... a year of anniversaries

This column traditionally celebrates the new year by looking forward to the significant birthdays and anniversaries at which the world of sport will, over the next 12 months, be looking back. So here goes...

January

Terry Venables turns 65 tomorrow with Henry Cecil a few furlongs behind: the popular racehorse trainer celebrates his 65th on Friday. On the 18th it will be 75 years since the MCC famously received a telegram from the Australian Cricket Board referring to England's "Bodyline" tactics as "unsportsmanlike". A huge diplomatic hoo-hah ensued, and the D'Oliveira affair, 40 years ago in September, offered a later reminder that cricket can cause a diplomatic rumpus like no other sport.

February

Dominating the month, and indeed the year, is the 50th anniversary on 6 February of the Munich air disaster, which killed eight of Manchester United's Busby Babes. Two days later it will be 25 years since the Aga Khan's 1981 Derby winner Shergar was spirited into the night, never to be seen again, except on the moon ridden by Elvis, according to the Sunday Sport.

March

On the first of the month it will be 50 years since Gary Sobers hit an unbeaten 365 for the West Indies against Pakistan, a record that stood as the highest individual Test score until Brian Lara took England's attack apart in Antigua, 36 years later. Ian Woosnam qualifies for the Seniors Tour the following day, with Sandy Lyle having reached the magic 50 three weeks earlier.

April

On 9 April 25 years ago, Jenny Pitman became the first female trainer to saddle a Grand National winner: her beloved Corbiere. Ten days later it will 50 years since the Munich survivor Bobby Charlton played the first of his 106 games for England a 4-0 hammering of Scotland at Hampden Park. And on the 27th it will 100 years since the 1908 Olympics opened at White City in London. The hosts topped the medals table with 56 golds; what price that happening in 2012? On the 29th it will be 75 years since footballers wore shirt numbers for the first time, in the FA Cup final between Everton and Manchester City.

May

Norman Whiteside is still the youngest person to score in an FA Cup final, aged 18 years and 18 days for Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion, 25 years ago on 26 May. Another former United prodigy, that fellow Charlton again, scored twice on 29 May 1968, in the 4-1 defeat of Benfica that made United the first English winners of the European Cup.

June

On 5 June it will be 40 years since Alan Mullery became the first man to be sent off in an England international, getting his marching orders against Yugoslavia in the European Championship. More happily, the following day marks the centenary of the first football international between England and overseas opposition: a 6-1 defeat of Austria, in Vienna.

July

Dorando Pietri staggered into the history books on 24 July 1908; the little Italian collapsed when leading the Olympic marathon and had to be helped across the finishing line, leading to disqualification but global celebrity (Irving Berlin wrote a song about him). Later that month, two great British Olympians, figure-skater Christoper Dean (on the 27th) and Daley Thompson (on the 30th) turn 50. And let's not forget dear old Jimmy Hill, who becomes an octogenarian on 22 July.

August

Possibly the two finest strikers of bat on ball made exits of different kinds 60 years ago in August 1948. On the 14th Don Bradman was accorded a standing ovation all the way to the crease in his valedictory Test innings at The Oval, and, requiring just four runs to finish with Test match average of 100, was dismissed second ball by Eric Hollies. Two days later the great George Herman "Babe" Ruth found that the Almighty can play hardball too, passing away at the age of just 53. Returning to the Don, the 27th will be the centenary of his birth.

September

On the 8th it will be 40 years since the only time a Brit of either gender has won the US Open tennis title Virginia Wade beating Billie-Jean King. Less illustriously, on the 27th it will 20 years since Ben Johnson was sent home from the Seoul Olympics in disgrace after cheating his way to 100-metre gold.

October

Never mind Frankie Dettori; on 4 October, 75 years ago Gordon Richards rode all six winners on the card at Chepstow, having won the last race at Nottingham the previous day. He then rode the first five winners of the following day at Chepstow, making 12 consecutive winners, a record never likely to be surpassed. And on the 16th it will be 40 years since American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave their famous "Black Power" salute on the rostrum at the Mexico City Olympics.

November

Michael Roger Channon, known to the world as Mick, gallops into senior citizenhood on 28 November. There won't be many more profane OAPs in the country Channon can scarcely recite the Lord's Prayer without swearing but nor can I think of anyone of any age who has risen to the top in two such contrasting sports as football and horse racing. His 60th birthday would be a good time to give him a peerage. How about Lord Channon of Effingham?

December

On 5 December it will be 100 years since the most remarkable Tyne-Wear derby of all time. Sunderland were holding Newcastle United 1-1 at St James' Park with less than half an hour to go, then scored eight goals to win 9-1. Almost as remarkably, Newcastle went on to win the league. And on Boxing Day it will be 100 years since the boxer Jack Johnson, not permitted to fight in his native USA, beat Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia, to became the world's first black heavyweight champion. Happy New Year.

b.viner@independent.co.uk

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