[Lord Snooty]

October 3:

Born in Eastbourne in 1987, it's a happy 35th birthday today to Joel Lynch. He was brought to the club by Simon Grayson just after promotion in 2012 and made his Town debut in the opening league game of 2012/13 away at Cardiff.

He wasn't the best ever defender we've had at Town but he was reliable enough. What his time with us is noted for was the spectacular goals he scored. He only got nine in 121 (+7 subs) apps, but two of his goals will be in a top ten of the best goals ever scored at the John McAlpharm Stadium.

Just have a look at these beauties and tell us which one you think's the best........

He was still playing last season, down at Crawley. Not sure if he still is. He has no appearances for this season.


So Grayson signed Joel from Nottingham Forest and they were our opponents in a League Cup 2nd round 2nd leg match at Leeds Road, on this date in 1989. They were still managed by Leeds reject Brian Clough and were the League Cup holders, not the shower of shite they are nowadays.

Town were still in the 3rd Division, managed by ex Republic of Ireland manager Eoin Hand (pictured below) and we earned ourselves a decent chance of winning the tie with the giant tree trunks by drawing the first leg at the City Ground with Ken O'Doherty scoring.

Forest scored first through Tommy Gaynor, but then Craig Maskell equalised just before half time. Future Town player Gary Crosby, gave Forest the lead after the break and then Nigel Clough, who had been taunted by the Town fans throughout the first half, scored an absolute screamer to shut them up and surely close the match at 4-2 on aggregate.

But no! Back came Hand's heroes. First Maskell netted direct from a 20 yard free kick and then Mike Cecere unbelievably levelled it up at 3-3 slotting home in front of the Cowshed after Maskell had set him up. The game went to extra time, but we couldn't get the winner and sadly, the rules of the competition at the time had Forest going through on the away goals rule instead of the excitement of a penalty shoot out. 

The Football League double champions Huddersfield Town, under the new management of Cecil Potter, were on an unbeaten run at the start of the new season in pursuit of that third title. We had gone seven unbeaten and on this date in 1925, made it eight with a 3-2 away win against Everton. George Brown was the hero, with a hat trick.


On this date in 1936, we had another win against Leeds Urinals. This was a routine 3-0 win at home against them with goals from Len Butt and two from Duncan Ogilvie. He was a new signing from Motherwell and he was to return back up there soon afterwards, in exchange for Willie MacFadyen, after only 18 games for us.


Back in Division One after promotion, we played Aston Villa at home on this date in 1953. Vic Metcalfe got one of the goals in a fantastic 4-0 win, but it was Jimmy Glazzard who was on fire, scoring a hat trick to take his tally to eight in three matches after a hat trick against Sheffield Utd and two against Middlesbrough.


And finally today, a 6-3 win. It was at Leeds Road against Portsmouth on this date in 1959. Jack Connor scored a couple, as did Les Massie. Kevin McHale scored just two days after his 20th birthday. And the sixth goal came form Ken Taylor, returning to the team when the cricket season had finished, having just starred in a successful County Championship title winning season with Yorkshire.