1994 Premier league | 1994 division 1 | 1994 division 2 | 1994 division 3
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The summer of 1994 was a typical English Football pre-season in terms of transfer activity. Indeed prior to the kick off of the 1994-1995 FA Carling Premiership season there was the usual comings and goings. Probably the biggest name to arrive in the Premiership was German International World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann to Tottenham Hotspur, controversial and disliked when he first arrived the striker was branded a diver. However in a career that had already bought him goals in many various leagues around the world, including Italian Giants Inter Milan, AS Monaco of France and Stuttgart of Germany his reputation as a goal scorer was first rate. The other big transfers included Nicky Summerbee for £1,500,000 million form newly relegated Swindon Town to Manchester City. Carlton Palmer left Sheffield Wednesday for Leeds United. Two legends at their respective football clubs John Fashanu and Bruce Grobelaar left for pastures new, Fashanu joining Aston Villa from Wimbledon and Grobelaar ending his time at Liverpool Football Club for Southampton, Grobelaar had won 13 major trophies with Liverpool. Blackburn Rovers broke the English transfer record paying £5,000,000 for Chris Sutton of Norwich City. Sutton the former central defender made his reputation after changing roles; he had found success during the 1992-1993 FA Premier League season, when he helped Norwich City finish third in the topflight of English Football. Blackburn had beaten both Manchester United and Arsenal to his signature; this was mainly thanks to Blackburn Rovers great benefactor and genuine fan steel tycoon Jack Walker. Replacing the three football teams relegated from the 1993-1994 FA Carling Premiership, Sheffield United, Oldham Athletic and Swindon Town are Leicester City promoted through the English League playoff system, second place Nottingham Forrest and 1993/1994 English Football League Division 1 champions Crystal Palace. Both Palace and Forrest returned after one season having been relegated during the very first season of premiership football, the 1992-93 FA Premier League. During this season out of the top flight the two teams Palace and Forrest polished the skills of strikers Chris Armstrong and Stan Collymore, both players eager to show that they could take the fine football form they had both displayed in Division 1 into the Premiership.
The opening month of the 1994-1995 FA Carling Premiership season shows off the talents of strikers old and new. The first game of the season see's Liverpool comprehensively beat newly promoted Crystal Palace 6-1, the old master Ian Rush and new hero of the Kop both netting during this opening game. Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer of Blackburn Rovers show an almost instinctive football partnership from day one. This deadly new strike partnership proves a success during Blackburn’s second football match of the season, as both Shearer and Sutton score in 3-0 victory against newly promoted Leicester City, fans and the press soon christen the two players as the 'SAS'. Sutton scores his first hat-trick in a 4-0 win against Coventry City, Sutton's goal scoring exploits are more than matched by Tottenham Hotspur's German superstar Jurgen Klinsmann, his early season form at the club nets him the impressive football statistic of 5 goals in 5 games. Top though is Newcastle United with Andy Cole showing fine form in front of goal complemented with the ever creative talent of Peter Beardsley. Liverpool's Robbie Fowler though shows the form that will make him a star scoring in the first 5 games.
September see's Liverpool spend £7,000,000 on two defenders Phil Babb and John Scales to sure up their defence. Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers dominate the early season, with Newcastle going top of the FA Carling Premiership. At the other end of the table Everton once again show poor form as they perform much like they did during the previous FA Carling Premiership 1993-1994 season, they prop up the Premiership table, by the end of the month of October 1994 they are already 6 points adrift from safety. In an attempt to relieve the pressure Mike Walker signs Duncan Ferguson on a season long loan from Glasgow Rangers, the troubled striker banned from playing football in Scotland after a head butt on Paul McStay of Raith Rovers during the 1993-1994 Scottish Football Association Premier League season. As summer turns to autumn 1994 Blackburn Rovers start to drop point to a number of team including rivals Manchester United.
The month of November see's a number of managerial changes, Ossie Ardiles is sacked by Totteham Hotspur despite Jurgen Klinsmann being in fine form, Ardiles attacking form of football has meant that as well as scoring they are conceding to many. Mike Walker is sacked by Everton, as is Ron Atkinson of Aston Villa, Joe Royle taking control of Everton and Brian Little at Villa. Former Oldham Athletic manager Joe Royle at the time held the record for youngest player to put on an Everton shirt making his debut at 16 during the English Football League 1st Division 1966-67 season, this football statistic was broken by James Vaughan during the 2004-2005 FA Barclaycard Premiership season. The big news though is a newspaper allegation that Bruce Grobelaar has taken bribes to fix matches while he played at Liverpool, this controversy soon includes Wimbledon goalkeeper Hans Seeger’s and former Wimbledon star and 'Gladiators' presenter John Fashanu, all three were eventually cleared in a court of law. At the end of November 1994 Alan Shearer scores a hat-trick during a 4-0 victory to send Blackburn Rovers top of the table.
Both Blackburn and Manchester United show great form throughout December 1994, however Liverpool inspired by Robbie Fowler push both team and play themselves into contention winning 3 and drawing 3 by the end of December they are in third place. Under Joe Royal Everton climb out of the bottom 3 and Stan Collymore’s impressive Nottingham Forrest go 5th. Football corruption rears its ugly head once more as George Graham is accused of taking bungs over the transfer of Danish International John Jenson to Arsenal from Bronby during the summer of 1992. The New Year has Blackburn on fire with Alan Shearer netting regularly. January also is the month of big money transfer's, Tony Yeboah joins Leeds United for £3,400,000, the Ghanaian international proves to be a big hit with the Elland Road faithful as he shows great skills to score some spectacular goals. The biggest talking point is the shock transfer of Andy Cole for a British record fee of £7,000,000, Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan having to explain in person to distraught Geordies the reasoning behind the transfer, Newcastle fall away some what in the Premiership. Football and the Premiership in general make the Front-Page of Britain’s newspapers once more for the wrong reasons. During Manchester United's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace football player Eric Cantona launches himself into the crowd after a sending off, aiming his now infamous 'kung fu ' kick at a Palace fan who had been racially abusing him. Cantona was banned until October 1995 the following season. Cantona as way of explanation at the subsequent press conference gave the quote "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown in to the sea.”
Spring 1995 has Blackburn strengthening their clinch on top spot of the 1994-95 FA Carling Premiership, the form of Shearer and Sutton is immense, and Shearer nets his 100th league goal against Chelsea as Blackburn win 2-1. By the end of April 1995 Blackburn look like they are about to run away with the league title going 8 points clear as United slump to a number of defeats, the Cantona incident effecting them in a negative way. They do not give up all hope though with a two game advantage, they are helped as well as West Ham beat Kenny Daglish's Blackburn 2-0 last game of April 1994. At the other end Ipswich Town and Leicester City look doomed with Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Norwich City embroiled in a fight to avoid the final relegation spot.
Manchester United win their two game advantage during the month of May as the title race goes down to the last game of the season. They know that they need to win their last game at West Ham United while Blackburn Rovers must win at Anfield to secure the title. Despite Alan Shears 34th goal of the season Blackburn loose 2-1, however all is not lost as West Ham draw with Man United giving the title to Blackburn, Manchester United's season is confounded as they lose the 1995 English Football Association Cup to Joe Royle's rejuvinated Everton 1-0. A set of results that a gambling man would not take a football bet on. The three teams relegated from the 1994-1995 FA Carling Premiership are Norwich City, Leicester City and Ipswich Town. Norwich only take 8 points from January onwards, this poor form being the major reason that the once title challengers are sent back into the football League Division 1.
1994 Premier league | 1994 division 1 | 1994 division 2 | 1994 division 3
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