Eurovision is upon us once again, with the annual song contest taking place in Liverpool on Saturday evening, with 37 countries hoping for glory.
It’s been 26 years since the United Kingdom were last crowned winners of the competition, but what was happening in the footballing world at the same time?
David Beckham was crowned PFA YOUNG player of the year
Amazing as it may seen ‘Becks’ was just a whippersnapper the last time the UK lifted the Eurovision trophy. He turned 22 at the end of the 1996/97 season, earning plenty of plaudits for his performances on the right hand side for Man United with his peers voting him as the best young player in the league.
His famed goal from the halfway line on the opening day of the season probably helped but his danger from set pieces and ability to put pinpoint crosses into the box made it easy to see why many compared his right foot to being able to control the ball like a Puppet on a String.
Man City finished 14th in the second tier
A far cry from their domination of English football that we’ve become accustomed to in recent years, Man City were a fairly average second tier side in 1997. Finishing below the likes of Port Vale and Tranmere Rovers, City played their football at Maine Road and fielded the likes of Kit Simons and Steve Lomas.
With a sprawling stadium and training complex, a number of world class players and multiple Premier League trophies, it’s safe to say that City fans are getting a lot more Boom Bang-a-Bang for their bucks nowadays.
Eurovision 2023 Odds
Eurovision 2023 Odds | ||
| Team | Sky Bet | |
| Sweden | 4/6 | |
| Finland | 11/4 | |
| Ukraine | 12/1 | |
| France | 14/1 | |
| Spain | 18/1 | |
| Israel | 33/1 | |
| Norway | 33/1 | |
| Italy | 50/1 | |
| United Kingdom | 66/1 | |
| Austria | 100/1 | |
Brighton escaped relegation to the non-league on the final day
It was almost disaster for Brighton in the 1996/97 season. Following relegation to the 0ld Third Division the season before, they failed to adapt to playing in the bottom tier of English football and came perilously close to dropping into the non-league, avoiding the drop by virtue of having scored three more goals than Hereford United.
With a EFL Cup Final appearance this season, European football on the horizon and one of the most envied scouting networks in world football, are things going a bit better for the South Coast club nowadays? Ooh Ahh…Just a Little Bit.
Eric Cantona retired from football
Just short of his 31st birthday, the enigmatic Frenchman announced he would be retiring from football with immediate effect. It was a shock to everyone, not least his club, Man United. Cantona scored 64 goals in 143 appearances for the Red Devils and left on a high to spend his days playing beach football and confusing journalists with his musings.
The Man United fans implored him to stay, wanting him to extend his stay at Old Trafford. ‘What’s Another Year?’, they begged but Cantona rejected these pleas, telling the fans he wanted to continue ‘Sans toi‘.
England won a major international tournament
Le Tournoi was DEFINITELY a major international tournament, ok? As a warm up to the World Cup in 1998, France hosted this very prestigious four team tournament featuring England, France, Italy and Brazil. It was the first (and only) version of the tournament, meaning England are the inaugural, and reigning Le Tournoi champions.
And, if you thought claiming Le Tournoi as a major achievement was a bit tenuous, just wait until you see our Eurovision pun. Which one is worse? We’ll leave you to be Making Your Mind Up.