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The Darwen Scandal
Lancashire club Darwen causes a scandal when it is revealed they had been paying two Scots, Fergie Suter and James Love. This is believed to be the first involvement of professional players in the English game. -
Professionalism is legalised.
Clubs were allowed to pay players provided that they had either been born or had lived for two years within a six-mile radius of the ground. There were also rules preventing professional players playing for more than one club in a season, without obtaining special permission, and all professional players had to be registered with the F.A. -
£4-a-week wage limit is introduced.
A £4-a-week wage limit is introduced. -
Middlesbrough break the transfer record
Image source The first £1,000 transfer fee is paid when Middlesbrough sign Sunderland's Alf Common. Taking a relegation battling 'Boro from near the foot of the table to mid-table mediocrity. -
Wage-cap increases.
The maximum wage grows to £8 a week (£6 in the summer), plus a loyalty bonus of £650 after five years. -
Arsenal break the transfer record
Image Source The first £10,000 transfer - Arsenal sign David Jack from Bolton. He was also the first ever player to score at Wembley and went on to manage Southend Utd, Middlesbrough and Shelbourne. -
Jimmy Guthrie takes charge
Jimmy Guthrie takes over as chairman of the Players' Union with the maximum wage still only £12 a week (£10 in the summer). Jimmy was determined to get a better deal for players but many players thought he was 'untrustworthy'. -
Wage cap abolished
Image source New PFA new chairman Jimmy Hill finally wins abolition of maximum wage. Johnny Haynes becomes first £100-a-week player. -
Manchester United break the transfer record
The first transfer over £100,000 takes place as Manchester United pay £110,000 to sign Denis Law from Torino. Law went on to score 237 goals in 409 appearances for Utd. -
Nottingham Forest break the transfer record
Nottingham Forest pay the first £1million fee, signing Trevor Francis from Birmingham. Peter Shilton becomes the best-paid player in Britain with a new contract at Forest worth £1,200 a week. -
Tottenham Hotspur break the transfer record
First £2million transfer as Paul Gascoigne moves from Newcastle to Tottenham. 'Gazza' would go on to become one of Englands greatest players of the generation and bring the legendary 'dentist's chair' to millions of people after, that night and that celebration. -
Chris Sutton becomes the first £10,000-a-week footballer
Chris Sutton becomes the first £10,000-a-week footballer when Blackburn sign him from Norwich. He went on to score 50 goals in 131 apperances for the white and blue of Blackburn. -
The Bosman Ruling
The Bosman ruling allows out-of-contract players free transfers and therefore higher wages.Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is the case that changed football forever. -
Newcastle break the transfer record
Image source Newcastle smash the transfer record, signing Alan Shearer for £15million from Blackburn. The geordie legend went on to become both Newcastles and the Premier Leagues highest ever scorers. -
Roy Keane breaks the £50,000 barrier
Image source Roy Keane becomes the first player to top £50,000 a week with a new contract at Manchester United worth £52,000 weekly. He spent 12 years at the club before moving on to Celtic then into management with Sunderland. -
Sol Campbell becomes the first £100,000-a-week player
Image source Sulzeer Jeremiah "Sol" Campbell's free transfer from Tottenham to Arsenal sees the England defender become the first £100,000-a-week player and also makes him a hate figure for half of North London. -
Manchester United break the transfer record
Image source The £30million transfer fee barrier is breached when Manchester United sign Rio Ferdinand from Leeds. The hard-hitting centre-back quickly establishes himself as one of England's best defenders. -
Carlos Tevez smashes the wage record
Image source Carlos Tevez is the first £1million-a-month player - his weekly wages from Manchester City are claimed to be £286,000 a week. The Argentine striker led City to their first major silverware lifting the FA cup before falling out of favour at the club. -
Samuel Eto'o becomes the highest paid player in the world.
Image source Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o makes the controversial move to Anzhi Makhachkala in a deal that will leave him set to earn 20 million euros a season.
