ON THIS DAY: 2003

1927: The BBC broadcast its first ever live commentary of a football match, between Arsenal and Sheffield United at Highbury.

1959: Britain’s first world motor racing champion, Mike Hawthorn, was killed when his car went out of control on the Guildford bypass.

2003: Former snooker player Bill Werbeniuk (above) died of heart failure in Canada at the age of 56.

2006: LA Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. It is the second highest points total in NBA history.

2007: Lyon striker John Carew signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Aston Villa.