WHAT THEY SAY

Been overwhelmed by all the kindness, messages – and support on here – and I’ve probably missed much of it. A big thank you from us all at Newsnight

It’s the people’s game and I think it will take the soul away from football

I struggle with mum guilt a lot, as I know many of you do. But tonight I ask you – give yourself a break. You’re doing your very best –

Joan of Arc, French peasant girl who became a national heroine, was burned at the stake in Rouen for heresy. She was canonised in 1920 on the anniversary of her death.

Christopher Columbus set sail on his third voyage of discovery in which he would discover the South American mainland.

King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour, the third of his six wives, in the Queen’s Chapel, Whitehall, 11 days after the execution of Anne Boleyn.

Christopher Marlowe, English playwright who greatly influenced Shakespeare, was killed in a tavern brawl.

The Grenadier Guards, the senior regiment of the British Army, was formed.

Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia, was born in Moscow. He decided that all Russians should be clean-shaven. Those exempted had to pay a beard tax.

Steven Gerrard MBE was born on this day in 1980. He is a former footballer who now manages Rangers. He spent the majority of his playing career as a central midfielder for Liverpool, with most of that time spent as club captain, as well as captaining the England national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, and of all time, Gerrard was awarded the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award in 2005, and the Ballon d’Or Bronze Award. In 2009, Zinedine Zidane and Pelé said that they considered Gerrard to be the best footballer in the world.

Cliff Richard released his 100th pop single on this day in 1989