Brian Deane - the Premier League's first ever goalscorer

1992/93: Sheffield United v Manchester United

1992: the year of Grunge, the Barcelona Olympics, a victory for John Major in the General Election, and the year the breakaway Premier League was formed.

Twenty-two clubs made up the inaugural division, and as they kicked off on 15th August 1992 English football would never quite be the same again.

The first Premier League goal was scored at 3.04pm, at a sunny Bramall Lane. The scorer? Brian Deane of Sheffield United, guaranteeing his place on pub quiz answer sheets for many years to come.
Deane’s side were playing the previous season’s runners up, Manchester United – who were entering their 27th season without a league title.

The goal itself won’t win any awards – a long throw level with the penalty area was flicked on by Manchester United’s Clayton Blackmore, and Deane raced between Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce to head past a hapless Peter Schmeichel.

Deane himself retains fond memories of the goal these days: “If you speak to anyone they’d like to be the first scorer – you do get labelled with it but it’s not a bad thing to be labelled with I suppose!”.