First-ever goal in Football League credited to Bolton Wanderers player

Researchers have recently discovered the scorer of the first-ever official goal that was scored in the history of the 125-year-old Football League.

Kevin Davenport, a forward for Bolton Wanderers, scored the goal on September 8, 1888, at 3.47 pm.

Earlier, an own goal by Aston Villa defender Gershom Cox was considered the first-ever goal scored, but research proves that it was in fact scored by Davenport, who played for Bolton for nine seasons. He also represented England.

Mark Metcalf, who is one half of the team that researched about this, was quoted by Sky Sports as saying, “There has been significant amount of debate over the years over who scored the first ever league goal with at least three other players having been credited with the honour at some stage.

“Kick-off times in the early years of The Football League would vary from club to club and occasionally matches would get delayed because of the away team arriving late.

“Robert and I spent many months trawling through the historical records in an effort to prove that the first league goal was not an own goal as was widely thought. Eventually we discovered an advert for the match in the Midland Evening News which listed the game at Wolves as kicking off at 3.30pm. Therefore the first goal has to be the one scored by Kenny Davenport two minutes into Bolton’s match with Derby which kicked-off at 3.45pm at the club’s first ground, Pikes Lane.”

Football League Head of Communications John Nagle had this to say: “There have been 515,412 goals scored in the 125 years of The Football League and millions more in leagues across the globe. However, there can only be one ‘first goal’ and after years of debate, it appears that we now have the answer.

“It is particularly fitting that it should be scored by a player who played for his hometown club for the best part of a decade rather than an own goal.”