HAT-TRICKS

The phrase hat-trick has its origins in cricket. When a bowler took three wickets in three balls a collection was made to reward the feat. However it is unsure whether it was called a hat-trick because the collection was made in a hat or because a new hat was presented to the bowler from the proceeds of the collection. 

The perfect/golden/classic hat-trick is where a player scores with his left foot, right foot and his head. The German have their own definition of a hat-trick, as they would, it being where a player scores three consecutive goals, no other goals being scored between the three goals of the hat-trick.

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After having made two substitute appearances in the League for Southampton Alan Shearer made his starting debut for the Saints against Arsenal at the Dell on Saturday April 9th 1988 - and at 17 years 240 days of age became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the top flight with Southampton winning 4-2.

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The quickest hat-trick in Football League history was scored by James Hayter for Bournemouth on Tuesday February 24th 2004 in a 6-0 Division 2 victory over Wrexham at Dean Court. Brought on as a substitute with only six minutes remaining he scored a hat-trick in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds. His parents and brother were at the match but ten minutes before the final whistle and with no sign that James would make an appearance they left early to catch a ferry back to their home in the Isle of Wight and so missed the history-making achievement.

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The quickest hat-trick in the Premier League was scored by a 19-year old Robbie Fowler. His three for Liverpool against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday August 28th 1994 were scored in just 4 minutes 33 seconds.

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Watford's Cliff Holton scored two League hat-tricks in two days in the 1959/60 season. He scored 3 in the Fourth Division match against Chester (won 4-2) on Good Friday April 15th 1960 and another 3 in the 5-0 victory over Gateshead a day later. Both matches were played at Vicarage Road.

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John Charles played three Second Division matches for Leeds against Rotherham United in 1953 and scored a hat-trick in each of them. On January 17th 1953 he scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 victory at Elland Road, on August 22nd three more in a 4-2 victory at Elland Road and in another 4-2 victory at Millmoor on December 19th  he again scored a hat-trick.

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In November 1946 Liverpool's Jack Balmer hit Division 1 hat-tricks on three successive Saturdays. On the 9th he scored 3 against Portsmouth at Anfield, on the 16th he scored four at Derby and back at Anfield on the 23rd he hit a hat-trick against Arsenal. Those three matches were the start of a run that saw him score in seven League matches in a row, recording 15 goals in those matches.

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On Saturday February 11th 1922 at Bury Bill Poyntz became the first Leeds United player to be sent off in a League match. On Monday February 20th he got married in the morning and later in the day scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 Second Division victory over Leicester City. An eventful week!

Another player who got away with 'I'm off to the match this afternoon, darling' was Southport's Billy Holmes. Married in the morning of Saturday 30th October 1954 he also scored a hat-trick in the afternoon in a 4-1 Division 3 (North) victory over Carlisle.

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