Continuing our look back at OHAFC fixtures played on the corresponding weekend over the previous six seasons:

Six Seasons Ago: January 9th 2010

No OHAFC Fixtures

Five Seasons Ago: January 8th 2011

OHAFC 1st XI 2 Old Chigwellians 4: After the disappointment of the defeat to Radley in the first round of the Arthur Dunn Cup prior to Christmas, the 1st XI returned to action in 2011 determined to pick up some much-needed League points and climb up the Premier Division table.

Sadly however, a poor defensive display saw them concede four goals to Chigwell, a team they had dominated earlier in the season, and slump to a dispiriting defeat.

Despite taking the lead through a fine flicked header from Olly Hadden-Paton, who scored both the side's goals, Harrow were unable to keep them out at the other end, the old Achilles heel of defending set pieces returning to haunt the team.

Old Salopian 2’s 3 OHAFC 2nd XI 1: A 3-1 defeat in Chiswick completed a miserable day for the Club with Bemini Soyinka’s late goal again proving little by way of consolation for Arjun Chopra’s men.

Four Seasons Ago: January 7th 2012

OHAFC 1st XI 2 Old Carthusians 1: Again, the OHAFC 1st XI began a calendar year with a home fixture against their main rivals in the Premier Division but this time the Dark Blues came out on top.

The only goal of an even first-half came courtesy of a set-piece, Lederman’s corner finding Milln at the back post and although his header was cleared off the line, the referee eventually signalled for a goal, much to the visitors’ chagrin.

Harrow began to dominate their opponents as the game wore on and doubled their lead with twenty minutes remaining thanks to a lightning fast counter-attack that saw Baker feed Hoffen, leaving him with just the ‘keeper to beat. As is so often the case, there was only one outcome.

Charterhouse were given some hope two minutes from time when a trip on the edge of the box by Milln allowed the visitors to pull one back from the penalty spot but the centre-half redeemed himself moments later, foiling a promising attack to ensure the hosts held on for three well-deserved points.

Old Aldenhamians 2’s 5 OHAFC 2nd XI 1: Not such a good day for the Harrow second string as they were comprehensively outplayed by a strong Aldenham outfit in north London. Rupert Hoffen scored the only goal for the visitors shortly before time – a true ‘consolation goal’ if ever there was one.

Three Seasons Ago: January 12th 2013

OHAFC 1st XI 3 Old Carthusians 4: One of the more infamous meetings between the previous decade’s top two Arthurian League teams saw the visitors snatch victory with a stunning late strike following an incident-packed game on the Hill.

It took only three minutes for the blue touch-paper to be lit, with a controversial penalty decision from referee Alan Higgs (not for the last time in this game), penalising Fred Milln for a tangle of legs and gifting Charterhouse the chance to take the lead.

Harrow, having struggled initially, were back on level terms on the half hour mark thanks to a fine team goal that ended with Lederman crossing for Harder to fire home from just outside the box. But parity lasted for just a few minutes, the visitors re-taking the lead from a corner. The home side improved after the break and after a spell of sustained pressure earned their reward when good persistence by Nick Defty saw him take advantage of a defensive error to level the score.

The game turned in favour of the visitors with twenty minutes remaining when Fred Milln received his second yellow card for a lunging tackle on the Charterhouse skipper and the referee made sure he finished the afternoon as the least popular person on the Hill when he pointed for another spot-kick following an innocuous challenge at a corner, Raffety unable to prevent the leaders going in front.

Remarkably, despite playing with ten men the hosts levelled for a third time thanks to a fine strike from substitute Charlie Stebbings but Harrow hearts were broken a few minutes from time when a sensational run and strike from the right wing sentenced the game in favour of the visitors.

OHAFC 3rd XI 2 Old Westminsters 2’s 2: An equally entertaining game took place on the adjoining pitch with the OHAFC 3rd XI coming from behind to earn a point thanks to a last-minute goal from skipper Theo Gordon.

Westminster’s second string twice took the lead but the hosts hit back firstly through striker Alex Gilbert and then through their captain to at least remove some of the bitter taste left in the mouth of the 1st XI players.

Two Seasons Ago: January 11th 2014

OHAFC 1st XI 1 Old Cholmeleians 0: The OHAFC 1st XI chose the perfect occasion to register their first clean sheet of the season as a first-half penalty from David Lederman proved sufficient to secure three vital points against a relegation-threatened Old Cholmelians XI on the Hill.

The home side made a bright start and soon took control of possession against a Cholms team that had caused problems for the hosts in recent encounters.

Despite enjoying plenty of the ball, the Blues struggled to carve out any clear cut chances. Verhagen looked the most threatening player, skipping past his full-back on several occasions without being able to supply the final ball.

The only goal of the game came shortly after the half-hour mark via the penalty spot. A flowing counter-attack saw the ball delivered dangerously into the box where Pepys appeared to be shoved as he was about to strike on goal. Lederman sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to maintain his near-perfect record from the spot.

The second half was a more prosaic affair with neither team able to carve out any clear-cut chances, much to Harrow’s relief, and the home side hung on to claim three valuable points as they looked to climb up the table.

Old Eastbournians 1 OHAFC 2nd XI 3, Junior League Cup 1st Round: The 2nd XI also got their year off to a winning start with a comfortable victory at Eastbourne in the first round of the Junior League Cup.

Skipper Jack Orr-Ewing opened the scoring with a spectacular effort, the centre-half acrobatically twisting to send his overhead kick looping into the top corner. It was later described as ‘the goal of the season’ by none other than the scorer himself!

But he, and his team, were brought back down to earth shortly before the break when a loose defensive header by the goalscorer allowed Eastbourn to equalise.

Fortunately, the visitors upped their performance in the second half and earned their place in the hat for round two thanks to goals from Max Curry and Cyprian Owen-Edmunds.

Last Season: January 10th 2015

Old Salopians 3 OHAFC 1st XI 2: The OHAFC 1st XI returned from their Christmas break to face a short trip to Chiswick to play fellow-strugglers the Old Salopians in a vital game. Unfortunately conditions were far from ideal with a strong wind and poor pitch hampering the efforts of both teams.

The hosts took the lead after a defensive mix-up in the Harrow ranks but a similar mistake from the Salopians allowed Alex Gilbert to equalise on the half-hour mark. The deadlock was broken just before the break when a lucky ricochet allowed a Salopian winger time and space to curl a shot perfectly into the far corner beyond McGuiness.

Despite playing with the wind behind them in the second half, the visitors’ plans were in ruins when the Salopians scored inside a minute of the restart. Another fortunate bounce fell the hosts’ way and again a clinical finish left the Harrow ‘keeper with no chance.

The Blues fought back well and reduced the arrears to one thanks to a Paul Molloy header from a corner, but despite applying plenty of pressure in the closing minutes they failed to find a way through the Salops rearguard and fell to a disappointing defeat.

OHAFC 2nd XI 1 Old Salopians 2’s 2: A similar tale befell the Harrow second string, who narrowly lost to their Salopian counterparts on the Hill, damaging their promotion hopes. Again the game was played in blustery conditions but with the Phil pitches waterlogged, the astroturf facility on the other side of the Hill was used.

The hosts started well and took the lead through Ollie Curry, who converted an excellent Harry Dalzell cross from the left. Several chances to extend the lead were spurned and, as so often is the case in such circumstances, the side were made to pay, the visitors taking advantage of some defensive hesitation in the Harrow ranks at a free-kick to draw level.

A series of poor clearances then saw a Salopian midfielder drill home a shot from the edge of the box and despite having had much the better of the first half, the hosts found themselves 2-1 down.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, with Jack Orr-Ewing’s men again in the ascendency but unable to find the crucial equaliser despite creating a number of good chances.

On this weekend…In the wider footballing world

Given the events in the Spanish capital this week it seems rather apt that our first item involves ex Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez.

On January 9th 2009 Señor Benitez produced his infamous ‘Fact’ press conference whilst manager of Liverpool. With the Merseysiders riding high at the top of the Premier League, Alex Ferguson decided to ramp up the mind games, claiming Liverpool would falter under pressure having not won the title for so long. In response, Benitez pulled out a sheet of paper which he claimed listed several indisputable ‘facts’ regarding the Manchester United manager’s ability to break the rules and not get punished.

Sadly for Benitez, the only fact that mattered was that Ferguson was proved right – five months later United beat Liverpool to the title by four points and Rafa’s outburst quickly became known as the turning point in the title race . Indeed, this weekend has proven to be memorable for Manchester United for several other reasons:

On January 9th 1993 they climbed to the summit of the Premier League for the first time in their history following a 4-1 win over Spurs.

On January 10th 1995 Ferguson pulled off one of his greatest transfer coups when he persuaded Kevin Keegan to allow star striker Andy Cole to join the Red Devils for a then record British transfer fee of £7 million – United winger Keith Gillespie was sent to Newcastle as a £1 million makeweight.

Cole would go on to form a formidable partnership with Dwight Yorke and then Teddy Sheringham and all three formed part of United’s historic treble-winning squad in 1999.

January 9th has also proven to be a momentous day in history for Italian club SS Lazio who were formed on this day in 1900. The club from the region around Rome, rather than AS Roma, whose fanbase comes from the city itself, Lazio have won the Scudetto twice in their history, the second delivered in 2000 by Sven Goran Eriksson, who resigned as manager on this day in 2001 so he could take up the England manager position.