ON THIS DAY
1857: Lord Lonsdale, the president of the National Sporting Club - who lends his name to the most coveted trophy in British boxing, the Lonsdale Belt - was born. His belts, which were inaugurated in 1909, become the permanent property of any boxer who wins three British title fights in a weight division.
1895: Wales lost 3-0 to Ireland in the world's first international hockey match.
1992: Britain's Steve Backley became the first man to throw the modified javelin 300 feet (91 metres) at a meeting in Auckland.
1995: Manchester United striker Eric Cantona kung-fu kicked a fan after being sent off in a match at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace. The Frenchman was suspended for nine months, fined £20,000 and ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service.
1999: Aston Villa revealed controversial striker Stan Collymore intended to seek counselling to help him overcome "pressures and stress".
2006: Arsenal defender Ashley Cole failed with his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a £75,000 fine imposed for breaking Premier League rules by discussing a transfer to Chelsea.
2008: Kieren Fallon was banned from racing for 18 months by France Galop after testing positive for a banned substance following a race at Deauville in August 2007.
2011: Sky Sports presenter Andy Gray was sacked following his comments about referee's assistant Sian Massey.
2013: Manchester United reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign Wilfried Zaha.
2013: Andy Murray reached the Australian Open final after beating Roger Federer 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-7 (2) 6-2 in the semi-final.
2013: The Football Association charged Chelsea's Eden Hazard with violent conduct following an incident with a Swansea ball boy.
2016: German sportswear giant adidas revealed it would end its sponsorship deal with athletics' world governing body the IAAF early due to the doping scandal in the sport.
2018: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho signed a new contract until 2020 with an option for one more year. He was sac ked on December 18, 2018.
BIRTHDAYS
Tostao (soccer) - striker in Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning side, born 1947.
David Ginola (soccer) - former France, Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton winger, born 1967.
Xavi (soccer) - former Barcelona and Spain playmaker, currently with Al Sadd in Qatar, born 1980.
Francis Jeffers (soccer) - former Everton and Arsenal striker, most recently with Accrington, born 1981.
Robinho (soccer) - former Manchester City, AC Milan and Brazil forward, currently with Istanbul Basaksehir, born 1984.
Maria Kirilenko (tennis) - Russian player, born 1987.
Youssouf Mulumbu (soccer) - former West Brom and Norwich midfielder, now at Celtic, born 1987.
QUICK QUIZ
1 Which golfer has the nickname Lefty?
2 Who do Down GAA senior footballers face in their opening 2019 Allianz League clash?
3 Who was the top scorer in the first Premier League season in 1992-93, having scored 22 goals for Nottingham Forest and Tottenham?
4 Which Formula One driver will partner Sebastian Vettel for Ferrari in the forthcoming season?
5 Name the soccer manager who stepped down from Belfast side Cliftonville FC last week?
(See quiz answers at bottom)
SPORT ON TV
Today (Friday, January 25)
SOCCER: FA Cup fourth round, Arsenal v Manchester United - BBC One 1930; Scottish Championship, Ayr v Dundee United - BT Sport 1 1915; Bundesliga, Hertha Berlin v Schalke - BT Sport 2 1915.
CRICKET: First Test, West Indies v England - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket 1330; first Test, Australia v Sri Lanka - BT Sport 1 0245 (Sat); one-day international, South Africa v Pakistan - Sky Sports Cricket 1055, Sky Sports Main Event 1100; New Zealand v India - Sky Sports Cricket 0155 (Sat), Sky Sports Main Event 0330 (Sat); BBL, women's final (teams TBC) - BT Sport 2 0345 (Sat).
TENNIS: Australian Open - Eurosport 1 0500 and 0800, Eurosport 2 0600, Eurosport 1 0000 (Thu) and 0200 (Thu).
GOLF: European Tour, Omega Dubai Desert Classic - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 0730; PGA Tour, Farmers Insurance Open - Sky Sports Golf 1615.
RUGBY UNION: PRO14, Leinster v Scarlets - eir Sport 1 1900; Sevens World Series, New Zealand - Sky Sports Main Event 2300.
BASKETBALL: NBA, Houston Rockets v Toronto Raptors - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports USA 0100 (Sat).
BOWLS: World Championships - BBC Two England 1300.
CYCLING: Six Day Berlin - Eurosport 2 2000.
Tomorrow (Saturday, January 26)
TENNIS: Australian Open, women's singles and men's doubles finals - Eurosport 1 0800.
CRICKET: First Test, West Indies v England - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket 1330; First Test, Australia v Sri Lanka - BT Sport 1 0245 (Sun).
SOCCER: FA Cup fourth round, Accrington v Derby - BT Sport 2 1200; Millwall v Everton - BBC One 1720; AFC Wimbledon v West Ham - BT Sport 2 1900; Bundesliga, Werder Bremen v Eintracht Frankfurt - BT Sport 1 1715; Welsh Cup, Bangor City v Caernarfon Town - S4C 1920; A-League, Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC - BT Sport/ESPN 0630 and 0845.
GOLF: European Tour, Omega Dubai Desert Classic - Sky Sports Golf 0830, Sky Sports Main Event 1000; PGA Tour, Farmers Insurance Open - Sky Sports Golf 1800.
RUGBY UNION: Premiership Rugby Cup, Bristol v Exeter - BT Sport 1 1445; PRO14, Cheetahs v Zebre and Dragons v Munster - eir Sport 1 1230 and 1500; Cardiff Blues v Connacht - S4C 1700; Sevens World Series, New Zealand - Sky Sports Main Event 0130 and 0455 (Sun).
MOTOR SPORT: World Rally Championship, Rallye Monte Carlo - BT Sport 1 1300; Formula E, Santiago ePrix - Eurosport 1 1830.
BASKETBALL: NBA, New Orleans Pelicans v San Antonio Spurs - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports USA 2300.
BOWLS: World Championships - BBC Two England 1430.
CYCLING: Six Day Berlin - Eurosport 2 2015.
RACING: From Cheltenham - ITV 1330.
QUICK QUIZ answers: 1 Phil Mickelson; 2 Laois; 3 Teddy Sheringham; 4 Charles Leclerc; 5 Barry Gray.
