a coalmining family in County Durham, then turned provider as Dean headed his cross home. Johnson and Crooks both completed their doubles before Basque striker Guillermo Gorostiza notched a late consolation for the visitors.

In goal for Spain, RCD Espanyol and Real Madrid legend Ricardo Zamora was making his 35th international appearance. When the sides had met two years previously in Madrid, the man referred to as El Divino had carried on playing despite breaking his sternum. In his trademark turtleneck jumper and flat cap, Zamora stepped out at Highbury with a reputation befitting his status as one of the highest paid players in Europe (he earned £30 per week). That reputation took a battering in North London. “All who went to watch had expected something better from Zamora,”they knew nothing about the science of the long pass.”

Back in Spain, the press lamented a “catastrophic” defeat, and the crowds gathered in Puerta del Sol Square in Madrid greeted news of the scoreline with disbelief. Remarkably, Spain had lost by the same margin against Italy at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. It remains the heaviest defeat in their history.

Catalan daily, La Vanguardia - one of Spain’s longest-running newspapers – offered extensive and ‘exclusive’ analysis of the match. “England were absolutely dominant,” ran the sub-heading on 10th December. Like Ricardo Zamora, La Vanguardia attributed the result, in large part, to the Highbury playing surface: “The pitch was very soft. The conditions were detrimental to Spain, while hugely beneficial to England, whose players found it ideal.” A few days later,