Sheffield Wednesday were the team chosen to face the first day of the new venture as they faced Burnley at Hillsborough with the unusual, TV-enforced kick-off time of 6:15pm.
It, too, was a disaster, with the Lancashire side running out 2-0 winners thanks to an Ian Thomas-Moore goal and a Paul Cook penalty late on. It was Peter Shreeves first game as permanent Wednesday boss.
From Italian enigmas and brothers of England internationals to promising youngsters later charged with drugs offences, let’s take a look at what happened next to the Wednesday players that took the field that day 19 years ago.
13. Michele Di Piedi (Sub Quinn, 60)
The very epitome of a cult hero, Di Piedi was a favourite at Sheffield Wednesday. In a recent interview with The Star he revealed he was playing semi-professional football in Gibraltar for Glacis United at the age of 40 and that his teenage son plays as an attacking midfielder in the youth side at Cosenza. He dreams of organising an exhibition match at Hillsborough one day to say goodbye to the club he loves. Photo: Craig Prentis
14. Owen Morrison (Sub, McLaren, 60)
Another bright young thing tipped for things beyond Sheffield Wednesday, Irish teenager Owen Morrison played 55 league matches for the Owls, leaving for - you guessed it - Sheffield United in 2003. A short spell there didn't work out and he moved on to Stockport and Bradford City before heading to Dunfermline, back to Ireland and to a short spell for FC New York. In March 2016 Morrison pleaded guilty to a series of offences including the possession with respect to the importation or exportation of cocaine. Photo: Getty Images
15. Aaron Lescott (Sub, Hendon, 75)
The older brother of former England international Joleon, Aaron Lescott played just one season at Sheffield Wednesday, impressing in his 43 appearances having signed from Aston Villa. A reported £75,000 was enough for Stockport to take him from the Owls in 2001, where he played 72 time before becoming a club icon at Bristol Rovers. He retired after spells at Walsall and Halesowen Town and in 2012 launched a clothing range with his brother and former Leicester defender Jordan Stewart. Photo: Laurence Griffiths