Relive some of those memories with Sportsmail's monthly guide to another year to remember.
SEPTEMBER
1 Tottenham confirmed they had reached an agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Holland midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. England batsman Kevin Pietersen apologised for his foul-mouthed outburst on Twitter which revealed he had been dropped for England's limited-overs series against Pakistan. Stoke announced forward Eidur Gudjohnsen had signed for the club on a permanent basis from Monaco.
2 Pakistan trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer - the players at the centre of spot-fixing allegations - were suspended by the International Cricket Council and charged with 'various offences' under the anti-corruption code. The three were earlier withdrawn from the T20 and one-day series against England. Pakistan overcame setbacks on and off the field to beat Somerset by eight runs in the limited-overs warm-up match at Taunton. England bowler Graham Onions was be ruled out of all cricket for 'up to nine months' after the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed he was to undergo surgery on a back injury.
Read MARTIN SAMUEL: Pakistan's real crime is to place a question against ALL cricketers Tight spot: Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif
3 Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick as England kicked off their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a 4-0 win over Bulgaria, Adam Johnson scoring the other goal. Corry Evans earned Northern Ireland a superb 1-0 win in Slovenia and Keith Fahey scored as the Republic of Ireland beat Armenia 1-0, but Scotland drew 0-0 in Lithuania and Wales lost 1-0 to Montenegro. Butt, Asif and Aamer were questioned by police and released without charge as the spot-fixing inquiry continued. Andy Murray won his US Open second round match against Jamaica's Dustin Brown 7-5 6-3 6-0.
4 Tottenham defender Michael Dawson received better-than-expected news on the injury he suffered in England's 4-0 Euro 2012 qualifying win over Bulgaria, though a sprained left medial knee ligament and left ankle ligament were still expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks. The News of the World published fresh allegations that Pakistan opening batsman Yasir Hameed had been offered, and turned down, £100,000 to fix matches and had also accused team-mates of fixing 'in almost every match'. Team manager Yawar Saeed claimed Hameed had denied the quotes. Roger Federer and Robin Soderling remained on course for a quarter-final meeting at the US Open after respective straight-sets wins over Paul-Henri Mathieu and Thiemo de Bakker. Women's top seed Caroline Wozniacki hammered Yung-Jan Chan 6-1 6-0.
5 England beat Pakistan by five wickets in the first Twenty20 international at the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff. Paul Annacone stepped down as head coach of men's tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association with immediate effect. Andy Murray lost in the third-round of the US Open to Stanislas Wawrinka.
Read PAUL NEWMAN - You Twit, KP: Pietersen in foul online rant after being axed Pakistan one-dayers6 Kevin Pietersen was fined an undisclosed sum for his comments on Twitter after he was left out of the one-day squad for the series against Pakistan. Hampshire's Dimitri Mascarenhas was fined £1,000 for comments he made on Twitter about England selector Geoff Miller.
Two good: Adam Johnson of England rounds Switzerland keeper Diego Benaglio before scoring to make it 2-0
7 England defeated 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in their European Championship qualifier in Basle. Scotland needed a 96th-winner from Stephen McManus to overcome Liechtenstein 2-1 at Hampden. England defeated Pakistan by six wickets to wrap up their brief Twenty20 series 2-0 in Cardiff.
8 John Higgins was handed a six-month suspension and fined £75,000 after admitting "intentionally giving the impression to others that they were agreeing to act in breach of the betting rules" and failing to report the matter to World Snooker. The more serious charges of "agreeing or offering" to accept bribes and "agreeing to engage in corrupt or fraudulent conduct" were withdrawn by the association following the two-day hearing in London. Ferrari escaped further punishment from the FIA over the team's alleged use of team orders at the German Grand Prix in July. Aston Villa appointed former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier as manager.
Read JONATHAN McEVOY - Ferrari pull fast one! Outrage but no surprise as F1 hits a new low9 John Toshack stood down as Wales manager with immediate effect. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed Wahab Riaz would be the fourth Pakistani player interviewed by police in connection with their spot-fixing investigations. Arsenal confirmed winger Theo Walcott would be sidelined for up to six weeks with an ankle injury he sustained on international duty with England.
10 Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen appealed for privacy as the couple tried to save their marriage following lurid allegations about his private life. The pair released a statement saying the 'last six days have been extremely painful for us and for our families'. England held their nerve to eke out a 24-run win against a spirited Pakistan at Chester-le-Street and go 1-0 up in the NatWest Series. Tottenham confirmed Jermain Defoe had been ruled out for 'around three months' after finally undergoing surgery on torn ankle ligaments.
Taking the Mikel: Everton captain Arteta (c) celebrates his last-minute equaliser against Manchester United
11 Sir Alex Ferguson left Wayne Rooney out of the matchday squad travelling to Everton, saying he did not want the striker subjected to the 'terrible abuse' he receives at Goodison Park. In his absence, United conceded two goals in stoppage time to draw 3-3. Elsewhere, Barclays Premier League pacesetters Chelsea made it four wins from four by beating West Ham 3-1, Arsenal beat Bolton 4-1, Asamoah Gyan scored on his Sunderland debut - a 1-1 draw at Wigan - and Blackpool won 2-0 at Newcastle. Fulham striker Bobby Zamora was ruled out for up to four months after suffering a suspected broken ankle in the 2-1 win over Wolves at Craven Cottage.
12 Captain Andrew Strauss scored 126 as England won the second one-day international against Pakistan at Headingley by four wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Birmingham and Liverpool drew 0-0 at St Andrew's in the day's only Barclays Premier League game. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso won the Italian Grand Prix. McLaren's Jenson Button finished second with Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa third.
Read MIKE DICKSON - Is Rafael Nadal the greatest? Ask me in five years, says Uncle ToniSilver service: Rafael Nadal celebrates in trademark fashion winning the 2010 U.S. Open title
13 Rafael Nadal became only the seventh man in history to complete the career Grand Slam when he beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 in the US Open final at Flushing Meadows. Ricky Hatton checked into a rehabilitation facility as spokesman Max Clifford confirmed he had been suffering from 'severe depression' for several weeks, with drug use only a 'superficial' element of a much bigger problem. Stoke came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 thanks to Robert Huth's last-gasp goal, inspired by the half-time arrival of manager Tony Pulis who had planned to miss the game following the death of his mother earlier in the day.
14 Antonio Valencia suffered a serious ankle injury as Manchester United were held 0-0 by Rangers in their Champions League opener at Old Trafford, while Tottenham led 2-0 but had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Werder Bremen. Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt wrote to the International Cricket Council indicating their intention to defend themselves in respect of the disciplinary action brought against them. Former Harlequins physiotherapist Steph Brennan was struck off following a disciplinary hearing into his part in the fake blood injury scandal.
15 Arsenal beat Braga 6-0 in their opening Champions League match with Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela scoring two goals apiece. Nicolas Anelka also struck twice as Chelsea beat MSK Zilina 4-1, with Michael Essien and Daniel Sturridge also on the scoresheet. The England and Wales Cricket Board suspended Hampshire all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas for 14 days from the start of the 2011 season following his Twitter remarks about national selector Geoff Miller.
16 England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Nottinghamshire won the LV= County Championship title after picking up enough bonus points in their drawn match with Lancashire at Old Trafford. Somerset were second, with Yorkshire third. Liverpool beat Steaua Bucharest 4-1 in their Europa League Group K game at Anfield with goals from Joe Cole, David Ngog (two) and Lucas, while David Silva and Jo netted as Manchester City won 2-0 at Salzburg.
17 England lost to Pakistan by 23 runs in the third one-day international at The Oval. An initial file of evidence on claims that Pakistan cricketers accepted cash bribes to fix matches was passed to prosecutors, Scotland Yard said. Birmingham forward James McFadden sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee in training.
18 Birmingham manager Alex McLeish signed a new three-year contract, tying him to St Andrew's until 2013. Warwickshire beat Somerset by three wickets to win the Clydesdale Bank 40 final at Lord's. Darren Bent scored a stoppage-time leveller as Sunderland drew 1-1 with Arsenal. Elsewhere in the Barclays Premier League, Newcastle won 1-0 at Everton, Tottenham came from behind to beat Wolves 3-1 and Aston Villa were held to a 1-1 draw by Bolton in their last match before Gerard Houllier took charge of team affairs.
19 Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt claimed some England players accepted 'enormous amounts of money' to lose Friday's one-day international at The Oval - a statement he later retracted. Chelsea moved four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 4-0 win over Blackpool, while Dimitar Berbatov scored a hat-trick as Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 and Manchester City won 2-0 at Wigan. Haile Gebrselassie won the 30th Great North Run with fellow Ethiopian Berhane Adere winning the women's race.
20 The England and Wales Cricket board threatened Ijaz Butt with legal action after his claims that English players received 'enormous amounts of money' to lose the third one-day international against Pakistan. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following his actions at the end of the Barclays Premier League match with Sunderland on Saturday. World Snooker boss Barry Hearn claimed snooker would lead the way in tackling corruption in sport as he promised a 'zero tolerance' approach at the launch of a new integrity unit.
Welcome to Delhi: The condition inside part of the the athletes' village before the Commonwealth Games
21 Commonwealth Games Scotland warned that some of the athletes' accommodation in the Games Village in Delhi was 'unsafe and unfit for human habitation' on the same day a stadium bridge collapsed. World triple jump champion Phillips Idowu confirmed he would not go to the Commonwealth Games, citing safety reasons. Everton were beaten by npower League One side Brentford on penalties in the third round of the Carling Cup, while Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1 after extra time.
22 Commonwealth Games England confirmed the first 22 members of their team would fly to Delhi on September 23 as planned, despite concerns about the running of the event. England beat Pakistan by 121 runs in the fifth NatWest Series one-day international at the Rose Bowl and win the series 3-2. Liverpool were beaten by npower League Two side Northampton on penalties in the third round of the Carling Cup at Anfield.
23 Surrey bowler Chris Tremlett and Sussex spinner Monty Panesar were the surprise inclusions in England's 16-man Ashes squad. The ECB and PCA earlier sent a letter on behalf of the England team to Ijaz Butt, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, seeking a full and unreserved apology following his allegations that the England cricket team were involved in fixing the outcome of the third ODI. Commonwealth Games England announced the England team would go to the Commonwealth Games, after 'unanimously' agreeing the decision with its 17 member sports. The British Boxing Board of Control withdrew Ricky Hatton's boxer's licence as well as his manager's and second's licenses. He was cleared to continue working as a promoter.
24 Northern Ireland confirmed their participation in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, while Team Scotland confirmed their first group of athletes would fly out as planned the following day. But English diver Peter Waterfield became the latest competitor to pull out of the Games, citing the risk of illness. Arsenal announced record pre-tax profits of £56million for the year ended May 31, 2010.
25 Manchester City ended Chelsea's 100 per cent start to the new Barclays Premier League season with a 1-0 win over the champions at Eastlands. Elsewhere, West Brom stunned Arsenal by posting a 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium. Wigan set up a Super League Grand Final with St Helens after ending the three-year reign of Leeds in a 26-6 victory in the semi-final clash at Headingley. Britain's number one tennis player Elena Baltacha withdrew from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi because of health concerns.
Tragic loss: Terry Newton
26 Rugby league mourned the sudden death of former Great Britain international Terry Newton. The 31-year-old former Leeds, Wigan, Bradford and Wakefield hooker was found dead after police were called to his home near Wigan. Manchester United were forced to settle for a point in their Barclays Premier League match at Bolton. Emile Heskey's late goal enabled new Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier to emerge triumphant from his first league match in charge at Wolves while James Perch's own goal handed Stoke all three points at Newcastle as the visitors came from behind to win 2-1. Fernando Alonso of Ferrari won the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull duo Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
Read JONATHAN McEVOY: Scary and chaotic, but India's Commonwealth Games will go ahead27 Yawar Saeed resigned as team manager of the Pakistan cricket team. Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Frank Lampard would not play in England's next Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley as he needed more time to recover from hernia surgery. Scottish Football Association announced Barry Ferguson had told Scotland manager Craig Levein he would not return to the squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Spain.
28 In the Champions League, Chelsea beat Marseille 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal won 3-1 at Partizan Belgrade with under-pressure goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski saving a penalty. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Wayne Rooney would be out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after confronting referee Mike Dean in the tunnel following the 2-1 loss to Blackburn. Caster Semenya was ruled out of the Commonwealth Games with a back injury.
29 Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt withdrew his allegations that England players deliberately lost the third one-day international against Pakistan in return for money. Pakistan captain Salman Butt appealed against his suspension over allegations of spot-fixing. Butt, alongside seam duo Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, was banned from playing by the ICC after a series of allegations made by the News of the World and subsequently followed up by a Scotland Yard investigation. Tottenham defeated FC Twente 4-1 in a Champions League Group A thriller in which Rafael van der Vaart scored, missed a penalty and was sent off. Substitute Javier Hernandez earned Manchester United a 1-0 win over Valencia, and Rangers beat Bursaspor by the same scoreline thanks to Steven Naismith's goal.
30 The Ryder Cup opening ceremony occurred at Celtic Manor, with the first day fourballs pairings announced. Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer versus Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson was revealed as the first match out. Manchester City drew 1-1 with Juventus in Europa League Group A, Adam Johnson equalising Vincenzo Iaquinta's opener. Liverpool drew 0-0 with Utrecht in Group K.
Sportsmail's month-by-month review of the year: JanuarySportsmail's month-by-month review of the year: FebruarySportsmail's month-by-month review of the year: MarchSportsmail's month-by-month review of the year: AprilSportsmail's month-by-month review of the year: MaySportsmail's month-by-month review of the year: JuneSportsmail's month-by-month review of the year: JulySportsmail's month-by-month review of the year: August
Explore more:People: Emile Heskey, Max Clifford, Salman Butt, David Silva, Gerard Houllier, Antonio Valencia, Michael Dawson, Adam Johnson, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Alex McLeish, Dimitar Berbatov, Joe Cole, Ian Holloway, Geoff Miller, Michael Essien, Rafael Nadal, Darren Bent, Barry Ferguson, Felipe Massa, Craig Levein, Martin Kaymer, Bobby Zamora, Lee Westwood, Jermain Defoe, Carlo Ancelotti, Alex Ferguson, Mark Webber, Robert Huth, Theo Walcott, Graham Onions, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Fernando Alonso, Andy Murray, Phil Mickelson, David Ngog, Martin Samuel, Carlos Vela, James McFadden, Sebastian Vettel, Cesc Fabregas, Nicolas Anelka, Daniel Sturridge, Roger Federer, Andrew Strauss, Monty Panesar, Robin Soderling, Stanislas Wawrinka, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Annacone, Arsene Wenger, Frank Lampard, Tony Pulis, Elena Baltacha, Kevin Pietersen, Wayne Rooney, Ricky Hatton, Mike Dean Places: Surrey, Leeds, Liverpool, Monaco, Cardiff, Delhi, London, Newcastle, Birmingham, Scotland, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Northern Ireland, The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Jamaica, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Pakistan, Lithuania, Spain, United Kingdom, Armenia, India, Switzerland Organisations: British Boxing Board of Control, International Cricket Council, Lawn Tennis Association, Pakistan Cricket Board, Football Association, Scotland Yard, Scottish Football Association, Wales Cricket Board
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail