Volz notches 15,000 milestone

Moritz Volz scored the 15,000th goal in the history of the Premiership on Saturday, for Fulham against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The goal came 14 years and four months after striker Brian Deane scored the competition's first in Sheffield United`s 2-1 win over Manchester United.

That proved only a minor setback for Sir Alex Ferguson`s men however, as they have since scored more goals than anyone and won eight titles in the process.

United scored 1,101 of the first 15,000 goals themselves, over 100 more than nearest challengers Arsenal. They even managed 17 of those in just two games, beating Ipswich 9-0 in March 1995 and Nottingham Forest 8-1 in February 1999.

Newcastle are the only other side to have netted at least eight in one match - their 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday in September 1999.

Newcastle's Alan Shearer is the most prolific goalscorer in Premiership history, having scored 260 before his retirement at the end of last season.

His closest challengers are Andy Cole (187), Thierry Henry (170) and Robbie Fowler (161), all of whom are still playing. Les Ferdinand, the fifth-highest scorer with 150, also holds the distinction of scoring the Premiership's 10,000th goal.

Shearer's 11 hat-tricks are also a record.

Volz - whose Stamford Bridge strike was only his second in the competition - is to be presented with a special award for hitting the landmark by sponsors Barclays, who are also to make a £15,000 donation to Fulham's nominated charity.