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Ask The Gaffer football trivia archive
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Sunday August 16
Tom Mair: Which three players have scored for three different clubs against Manchester Utd in the Premier League?
The Gaffer says: Good one! Nicolas Anelka (for Arsenal, Bolton and Man City) and Les Ferdinand (QPR, Newcastle and Spurs) are the easy ones, but it took me nearly an hour of research to get the third, and it's Brian Deane (Sheffield United, Leeds and Middlesbrough). Edit: Gavin Mills has emailed to correctly point out Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is another to have done this - for Leeds, Middlesbrough and Chelsea.
Steve, Essex: Other than the current "Big Four" which English club has played most games in European competitions?
The Gaffer says: It's undoubtedly Leeds. They've played 40 games in the European Cup/Champions League, 99 in the Uefa Cup, nine in the Cup Winners' Cup and plenty more in the old Fairs Cup, considering they had five campaigns in the competition, finishing as runners-up once and winning it twice.
Roger, Harrow: After witnessing Everton's humilation against the Gunners, it lead me to wonder if that's the highest opening day defeat in the Premier League? Thanks dear oracle!
The Gaffer says: It matches the biggest opening-day margin. Liverpool thrashed Crystal Palace 6-1 away in 1994, and Bolton won at Leicester 5-0 in 2001.
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Saturday August 15
Fred the Red: Is it true Sir Alex missed the chance to get Roy Keane for free as he wrote to several Englidh clubs asking for a trial including Man Utd but Forest were the only one to reply?
The Gaffer says: I believe he wrote to all the then First Division clubs and all turned him down. Nottingham Forest scout Noel McCabe eventually spotted him playing for Cobh Ramblers.
Paul, Bournemouth: Gaffer you're a legend! Can you give me some info on the great Billy Wright? Cheers.
The Gaffer says: Wright spent his entire career with Wolves, racking up 541 appearances. He also won 105 caps for England and was the leading cap winner for his country until Bobby Charlton edged him out.
David, Worksop: Any big names apart from Chris Waddle played for Worksop Town? Cheers Gaff.
The Gaffer says: I seem to remember ex-Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst briefly turned out for The Tigers at the same time as Waddle. Former Celtic and Barnsley player Ronnie Glavin is also a former Worksop manager.
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Friday August 14
James, Lancashire: Is there a Premier League rule dictating the highest squad number that can be issued? Nicklas Bendtner has 52 now, and in other leagues, high numbers are popular (such as 99).
The Gaffer says: Good question James. Section F of the Premier League handbook, entitled 'Player identification and strip', states: "Save with the prior written consent of the Board shirt numbers shall commence with the number one and shall be allocated consecutively." It would seem though the board are reluctant to give such "written consent" for unusually high squad numbers. They rejected pleas from Patrick Mboma for number 70 at Sunderland and Mido for 99 at Spurs. Before Bendtner was given 52 at Arsenal, the highest squad number in Prem history was 51, worn by Chelsea's Sam Hutchinson.
Bernard, Newcastle: Now that James Milner has played for England, who now ranks as the highest priced uncapped Englishman?
The Gaffer says: It's defender Dean Richards, who cost £8.1m when he moved from Southampton to Tottenham in 2001, but was never capped. He just beats Curtis Davies (£8m) and Nigel Reo-Coker (£7.5m).
Mike, North Wales: Bet you don't know this. Name five Welsh captains to pick up the FA Cup.
The Gaffer says: Bet I do! Kevin Ratcliffe - Everton (1984), Peter Rodrigues - Southampton (1976), Graham Williams - West Brom (1968), Fred Keenor - Cardiff (1927), Billy Meredith - Man City (1904). You could also cheekily have Charlton captain Don Welsh in 1947!
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Thursday August 13
Alan, Yorkshire: Maybe a tough one for you. Can you name the only club to have played in the Football League that once won the Rugby League Cup final?
The Gaffer says: Tough? Not at all Alan! Bradford Park Avenue won the Rugby League Championship in 1903-04 and Rugby League Challenge Cup in 1905-06, before what was known as 'The Great Betrayal' in 1907. A small majority of members decided to abandon the Northern Union game (later known as rugby league) and change code to association football, retaining their home at their Park Avenue ground. In 1908, Bradford FC were successfully elected to the Second Division of the Football League.
Ross: Which was the last Manchester United FA Cup tie NOT to be shown live on TV? Who are the only English club to win every home game in a season?
The Gaffer says: Remarkably, I think you have to go back to the third round in 2005 when United were held to a 0-0 draw by Exeter which was a Saturday 3pm kick-off. The Red Devils won the replay 2-0 at St James Park (which was on TV). There are three teams in answer to your second question: Liverpool (14 games, Second Division, 1893-94); Sheffield Wednesday (17 games, Second Division, 1899-1900); Brentford (21 games, Third Division South, 1929-30).
Damien: Hi Gaff. In a penalty shoot out, say for example the ball bounces off the post and rebounds off the goalkeeper and into the net, is this a legitimate goal?
The Gaffer says: Yes. A decision in the 1986 World Cup led to the "Madrid rule" clarification of the penalty procedure. In the quarter-final shootout between Brazil and France, Bruno Bellone's kick rebounded out off the post and back into the goal off goalkeeper Carlos's back. Referee Ioan Igna gave the goal to France, and Brazil captain Edinho was booked for protesting that the kick should have been considered a miss as soon as it rebounded off the post. In 1987, Rule 14, covering penalty kicks, was clarified to support the referee's decision.
Steve: Which footballer has played the most games in the Premier League please Gaffer?
The Gaffer says: David James (547).
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Wednesday August 12
Jon Holmes: Can you let me know which club has the worst League Cup record? Historically, or just in more recent times if that's easier! My team Plymouth Argyle have got past the first round just twice in the last 17 seasons (2005/6 and 2007/8).
The Gaffer says: While Argyle's recent record is risible, their overall record since the competition was founded in 1960 (36 wins in 128 games) is far from the worst. Of clubs that have featured in the League Cup in more than 20 seasons (which excludes the likes of Kidderminster and Dagenham who have never won a League Cup tie), Macclesfield Town have the worst with just five wins in 23 ties, Aldershot have won only 13 of 71 and Rochdale a paltry 26 of 114.
Kevin Turner: Name two footballers who have played for two countries. Who are they and what are the countries?
The Gaffer says: There are more than two players to have done this. The legendary Ferenc Puskas (Hungary and Spain) and Alfredo di Stefano (Argentina, Colombia and Spain) are the most famous. You can also add Monti for Argentina and Italy, Kennaway for Canada and Scotland, Robert Prosinecki for Yugoslavia and Croatia (thanks Gavin, Guaita for Argentina and Italy, Orsi for Argentina and Italy, Laszlo Kubala for Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Spain while in England, Reynolds (England and Ireland), Edwards (England and Wales), Evans (England and Wales), and Ken Armstrong (England and New Zealand) all picked up caps for more than one nation.
Mike Bailey: There are 13 players that have played for two of the 'big four' teams in the Premier League. Who are they?
The Gaffer says: Paul Ince, Jermaine Pennant, Juan Veron, Lassana Diarra, Ashley Cole, Mark Bosnich, Bolo Zenden, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Nicolas Anelka, Mark Hughes, Emmanuel Petit and Paul Parker make 13. However, there are now two more players following recent transfer activity - Michael Owen (thanks John, Jim and Stephen) and Glen Johnson (thanks Stephen).
Lucy: Who is the only player to score a hat-trick in the League Cup and international football and is still playing in the Championship?
The Gaffer says: Robert Earnshaw. The Welshman has also scored hat-tricks in the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and the FA Cup.
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Tuesday August 11
Kieran, Telford: Alreet Gaff! How many of the French team who won the World Cup in 1998 have not played for a British club? I can only think of four - Zidane, Trezeguet, Thuram and Lizarazu. Are there any more? Merci Beaucoup.
The Gaffer says: Pas un problème. Le seul joueur que vous êtes absent est Alain Boghossian. (Not a problem. The only player you are missing is Alain Boghossian).
Stale, Norway: Hello Gaff, are Leeds the biggest city in Europe without a football team at the highest level?
The Gaffer says: No it's actually Novosibirsk which is the third largest city in Russia. With a population of around 1.4m (almost double Leeds), their football team FC Sibir Novosibirsk compete in the Russian First Division.
Ray: Hi Gaffer. My question is who were the first team to win a competitive football match at Wigan Athletic's JJB now named DW stadium?
The Gaffer says: Are you attempting to catch me out, Ray? Wigan won the first competitive match when they beat Scunthorpe 3-0 on 7 August 1999 with Simon Haworth scoring the first goal. If you mean the first AWAY team to win at the JJB, then the answer would also be the Latics. A first round FA Cup tie against non-league Cambridge City was played there due to City's ground being deemed unsuitable to host the tie. Wigan played in their changed strip and used the away dressing room since it was technically a 'home' game for Cambridge City. A Stuart Barlow brace secured the win for Wigan.
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Monday August 10
Nickfrank: How do Gaff. Following Chelsea's win in the Community Shield, I got thinking, has there been a time when a team outside the top flight contested the Shield and did they win?
The Gaffer says: West Ham were the last team after beating Arsenal 1-0 following a Trevor Brooking (pictured above) goal in the 1980 FA Cup final. However, they lost the season's curtain-raiser after a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool with Terry McDermott netting for the Reds.
Lee: Do you know how many times Paul Scholes has scored against Newcastle?
The Gaffer says: 11 goals in 24 games against the Magpies.
Johnny: Hi Gaffer, has any manager had a better debut season than Pep Guardiola?
The Gaffer says: Martin O'Neill won the domestic treble in his first season at Celtic (thanks John) but no manager has quite matched Guardiola's stupendous triumph. He led Barca to their first La Liga title since 2006, the Copa del Rey after a 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao, and of course the Champions League after their 2-0 win against Manchester United. As a result, they became the first Spanish team to win the domestic cup, league, and European club titles in the same season. Furthermore, Guardiola became the youngest manager ever to coach a Champions League winning team. Not bad for a rookie, eh?
Recent trivia answers from The Gaffer:
03/07/09 - 09/08/09: Played for Man Utd and Barcelona; most headed goals in the Premier League; FA Cup leading goalscorer. http://www.orange.co.uk/sport/football/18963.htm?linkfrom=&link=link_body_1&article=askthegaffer
27/07/09 - 02/08/09: European teams to win the treble or quadruple; Frenchmen to play for Newcastle. http://www.orange.co.uk/sport/football/11638.htm?linkfrom=&link=link_body_2&article=askthegaffer
20/07/09 - 26/07/09: Most-capped Premier League manager; Europe's record goalscorers; the Brylcream Boy revealed. http://www.orange.co.uk/sport/football/6057.htm?linkfrom=&link=link_body_3&article=askthegaffer
13/07/09 - 19/07/09: Brothers in the Prem; most saves in a shootout; Fifa and European player award winners. http://www.orange.co.uk/sport/football/4731.htm?linkfrom=&link=link_body_4&article=askthegaffer
06/07/09 - 12/07/09: Longest penalty shootouts; first substitute and perfect Premier League hat-tricks. http://www.orange.co.uk/sport/football/2122.htm?linkfrom=&link=link_body_5&article=askthegaffer
Check out much more trivia in the Ask The Gaffer archives >>>
