Ask the Gaffer
Thursday 15 May
Blink: Please settle an argument. My mate reckons Leyton Orient played the most games at Wembley as their ground was bombed during the war. Surely he's pulling my leg.
The Gaffer says: He's not pulling your leg, I think he's just got his facts slightly wrong. A complaint over perimeter fencing at the then-called Clapton Orient's Lea Bridge ground in 1930 meant they were forced to play home games elsewhere while urgent alterations took place. They played two home Third Division South games at Wembley and one at Highbury, before moving back to Lea Bridge. Orient eventually moved to their current Brisbane Road home in 1937.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan in Newcastle: Gaff, who was in the line-up for Man Utd and the Europe 11 in the recent charity match? Ta mate.
The Gaffer says: All subs made at half-time unless stated. United: Kuszczak (Heaton), Neville (O'Shea), Brown, Heinze, Richardson, Ronaldo (Eagles), Scholes, Giggs (Carrick), Park, Rooney (Andrew Cole), Smith (Dong, 72). Europe XI: Canizares (Coupet), Zambrotta (Campo, 64), Ayala (Stefanovic), Materazzi (Christanval), Abidal (Kallstrom), Mancini (Gerrard), Pirlo (Stelios), Gattuso (Carragher), Malouda (Diouf), Ibrahimovic (Zenden), Larsson (Fowler, 64).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt: What is the smallest stadium in the English League?
The Gaffer says: Accrington Stanley's Fraser Eagle Stadium, built in 1968, holds just 5,057.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike WWFC: Gaff, what time do the England Under-21s and senior team play on Saturday week? Do you know which TV games the U-21s match clashes with? Cheers again.
The Gaffer says: The U-21 friendly against Italy a week on Saturday kicks off at 12.30pm, while the 'grown-ups' play Israel at 6.30pm the same day. According to my telly guide, the U-21 game doesn't clash with anything, apart from The Flying Gardener on BBC2, which I'm particularly looking forward to. Scotland v Georgia and Republic of Ireland v Wales are Sky Sports from 3pm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Updaspurs: Alright Gaff. When are the quarters of the UEFA Cup? And is there a draw for it or has it already been done? If so who are Spurs playing? Cheers mate.
The Gaffer says: The two-legged quarter-finals are on 5 and 12 April. The draw for the rest of the tournament will be made in Glasgow on Friday afternoon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 14 May
Grant, Radcliffe: Hi Gaff. What was Tuesday's big European friendly at Old Trafford in aid of?
The Gaffer says: It was a celebration of 50 years in Europe for United. Proceeds from the game are going to the Manchester United Foundation, which works with local charities as well as UNICEF to aid children in need.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Leeks, Whitby: Could you tell me when the Champions League final is and when tickets go on sale? Cheers.
The Gaffer says: 23 May at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Looks like you've missed the boat ticket-wise Leeks, unless your team gets to the final, as they were released on 5 February. Only 9,000 were available to the general public, who had to enter an internet lottery for an Olympic Stadium seat. Another 34,000 tickets will be distributed to fans of the two finalists through their clubs, with the remainder going to officials, event organisers, sponsors, hangers-on and prawn sandwich munchers (and me, if anyone from Uefa is reading! I like prawns).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Welsh Villan: Gaff, me and a mate need this clearing up. When Villa defended the European Cup in 1982/83 did they get knocked out in the semi by Juve after winning the first leg in Turin before getting battered in the home leg?
The Gaffer says: Villa were knocked out by Juventus but it was in the quarter-finals. They lost both legs, 2-1 and 3-1.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxia: Using combined transfer fees, who is the most expensive player in the Premiership?
The Gaffer says: Nicolas Anelka with just over £51million (PSG to Arsenal £500,000, to Real £23m, to Man City £13m, to Fenerbahce £7m, to Bolton £8m). Rio Ferdinand isn't far behind on £48million (£18m West Ham to Leeds, £30m to Man Utd).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I, lfc: What date is Liverpool v PSV? Cheers Gaff.
The Gaffer says: 3 April away, 11 April home.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jay, Luton: Has any team ever won the treble of the league,the FA Cup,and the League Cup?
The Gaffer says: The closest any team has come to the domestic treble in England was Manchester United. In 1994 they won the Premiership and the FA Cup, but missed out on a domestic treble as they lost 3-1 to Villa in the League Cup final. In Scotland, both Rangers and Celtic have achieved the domestic treble.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 13 May
Sammy Stag: What's the largest town or city in England without a Football League team? And what's the smallest town with one?
The Gaffer says: Using the figures from the 2001 census, Dudley is the largest town or city without a Football League team. The top 10 are: 1 Dudley, 2 Poole, 3 Oxford, 4 Telford, 5 York, 6 Slough, 7 Gloucester, 8 Cambridge, 9 Exeter, 10 Eastbourne. I'd say the smallest was Irthingborough, home of Rushden & Diamonds, with a population of around 8,000.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Chelsea Steve, Welshpool: Hi Gaff. Can either MK Dons or AFC Wimbledon lay claim to the 1988 FA Cup in their roll of honours? Also what's the story behind the large points deduction AFCW are facing? Cheers footy guru!
The Gaffer says: Since the move of Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes there's been plenty of debate over who 'owns' the trophies, Steve. Supporters of AFC Wimbledon, founded in 2002 as a direct continuation of the former Wimbledon FC, argue that the honours and trophies won by Wimbledon FC belong to the community of Wimbledon and should be returned to the local area. Currently trophies won by Wimbledon FC legally belong to MK Dons, however, after much debate, MK Dons have agreed to return them to the people of Wimbledon. They'll be donated to the London Borough of Merton to be put on public display, and also made available for short-term loan to AFC Wimbledon. As for your second question, AFC Wimbledon had a mammoth 18-point deduction imposed for failing to complete the proper registration procedures for Jermaine Darlington in October - the first player to play competitive football for both AFC Wimbledon and Wimbledon FC. The problem was that AFC Wimbledon didn't declare that he had previously been registered with a foreign governing body - the Welsh FA - while playing for Cardiff, so were chucked out of the FA Trophy and docked all the points earned from the league matches in which he appeared. Their appeal will be heard on 26 March. AFC Wimbledon are currently joint top of the Ryman League Premier Division with Chelmsford City.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant: Is Mark Hughes the only man to win four FA Cups?
The Gaffer says: No, Grant. David Seaman, Ray Parlour, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs can be added to the list. Interestingly, three players have won it five times - Arthur Kinnaird (Wanderers & Old Etonians), Charles Wollaston (Wanderers) and Jimmy Forrest (Blackburn Rovers).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 12 May
Josh: Where are Juve in Serie B and how many points are they on?
The Gaffer says: Juve are top of Serie B even though they were docked nine points. They have 49 points after winning 17, drawing seven and losing two. Napoli are second on 48. Bologna and Piacenza are joint third on 44.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ, Sale: Are the FA Cup semi-finals being played in Cardiff? Cheers.
The Gaffer says: The venues and precise kick-off times are still to be decided, Russ.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sean, Wales: Hi Gaff, what are the rules as far as shirt names go? As Pedersen, Obi Mikel and Stelios seem to have a different name each week. Also could you settle an old argument over why some teams have square corner flags and some are trianglular?
The Gaffer says: I don't think there are any hard and fast rules when it comes to names on shirts, Sean, so I'm as puzzled as you are. As regards triangular flags, only clubs that have won the FA Cup can use them. They're intended as a mark of distinction.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Charlie, London: Gaff, could tell me which player has won the FA Cup with three different teams?
The Gaffer says: No player has ever won the FA Cup with three different clubs. Several players have made it to the final with three different teams though: Harold Halse (Man Utd 1909, Aston Villa 1913 and Chelsea 1915), Ernie Taylor (Newcastle 1951, Blackpool 1953 and Man Utd (1958) and John Barnes (Watford 1984, Liverpool 1989, 1996 and 1998). Dennis Wise almost won it with three different clubs. After wins with Wimbledon in 1988 and Chelsea (1997 and 2000) he fell at the third hurdle when Millwall lost to Man Utd in 2004.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Skinter, lfc: Have more than one set of brothers ever been in the England squad at the same time?
The Gaffer says: No. There have been 20 sets of brothers to play for England, but no two sets have ever played at the same time.