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Sunday September 27
Jaffer McGurk: Apart from David Nugent, how many other players have appeared once for England and scored without playing again?
The Gaffer says: There are a fair few examples of one-cap goalscorers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries so I'll start from the 1960s. First up is Tony Kay of Everton, whose moment of glory came in 1963. Then comes West Ham's Paul Goddard who came on as sub and scored in 1982. Southampton's Danny Wallace (1986) and Francis Jeffers (2003) are the others, along with Nugent in 2007.
Neil, Newcastle: Is it true that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has won the last seven league titles he has competed in? Is this a record?
The Gaffer says: He won three straight Serie A crowns at Inter but nothing at Juventus as the club were stripped of their titles for the match-fixing scandal that saw them relegated to Serie B. Roar Strand won 11 straight Norwegian titles with Rosenborg (1994-2004), although Skonto FC won the Latvian league in 14 successive seasons (1991-2004) and so it is a possible that some of their players beat Strand's record.
Caz, B'ham: Why do Greek side Panathinikos have a shamrock on their badge?
The Gaffer says: It's nothing to do with Ireland. In 1918 Panathinaikos chose the shamrock as their emblem on the suggestion of Mihalis Papazoglou, an athlete from Constantinople (now Istanbul) who played for Chalkidona, and Chalkidona had the same symbol. The idea was accepted by Panathinaikos's council and confirmed as the team's official badge.
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Saturday September 26
Deano MK: Hey Gaff, amazing page! How come it never worked out for Mark Hughes when he went to Barcelona? Did he also go to Bayern, and was this a loan move? Thanks mate.
The Gaffer says: It was a bit of a surprise when Man Utd sold Hughes to Barcelona for £2m in 1986. Barca boss Terry Venables wanted Sparky as a partner for Gary Lineker up front but the pairing didn't work out and Hughes failed to make his mark, scoring only four goals in 28 La Liga games. He was loaned to Bayern in 1987, scoring six in 18 in the Bundesliga before returning to Old Trafford in 1988.
Matty Mid Wales: Hi Gaff. I remember hearing that Peter Schmeichel has never conceded a goal in a Manchester derby with both teams, but how many games was it?
The Gaffer says: It's not true that Schmeichel never conceded a goal in a Manchester derby. But remarkably, he was never on the losing side in the fixture throughout his time at both United and City.
Stuart: Which keeper famously saved his club from relegation and non-League football?
The Gaffer says: The one and only Jimmy Glass, who went up for a corner against Plymouth and scored the last-minute goal which kept Carlisle in the Football League in 1999. Scarborough went out of the league instead.
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Friday September 25
Daniel: Gaffer, what was Billy Bremner's record on winning games by flipping a coin?
The Gaffer says: Leeds, led by Bremner, beat Napoli on the toss of a disc in the second round of the Fairs Cup on 27 November 1968 after the sides had drawn 2-2 on aggregate. The Leeds line-up that night was as follows: Sprake, Reaney, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, O'Grady, Madeley, Jones, Giles and Eddie Gray. Leeds had won the first leg at Elland Road 2-0. That's the only record I have of Bremner featuring in spinning a coin or disc to settle a tie.
Eric: What separate records to West Ham and Fulham hold from the 1975 FA Cup?
The Gaffer says: West Ham's 2-0 victory in the final is the last time that an all-English-born team won the FA Cup. Alan Taylor, born in Hinckley, scored both goals. As for Fulham, they had to play 11 games, including replays, on their way to Wembley. That remains a record.
Johnny Thompson: Are Leeds the lowest-placed team to have featured in a European Cup semi-final?
The Gaffer says: Yes they are, at least in the UK.
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Thursday September 24
Crawford Paisley: Tom Hateley, son of Mark and grandson of Tony, recently made his debut. Are this trio unique?
The Gaffer says: No. As outlined in the book 'Fathers, Sons and Football', the Summerbees also achieved three successive generations of pro footballers. Grandfather George was a modest player, but his son Mike was one of Manchester City's all-time greats. It's fair to say Mike's son Nicky didn't live up to his father's achievements but he had a half decent Premiership career at City, Sunderland and Bolton and later at Forest, Leicester, Bradford, Swindon, Tranmere and Tamworth.
Deano, Grays: Which teams have played European football but no longer play in the Prem? And when was their last appearance?
The Gaffer says: Middlesbrough (2006), Ipswich (2003), Newcastle (2005), Leeds (2005), Nottingham Forest (1995), Millwall (2004), Southampton (2003), West Brom (1981), Derby (1976), Sheffield Wednesday (1992), QPR (1984), Leicester (1997), Coventry (1970), Watford (1983), Norwich (1993).
Stewart, Carlisle: Of Graham Alexander's 90 odd career goals, how many have been penalties? Also, did he once score a hat-trick of penalties in one match?
The Gaffer says: Graham Alexander has a phenomenal career penalty-taking record of 66 scored out of 71 attempts. Unless it was in his early days at Scunthorpe, I can find no record of him scoring a hat-trick of penalties though. Jan Molby once achieved this in Liverpool's 3-1 League Cup win over Coventry in 1986.
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Wednesday September 23
Simon stockport: Hi gaff, which player has won the most caps while not playing in the country he represents? Would Thierry Henry be up there?
The Gaffer says: This is a slightly questionable answer - allow me to explain. I believe it's Lilian Thuram, who won 142 caps for France, putting him 17th in the worldwide all-time list of most-capped players, yet he's never played for a French side. However, he has played for Monaco, which while not being in France, do play in the French league (his other clubs were Parma, Juventus and Barcelona). Henry has also never played for a French side but has also played for Monaco (plus Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona), but 'only' has 111 caps. So while neither of them have played for French sides, they have physically played league football on French soil. Tricky one, eh? By the way, the next candidiate would be Peter Schmeichel - 129 caps, but he spent the first three years of his international career in Brondby.
Manny wolvo: Who scored the last goal of the old first division?
The Gaffer says: Ian Wright, who netted in the last minute of Arsenal's 5-1 win over Southampton on the final day of the 1991/92 season.
Carl bexhill: Has anyone every got a hat-trick three games in a row?
The Gaffer says: Charlie Ide when playing for Wivenhoe Town. In eight days in October 2008 he scored hat-tricks against Stanway Rovers, Whitton United and Brantham Athletic.
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Tuesday September 22
Matt: Who is the only Premier League player who has played in the Newcastle-Sunderland derby, Arsenal-Spurs derby and Birmingham-Villa derby?
The Gaffer says: Finnish midfielder Teemu Tainio. The Sunderland player is on loan at Birmingham and played for the Blues against Villa earlier this month. He was an 87th minute substitute in the Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light last season and played in six North London derbies while at Spurs. Birmingham's Stephen Carr would have also qualified had he not missed the clash against Villa through injury.
Steve, Bristol: Who was the first non-English born player to play for England?
The Gaffer says: Two players share the record. Alfred Goodwyn and William Kenyon-Slaney (both born in India) made their England debuts on 8 March 1873.
Southsea: My mate is convinced Filippo Inzaghi has scored more Serie A goals in his career than anyone ever. Can you let me know his stats and where he really is with regards to goals so my mate can get the next round in. Cheers.
The Gaffer says: Inzaghi is 21st on the list with 151 goals. Francesco Totti (181) and Alessandro Del Piero (168) are the only two current players above him. Silvio Piola (1929-54) holds the record with 274. Make mine an Irish whiskey.
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Monday September 21
Jon, Ashby: Hi Gaff, who has scored the most Premier League goals without scoring a hat-trick? Cheers.
The Gaffer says: Ryan Giggs with 98, followed by Paolo Di Canio with 68.
Pete, Portsmouth: Love the page. Who scored the most goals at the 1986 World Cup?
The Gaffer says: Here's everyone who scored more than two goals in Mexico: 6 Gary Lineker; 5 Diego Maradona, Careca, Emilio Butragueno; 4 Jorge Valdano, Preben Elkjaer Larsen, Alessandro Altobelli, Igor Belanov; 3 Jan Ceulemans, Nico Claesen, Jesper Olsen, Rudi Voller.
Jim, Stoke: Who has played the most games in Serie A? Thanks.
The Gaffer says: I have the top ten for you: Paolo Maldini 648, Gianluca Pagliuca 592, Dino Zoff 570, Pietro Vierchowod 562, Roberto Mancini 541, Silvio Piola 537, Enrico Albertosi 532, Gianni Rivera 527, Giuseppe Bergomi 519, Ciro Ferrara 500.
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