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The Gaffer's Football Trivia Archive
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Sunday October 18
Jason, Derby: Hi gaff, wondered if you could tell me the top three clubs who have spent the most on transfers since the begining of the Premier League?
The Gaffer says: A few of you have asked about your own team's presence on this list, so I'll extend my previous top five to top ten, but please bear in mind these figures are approximate due to some official fees being estimated. 1 Chelsea £558m, 2 Liverpool £415m, 3 Man Utd £410m, 4 Man City £396m, 5 Spurs £379m, 6 Newcastle £304m, 7 Arsenal 270m, 8 Villa 253m, 9 Sunderland £226m, 10 Everton £216m.
John, Stoke: If the Premier League was made up of the first 20 teams to be founded in England what would the league look like?
The Gaffer says: To make this remotely relevant to you youngsters, I have only included current Football League clubs in this list. Notts County, Stoke, Nottingham Forest, Chesterfield, Sheff Wed, Rotherham, Reading, Aston Villa, Bolton, Macclesfield, Birmingham, Blackburn, Boro, Port Vale, Crewe, Wolves and four out of the following - Everton, Grimsby, Ipswich, Manchester United, WBA (all formed in the same year - 1878).
Martyn, Crewe: Hi Gaffer. Which current striker from the PL has scored the most goals without gaining an international cap?
The Gaffer says: Kevin Davies with 68 goals.
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Saturday October 17
Rob, Toon: I was wondering what's the longest distance from which a header has been scored and also by whom?
The Gaffer says: Martin Palermo's recent header for Boca Juniors v Velez Sarsfield was measured at 38.9 metres. It happened when Palermo reacted quickly to the keeper's miscued clearance and the ball flew into the right-hand corner. The previous record was Diego Maradona's goal for Napoli in their 4-1 win over AC Milan on 27 November 1988. The ball was bouncing about 10 yards outside the area and Maradona spotted that the keeper was stranded in no-man's-land. Diego looped his header into the net. Carlton Palmer is also worth a mention for his 22-yard header for Sheff Wed v Everton at Goodison in the 1993-94 season, especially as the great Neville Southall was in goal.
Carl, Bexhill: I have one for you. Has a son and father ever played in a top flight game at the same time?
The Gaffer says: Not in the top flight, but it has happened at least once lower down the leagues. Alex Herd, formerly with Man City, played until he was 40 with Stockport County before retiring in Christmas 1951. On the final day of the 1950-51 season at home to Hartlepool, he partnered his debutant son David up front. They won 2-0.
Timblez: How many assists did Beckham have while at Manchester United?
The Gaffer says: Beckham achieved 152 Premier League assists while at United. That compares with Ryan Giggs's Old Trafford record of 243.
Mac Belfast: Since the start of the Premier League who have Spurs played the most times on the opening day of the season?
The Gaffer says: The only club Tottenham have played more than once on the opening day of a Premier League season are Liverpool - in 04/05 and this season.
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Friday October 16
Stewart, Carlisle: Gaffer, in the days of no extra time, which two teams played out the most FA Cup Replays to decide a winner? I seem to remember Leeds & Arsenal being involved in an epic contest in the early 90's.
The Gaffer says: Leeds and Arsenal's clash in 1991 involved four matches, The Gunners eventually winning 2-1 at Elland Road. There are seven instances of an FA Cup tie going to five games (four of which occurred in the FA Cup proper), but the outright winner is six. This record was set in 1971-72 by Alvechurch and Oxford City in the fourth qualifying round, the former finally coming through 1-0 following five draws.
Tractor boy, Huddersfield: How many teams have won the top English league after being promoted the season before?
The Gaffer says: Five clubs have done this - Liverpool in 1905 & 06, Everton in 1931 & 32, Tottenham in 1950 and 51, Ipswich in 1961 & 62 and Nottingham Forest in 1977 & 78. The first four finished first in both seasons, Forest went up in third place, then won the title.
Shayn: G'day Gaff, bit morbid this one but how did Marc-Vivien Foe die and have any other players died while playing?
The Gaffer says: Foe died of heart failure and is sadly not the only footballer to do so. Most you won't have heard of (neither had I until a spot of research), but you will almost certainly remember Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell, who died of a seizure in December 2007, and Antonio Puerta of Sevilla, who collapsed on the field of play a few months before that.
Mike Harrison: Do you know if Hull v Forest on Oct. 2, 1976, was televised - preserving for posterity Billy Bremner's debut goal for the Tigers in what was a 1-0 victory?
The Gaffer says: A very specific question! According to Yorkshire Television's list of televised matches, the only game being shown that day was Leeds v Manchester United, which finished 2-0 to the visitors. Bremner's goal will have to remain locked in your memory.
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Thursday October 15
Ross, Cov: Bergkamp was one of the stars of USA94, but how did he get to the tournament with his fear of flying? Did he go by boat? Puzzling me and a mate!
The Gaffer says: No, not by boat. Bergkamp's fear of flying developed after the Holland squad were involved in an incident on an internal flight during the 1994 World Cup in the US. The Dutch squad were travelling with a group of journalists, one of whom made remarks about the long waiting time, wondering if there was a bomb on the plane. This provoked a panic among some passengers, including Bergkamp. The incident apparently reminded Bergkamp of a plane crash which killed many Surinamese-Dutch players when they flew to Suriname.
Stuart: Who designed the current version of the World Cup trophy, after the old one was stolen and melted down in Brazil?
The Gaffer says: Ahead of the 1974 World Cup, 53 submissions were received from sculptors in seven countries. Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga was eventually awarded the commission for the successor to the ill-fated Jules Rimet Trophy. The new, less elegant, trophy was produced by Bertoni in Milan.
Andy Williams, Wrexham: In what year were substitues first used?
TheGaffer says: Subs were introduced to the Football League in the 1965-66 season. Charlton's Keith Peacock was the first player to come off the bench on 21 August 1965 in an old Second Division game v Bolton. On the same day, Bobby Knox became the first sub to score in Barrow's 4-2 win v Wrexham.
Andy, Leeds: How many players have the second name the same as an international football country?
The Gaffer says: Alan Brazil, Stephen Ireland, Matt Holland, Mike England, Jason Scotland, Ryan France, Gary Wales, Joe Jordan, Lee Poland, Edwin Congo, Rinus Israel.
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Wednesday October 14
Seen North: Has anyone scored 30 or more goals in the Premiership in one season and if so who?
The Gaffer says: Yes, Andy Cole 34 (93-94), Alan Shearer 34 (94-95) and 31 (95-06), Kevin Phillips 30 (99-00), Thierry Henry 30 (03-04), Cristiano Ronaldo 31 (07-08).
Nick Weymouth: How many goalkeepers have scored direct against the other goalkeepers? I only know of Jennings gainst Stepney.
The Gaffer says: Pat Jennings is a very famous example, but not the only one by a long way. Peter Shilton, Steve Sherwood, Steve Ogrizovic, Andy Goram and Paul Robinson are other famous names to score from overhit clearances or goal/free-kicks.
Deano Hutch: What's the biggest crowd ever at a match in England?
The Gaffer says: 126,047 turned up for the famous 1923 FA Cup final between Bolton and West Ham at Wembley, dubbed the 'White Horse Final' as said animal was ridden by a policeman to help push back the fans who had spilled onto the pitch.
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Tuesday October 13
Jon Power: Did Diego Maradona play for Tottenham Hotspur in a Charity match at White Hart Lane in the 1980s?
The Gaffer says: He did indeed. Maradona pulled on a Spurs shirt in Ossie Ardiles' benefit match against Inter Milan at White Hart Lane in May 1986. Rumour has it he even wore Clive Allen's boots!
Seany Bhoy, Glasgow: Hey Gaff, just a wee teaser I was asked at the weekend. Can you name a player who has played for nine clubs in seven countries, is now back at the club he started with and is still under 30?
The Gaffer says: It's Mido, who started at - and is now back with - El Zamalek in Egypt. He has also played for Gent (Belgium), Ajax (Holland), Celta Vigo (Spain), Marseille (France), Roma (Italy), Spurs, Middlesbrough and Wigan (England).
Trevor Jones: Hi, which player got sent off four times in one Premier season?
The Gaffer says: Erm, no-one. Five players have been sent off three times in one Premier League season - Vinny Jones, David Batty, Slaven Bilic, Craig Short and Franck Quedrue - but no player has ever seen red four times.
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Monday October 12
Gaz 08: What is Pele's real name?
The Gaffer says: Edison Arantes do Nascimento. He was named after American inventor Thomas Edison, and didn't get the nickname Pele until school, when he was given it due to the way he mispronounced the name of his favorite player, Vasco da Gama goalkeeper Bile (which should be something like 'Bee-lay').
Arsenaljay91: What position did Thierry Henry play at Juventus?
The Gaffer says: He was stuck out on the wing and consequently scored just three goals in 16 Serie A appearances before joining Arsenal.
Ben/yeah: Who was the main striker for Man Utd the first time they ever won the league, and how many goals did he score?
The Gaffer says: United's first league title came in 1908 and was spearheaded by Sandy Turnbull and Billy Meredith, who had both previously played up front for Man City. Turnbull scored 27 goals in 25 games in 1908, and also the winner in the 1909 FA Cup final. He went on to score 100 goals in 245 games for the Red Devils, and died aged 33 during the First World War in France, while serving as a Lance-Sergeant in the Eighth Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. His body was never found.
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