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Sunday March 29
Kirk: Can you name five or more England players who have an 'x' in their name? I've got four - Ruel Fox, Kerry Dixon, Lee Dixon and Graeme le Saux.
The Gaffer says: Here's eleven - Graham Rix, Lee Dixon, Kerry Dixon, John Dixon, Ronald Dix, Graeme le Saux, Jason Wilcox, Mike Duxbury, Albert Quixhall, Samuel Fox and John Cox. Ruel Fox only played for England B.
Fabio Gorgonzola: Gaffer, please can you explain to me the "apertura" and "clausura" parts of some countries' top leagues, such as Mexico and Argentina?
The Gaffer says: Since 1990 many Latin American football leagues have been divided in two sections per season, Apertura and Clausura, each with its own champion (apertura and clausura are Spanish for "opening" and "closing"). Two championship titles are awarded per year in the first group of leagues, and only one in the second. The Apertura is held in the first half of the calendar year in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay and Peru, while it is held in the second half of the calendar year in Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Uruguay and Venezuela. The format is a good way to fill the gaps caused by the overall lack of traditional cup competitions in most Latin American nations, although the Brazilian national league is the only one to not split the season into two parts.
Dave, Liverpool: Please can you tell me who was Gerard Houllier's first signing for Liverpool.
The Gaffer says: Houllier's first signing as sole Liverpool manager (after Roy Evans quit his joint-manager role) was Jean-Michel Ferri, a 29-year-old French defensive midfielder who moved from Istanbulspor for £1.2m in 1998. He left Anfield for Sochaux after playing just 47 minutes in two appearances as sub.
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Saturday March 28
Michael, Birmingham: Apart from Theo Walcott, who was the last English player to score for Arsenal in the Premier League?
The Gaffer says: I assume you mean in the Premier League, as that would rule out Jay Simpson and Jack Wilshere, who have both scored in the Carling Cup this year. The answer is Justin Hoyte, who found the mark in a 4-0 win over Charlton on January 2nd, 2007.
Robert, Kevin, Marc and Mike all asked this: Hello Gaffer, I've scored for Man Utd against Liverpool and for Liverpool against Man Utd, I won the Premier League for a London club and I won trophies in Spain, Italy and Scotland but I never played for my country. Who am I?
the Gaffer says: I assume this is doing the rounds on websites and the like. I've pondered the teaser for over 24 hours and can think of no-one which leads me to believe it is either a trick question, complete nonsense or the beginning of the end for my memory. Let me know any suggestions and I'll check them out.
Cambridge Villan: 1) What Premier League teams could name an all-English starting 11 out of the players they registered for this season? 2) Is it true that Freddie Eastwood got his surname from Clint Eastwood as he didn't have a surname when he first signed a professional contract?
The Gaffer says: 1) You could get an English side out of quite a few if you opted for strange formations. The best, though, in my opinion, would be at Villa: Elliot Parish, Nicky Shorey, Zat Knight, Curtis Davies, Luke Young, James Milner, Steve Sidwell, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey. 2) I can find no evidence of this.
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Friday March 27
Gareth Duggan: Name a player who has played for England only three times yet every cap he earned was under a different manager.
The Gaffer says: It's Jason Wilcox, who played in a pre-Euro 96 friendly against Hungary under Terry Venables, then against France in 1999 under caretaker boss Howard Wilkinson then in another friendly against Argentina in 2000 under Kevin Keegan.
Steve, Cheshire: Hi Gaff, love the site! The last of the four teams to hold a 100% record against Man United in competitive matches (see Thursday's question) is Bootle Reserves. In the 1890/91 season, FA Cup 2nd qualifying round - Bootle Reserves 1 Newton Heath 0!
The Gaffer says: Steve, that is an absolutely belting spot! I'll put Bootle Reserves down as an addendum to the list. Jonathon Godfrey in Belfast also got in touch to claim that Necaxa are another team to boast a 100% record against the Red Devils, but I'm afraid you're wrong Jon. United actually drew 1-1 with them in the infamous World Club Championship campaign of 1999.
Mr Grim, Pontardawe: Which French international was born at sea?
The Gaffer says: Rio Mavuba was born on board a ship off Angola in 1984. The Lille defender claims that his passport simply reads: 'Born at sea'. He grew up in France and gained French nationality in 2004, since when he has made six appearances for his country.
Johnny in Coatbridge: Who was the first player to score for Brazil while playing for Celtic?
The Gaffer says: Tom Boyd. He scored an own goal against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup.
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Thursday March 26
Craig, Essex: Morning gaff. Why did Sunderland Not play in the 73 Charity Shield?
The Gaffer says: Before 1974, the Charity Shield was nothing more than an invitational curtain-raiser, played at different grounds and often between two teams that had won nothing the previous season. It was only after 1974 that FA secretary Ted Croker proposed formalising the fixture, transferring it permanently to Wembley, calling it 'The Charity Shield' (it didn't even have a proper name before then) and stipulating that it had to be between the previous season's FA Cup winners and league champions. FAO Steve - we obviously get our information from different sources!
Geoff Birch: Thanks for listing the non-league trouncers of current league teams. If Burton Albion get promoted this season will they really become the fourth team from Burton to appear in the league? Must be a record for a town not in London.
The Gaffer says: They will indeed be the fourth team from Burton to gain league status, after Burton Swifts (1892-1901), Burton United (1901-07) and Burton Wanderers (1894-97). Obviously several cities have had multiple teams in the league, such as Manchester and Birmingham (and Glasgow has four current league teams which its city borders - Celtic, Rangers, Partick and Queen's Park) but this is certainly unheard of for a town of its size.
Philip, Ireland: Looking at an old question you state at least two teams have a 100% record against Manchester Utd, but from what I can tell Zenit St Petersburg have that record as well.
The Gaffer says: Well spotted Philip. So that's Zenit, Southend and Vasco da Gama of Brazil. If anyone spots any more, let me know.
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Wednesday March 25
Tony Bollington: Hi Gaff, who did Brian Clough sign for Leeds in his short time there? I can remember John O'Hare, John McGovern and Duncan McKenzie. Is there anybody else?
The Gaffer says: The answer is no. They were the only signings Clough made during his 44 days at Leeds. Mercurial striker McKenzie was the first to arrive at Elland Road from Nottingham Forest on 6 August 1974 for a fee of £250,000, a record for both clubs at the time. On 19 August Clough signed McGovern and O'Hare from his former club Derby in a £125,000 package deal.
Chris Frame: Who is the only player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two (or the divisions under their previous names), the League Cup, the FA Cup and for his country?
The Gaffer says: If I had a pound everytime I was asked this one! Robert Earnshaw is the man.
David: Which year was the first 90-minute match played?
The Gaffer says: A definitive answer appears to be lost in the mists of time. When the Football Association was formed in 1863 it introduced the Laws Of The Game, but they made no provision for the duration of play, or even for the number of players on each side. These matters had to be agreed by the two captains. The first game played under the new rules was on 9 January 1864, but there is no mention of how long the match lasted. It was only later, when leagues and cup competitions were introduced, that games were standardised, but I can find no specific fixture that was deemed to be the first '90-minute match'. I do know that added time was introduced because of an incident in 1891 during a game between Stoke and Aston Villa. With two minutes remaining, Stoke were awarded a penalty when trailing 1-0. The Villa keeper promptly kicked the ball out of the ground and by the time it had been recovered, the 90 minutes was up and the game over.
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Tuesday March 24
Martin: Can you inform a colleague of mine that Man Utd's biggest 'home' game was at Maine Road. There are 10 pints of ice cold cider on this.
The Gaffer says: The cider's all yours, Martin. An English record league crowd of 83,260 watched Man Utd v Arsenal at Maine Road on 17 January 1948. The fixture was switched because Old Trafford was still being repaired after being bombed during the war. United returned to their true home in August 1949.
Shaun: What is the club with the same letter in its name five times?
The Gaffer says: Would you be referring to Kidderminster Harriers, Shaun?
Marc, Slough: Who is the only player to score against Man Utd for three different clubs?
The Gaffer says: Step forward Les Ferdinand.
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Monday March 23
Allan Payne: Which current football player is also a Lord?
The Gaffer says: I know you asked this a while back, Allan, but I've finally uncovered the answer. It is Djibril Cisse. Soon after his move to Liverpool, Cisse purchased a home in Frodsham, Cheshire, and in doing so gained the title of Lord of the Manor of Frodsham. Great question!
Spike, Redditch: Hi gaff, who is the oldest England debutant?
The Gaffer says: Goalkeeper Alexander Morten. He was aged 41 years and 114 days when he made his debut against Scotland on 8 March 1873.
Amanda Hatchett: I'm a one-man club - I've played in all 4 divisions plus the Conference, the FA Cup final, the Champions League, and I am a current Premier League player - who am I?
The Gaffer says: I don't believe this has ever happened. I think you are getting the question mixed up with a very famous football trivia poser asking for a player who has played in all four divisions plus the Conference, the FA Cup final, the Champions League and the World Cup. Steve Finnan is the answer.
Mark Green: Please pardon my ignorance, but can you explain why several managers are wearing yellow flowers?
The Gaffer says: They're supporting Marie Curie Cancer care.
Note to Gerry - the Bramble and Wright-Phillips brothers have never played against each other in the Premier League although Bradley was an unused substituted when Manchester City played a Chelsea side including Shaun.
