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Orange's football trivia expert answers your best questions

Ask The Gaffer



Ask The Gaffer
Ask The Gaffer

Terry, Liverpool – 17 June 2013

Who has scored in the Merseyside derby whilst on loan?

The Gaffer says:

Nicolas Anelka is your man. He was on loan when he scored Liverpool's equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Anfield in February 2002. He's the only loanee to score in the Merseyside derby in the Premier League era.

Neil, Wigan – 17 June 2013

Who are the only team to be in every English cupsfinal? e.g. FA Cup, League Cup, FA Trophy etc

The Gaffer says:

Whelan PA

I think the answer you're looking for is Wigan Athletic. The Latics have appeared in the FA Cup final (this year, of course), the League Cup final (losing to Manchester United in 2006), the Football League Trophy, or Johnstone's Paint Trophy as it's currently known (winning in 1985 v Brentford and 1999 v Millwall), and the FA Trophy final (losing to Scarborough in 1973).

David Spurdens, London – 14 June 2013

if a player is sent off in a international friendly does he have to serve his ban if the next match were a Euro or World Cup qualifier/final stages match or the next friendly?

The Gaffer says:

Fifa's Disciplinary Code states that: "As a general rule, every match suspension (of players and other persons) is carried over from one round to the next in the same competition." So, in the case of international friendlies, any ban resulting from a red card would result in suspension from that team's next friendly fixture.

Tim Reynolds, Cardiff – 14 June 2013

There was a Premiership match last season that was the first ever meeting between these sides in any competition. What game was it?

The Gaffer says:

I think I know what you're getting at Tim, but you're not quite right. Last season saw the first ever league meeting between Wigan and Southampton, but they had actually met once before in the FA Cup, when Saints won 3-0 at The Dell in January 1986.

Lee, Mansfield – 13 June 2013

Who was the first player outside of Europe to score a Premier League goal?

The Gaffer says:

Ndlovu PA

It's Peter Ndlovu but Ruel Fox may have something to say about that. Fox scored on the opening weekend of the Premier League in a 4-2 win over Arsenal and then again a week later against Everton. Although he has international caps for Montserrat, Fox was born in Ipswich and made two appearances for England B in 1994 so at the time of scoring these goals, it's difficult to class him as the first non-European Premier League scorer. Back to Peter Ndlovu, the Zimbabwean scored on the 2nd September 1992 in a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Alex, Southampton – 16 May 2012

In the light of Jermaine Pennant's potential jail time can you name a jailbird XI (players who've spent time in prison)? I've currently thought of Lee Hughes, Ched Evans and Marlon King...

The Gaffer says:

Fabulous question! The man you're looking for is Les Sealey. He featured regularly in his first spell at Old Trafford, including a 1991 League Cup final defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and the 1991 Cup Winners' Cup final victory against Barcelona. He was then transferred to Aston Villa before returning to Manchester United on a free transfer as understudy to Peter Schmeichel (thanks to Fred the Red and Woody in Swindon for pointing out that Sealey and Mark Bosnich are the only players Sir Alex Ferguson has ever re-signed). In his second spell, Sealey played only two games - coming on in an FA Cup quarter-final against Charlton after Schmeichel was sent off, and starting the 1994 League Cup final, which United lost 3-1 to Villa.

Kev Swannack, UK – 24 December 2011

Name three post-war England players with 3 letter o in their surnames.

The Gaffer says:

Superb question Kev - a cracking bit of trivia! The three men in question are Peter Osgood, Tony Woodcock and Ian Storey-Moore.

Andrew Clarke, Mossley – 8 December 2011

Who won league titles in three consecutive seasons with three different clubs?

The Gaffer says:

Eric Cantona PA

Hail Eric Cantona, winner of titles with Marseille in 1991, with Leeds in 1992, and with Manchester United in 1993. In all, the flamboyant Frenchman won seven league championship medals, four of them with United. Another, and less obvious, player to achieve the feat is Alexei Mikhailichenko, who won titles with Dynamo Kiev, Sampdoria and Rangers from 1990-92 (thanks Martin from Doncaster).

Gary Africa, Iraq – 31 May 2011

Who are 9 players who have played for two of the Big Four (ManU, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal) plus a Spanish club??

The Gaffer says:

Benayoun PA

This old chestnut eh? I get this one a lot and in previous years there were seven - Michael Owen, Lassana Diarra, Boudewijn Zenden, Mark Hughes, Nicolas Anelka, Emmanuel Petit and Jermaine Pennant. More recently we can of course add Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun to the list to make it nine.

Dave, Arsenal – 23 May 2011

Why do Boca Juniors wear a blue and yellow kit?

The Gaffer says:

Until 1907 Boca Juniors wore white shirts with vertical dark blue or black stripes. However, rivals Club Boedo had the same colours so a game was played, with the losers having to change colours. Boca were beaten and after the match some of the players went down to the local harbour. They decided that they would choose the colours of the flag of the first ship to arrive in the harbour. The Swedish vessel Drottning Sophia duly arrived so Boca decided that the club should adopt the blue and yellow of the Swedish flag.

Harry, Torpoint – 9 December 2010

What's the most amount of goals scored in an English league match?

The Gaffer says:

Seventeen, set on Boxing Day 1935 when Tranmere spanked Oldham 13-4.

Paul Eastwood, UK – 9 December 2010

Name the footballer who has scored a goal in the top flight in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s?

The Gaffer says:

Roy Race, from Roy of the Rovers. Next!

Aaron, Leeds – 14 February 2011

Which is the biggest stadium in the world?

The Gaffer says:

May Day Stadium

The Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Korea can seat 150,000, making it the largest non-racing stadium capacity in the world. The Maracana in Rio seats 88,992, but reputedly housed a whopping 199,854 spectators for the 1950 World Cup final.

Taffy, UK – 9 December 2010

Is it true that West Auckland in County Durham won the first World Cup?

The Gaffer says:

West Auckland were the winners of the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, one of the first international footballing competitions, in its two initial years (1909 and 1911). It is sometimes referred to as 'The First World Cup' but is predated by the Torneo Internazionale Stampa Sportiva, which was hosted in 1908, as the first international competition.

Nick, Weymouth – 9 December 2010

Can you tell me the players and scorers in the first FA Cup final?

The Gaffer says:

Wanderers beat the Royal Engineers 1-0 in the first FA Cup final at The Oval in 1872. The goal was scored by Betts, who strangely played under the pseudonym 'A H Chequer'. The full Wanderers line-up was: Welch, Alcock, Betts, Bonsor, Bowen, Crake, Hooman, Lubbock, Thompson, Vidal, Wollaston. The Royal Engineers' team was Marindin, Merriman, Addison; Creswell, Mitchell, Renny-Tailyour; Rich, Goodwyn, Muirhead, Cotter, Bogle.

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