Curiosity Corner: Know your initials, Ryder Cup and Roy Hodgson

KNOW YOUR INITIALS

This week: TF

1: The distance over which racing’s 1,000 Guineas is run

2: Get there and your team could be playing in Europe

3: ‘The Preston Plumber’

4: They’ve gone through the roof in English soccer.....

5: ......making this player’s record of years ago look like a snip

6: A team in this is usually in the running for honours

7: The selection of many to win a greyhound race

8: When you have this in a race the camera comes out

9: He lives up to his name when he steps into the ring

10: Edged out of it by Shane Lowry a few years ago

YOU CAN TAKE WILLIE’S WORD FOR IT

It was said here a few weeks ago that Kilkerley Emmets’ joust with Young Irelands could have been the first club championship match to be played at Gaels’ pitch on the Ramparts. Not so. And the man who says that can’t be doubted whenever the Kilkerley club or its teams are in question.

It’s not today or yesterday that Willie Quigley began taking notes on behalf of his club. 

He hasn’t missed a year with pen and paper on hand since making his debut, keeping local papers and radio up to date. 

And he hasn’t confined himself to only football; his Kilkerley parish notes have been carried nearly as long as match details.

A recent message from Willie said that as far back as 1997 – Friday, July 4th, to be exact – Páirc na nGael played host to its first championship match.

It was a quarter-final replay, St Mary’s playing – who else? – but Kilkerley, the Ardee side winning by 1-7 to 0-5. 

And to show how meticulous Willie’s record-keeping must be, he adds that the drawn match had been played the previous weekend in Haggardstown, the game ending in a 0-8 apiece draw.

Clubs in all codes are being asked to nominate a member worthy of a volunteer award. 

Kilkerley wouldn’t have to look beyond the man who has given them tremendous service over the years, first of all as a goalkeeper, then as a very committed and active committee-member.

HE PLAYED IN THE RYDER CUP

I  Flock Eerier (6, 6)

ROY KEEPS ON GOING

He’s the Duracell battery of English football. Roy Hodgson is now in his second spell as manager with Crystal Palace. His latest stint comes after he’s been at eight other Premiership clubs and a number from lower divisions.

He was also manager of the England team at Euro 2012, and before that had worked in nine countries. 

In all he’s had charge of 21 teams, covering club and country. 

Communicating with his players wouldn’t have been a problem to Roy while on the continent and elsewhere; to equip himself on his travels, he learnt five different languages. That was how it stood 11 years ago – who knows, he might had added a few more in the meantime.

Anyway, his Palace team is going well, taking their instructions from a now 76-year-old.

THE NAME’S THE SAME

I’m an American golfer and he gives his name to a famous trophy. 

ANSWERS

Know Your Initials: 1 Ten Furlongs, 2 Top Four, 3 Tom Finney, 4 Transfer Fees, 5 Trevor Francis, 6 Top Form, 7 Trap Five (Four), 8, Tight Finish, 9 Tyson Fury, 10 Tommy Fleetwood. Ryder Cup Player: Rickie Fowler. Name’s The Same: Sam(uel) Ryder.