Joe Carroll's Curiosity Corner: Some Christmas sporting trivia and quizzes

KNOW YOUR INITIALS QUIZ

This week they are all CS

1: An odd kind of golfer who won the US Open two years in succession

2: One of the names given to the curtain-raiser in the English football season

3: A Mayo player who won several All-Ireland senior football medals

4: Orielites were sorry to see him go

5: He flew through the Irish National Hunt jockeys’ championship on a few occasions

6: A top scorer in Rovers’ Premier League win

7: A one-time holder of the World 100 metre record and twice winner of the World Championships 200 metres

8: Winners of the Dublin senior football championship on one occasion

9: A Dutch footballer who holders the record for having won the European Champions’ League with three different clubs

10: One of the places to be on All-Ireland final day

HE SAID

“You’re only here because of me.” Colin Montgomerie, full of his own importance, making his feelings known to a television cameraman who obstructed his line of vision.

Christmas Football 

It had only been two years since they won the old English League’s First Division when Ipswich Town conceded ten goals. The team led to their surprise 1961/’62 title-win by Alf Ramsey were out against Fulham on December 28, 58 years ago, when they leaked like a sieve.

The Blues, however, weren’t the only team whose defence took a day off. West Ham were also punished on a day when the ten ties played that day yielded a whopping 66 goals. It could be there were several players who had over-indulged three days earlier.

West Ham conceded eight to the league leaders, Blackburn, while finding the net themselves just twice, and over at Anfield Liverpool ran six past Stoke.

Burnley were also in form up front, claiming six against none other than Manchester United; Chelsea scored five in their joust with Blackpool, and there was an even divide of eight in West Brom’s home match with Tottenham.

The scoreline was the same at Molineux and the City Ground, Wolves sharing six with Aston Villa, and the Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United tie also finishing 3-3. The other Sheffield – Wednesday – beat Bolton 3-0. Compared with the winners and others, it could be said Leicester had a bit of an off-day, scoring just two in the defeat of Everton.

The reverse fixtures were played two days later, and feeling more comfortable in their Old Trafford surroundings, Man U beat Burnley 5-1. And Ipswich recovered to beat Fulham 4-2, while Chelsea’s one at Stamford Bridge was enough to avenge their defeat by Blackpool. 

Liverpool went on to take the title, finishing four points clear of Man U; and having mixed the good with the very bad, Ipswich couldn’t avoid returning to the Second Division. Ramsey was now in charge of the England team and wouldn’t have long to wait for the greatest success of his career. 

ANSWERS

Know Your Initials: 1 Curtis Strange, 2 Community Shield, 3 Cora Staunton, 4 Chris Shields, 5 Charlie Swan, 6 Chris Sutton, 7 Calvin Smith, 8 Civil Service, 9 Clarence Seedorf, 10 Cusack Stand.