THE THIRD WAY
I was idly leafing through a reference book the other day and came across a reference to Third Lanark doing something (getting relegated, I think) in 1965. This surprised me as I had always taken that name to be rather like The Wanderers in England - a name in the early records, but long out of existence. What happened to them? asks Alan Cooper
What happened to them indeed. As you suspected, Third Lanark were relegated at the end of the 1964-65 Scottish First Division campaign, losing a spectacular 30 of their 34 matches and ending up with seven points. Sadly, within two years, the club was declared bankrupt, thrown out of the league, and dissolved in the courts.
Just how the club ended up like that was never properly ascertained - fans still claim boardroom corruption to this day - but the net result was plain enough, and the death knell sounded after a 2-2 draw away to Stranraer in 1967. Thirty-four years on, they're still the last Scottish club to go under - let's hope Airdrie don't join them.
It was a sorry end to the scarlet-shirted Glasgow club, which had enjoyed no little success in the early years of Scottish football. The Third Lanarkshire Volunteers - also known as Third Lanark, Thirds, the Warriors, and the Hi-Hi - were founder members of the Scottish League, and won the championship in 1904 and the Scottish Cup in 1889 and 1905 (beating Celtic and Rangers respectively).
Their odd nickname of the Hi-Hi can, we think, be attributed to the fact that their ground, Cathkin Park, enjoyed spectacular views of Glasgow, situated as it was on a rocky knoll in the southside of the city. The site of the ground is now a municipal park, and some of the terracing still exists. Frankly, it's a bit eerie.
LITTLE BROTHERS TRYING TO MAKE IT BIG
At the moment in Italy, Christian Vieri's little brother Massimiliano and Roberto Baggio's little bro' Eddy are playing together for Serie B side Ancona. Are there any other younger brothers of big name players attempting to do likewise? asked Martin Casey.
Don't worry Martin, there are plenty more brothers around. Joseph Vess points out that Youssouf Hadji (younger brother of Coventry's Mustapha) and Egutu Oliseh (same of Borussia Dortmund's Sunday) play for the French Second Division side AS Nancy Lorraine.
Meanwhile, closer to home, Matthew Pike is convinced that Darren Huckerby's younger brother was last seen playing for Telford United. And Paul Gorman reckons that David Winters, the younger brother of Aberdeen forward (and occasional Scotland international) Robbie Winters is in the youth squad of Dundee United. "Does this count?" he asks. Well, why not?
DRAWS, DRAWS, DRAWS
Is there any evidence that awarding three points for a win has made the game more exciting? Are there less draws than before the change? Would any English championships have been decided differently under the old system? asks Stuart McGill
In 1980-1, the final year the English league used the old two-point system, there were 118 draws in the old First Division. The next year, with the new system introduced, there were 121.
Perhaps they just needed to get used to it. What about the 1994-95 Premiership table, the last time the same number of matches were played? Er, 134 draws.
Whether this is more exciting or not is entirely up to you. But changing the points system made no difference to the destination of any championships post 1982.
However in the 1974-75 season three points for a win would have made a difference. That season Derby County came top with 53 points, ahead of Liverpool and Ipswich with 51. But as Neil Emms points out, Ipswich won 23 games, compared to 21 for Derby and 20 to Liverpool, and under the three points for a win system Bobby Robson's men would have won the title on goal difference, after finishing level on 74 points with Derby.
WHY DO WATFORD HAVE A MOOSE ON THEIR BADGE?
Why, if their nickname is The Hornets, do Watford have a moose on their club badge? asked Martyn Amos.
"The moose is actually a hart - a male deer - which represents the hart part of Hertfordshire," says Tim Beesley, from Berkhamsted, Herts.
"I've no idea why the spelling is different, lost in the mists of time no doubt," he continues. "But I do know it is on the badge to represent the fact that for a very long time Watford were the only league club in Hertfordshire. Of course, this is no longer the case as Watford have been joined by Barnet.
"This is a relatively recent badge, as I think I'm right in saying the Watford badges of the 60's and 70's had a hornet on them," he adds.
And the reason why Watford are called the Hornets? As Alan Brydon points out, that's because of their distinctive yellow and black kit.
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS - BUT STILL RELEGATED
Which (old) First Division team scored more goals than the other 21 but still ended up relegated? asks Eric Diver.
You're talking about Manchester City - who else? - who were relegated in 1937-38, despite scoring 80 goals in 42 matches, three more than champions Arsenal.
CAN YOU HELP?
"Bristol Rovers haven't yet won at home in the league this season. I know various teams have gone a whole season without winning away, but has a team ever gone a whole season without winning a home game?" asks Andy Birbeck.
"France's Ligne magique of Thuram, Desailly, Blanc, Lizarazu, with Barthez in goal, have never been on the losing side as a unit, and has carted off the World Cup and European Championship to boot. Has there ever been a more successful international back line?" asks Tom Paternoster.
"Is it true that veteran striker Roddy Grant (formerly of St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Partick Thistle, Cowdenbeath, Ayr United and currently with Brechin City) has scored against every team in the Scottish Premier, First, Second and Third Divisions? And if so, presumably this is a unique feat and would justify Grant's nickname The Legend?" asks Patrick Laughlin.
"With Manchester United now packing over 67,000 per home league game, will their average home league attendance this season be an English League record?" asks Vic Ardern.
