Blyth spirit flags in five

Q&A

Q. Which is the lowest non-league club in football's pyramid to have reached the FA Cup first round, and which non-league club, post-war, went the farthest.

A. As I was born within a quarter-mile of their Croft Park home, I am delighted at the opportunity to recall the exploits of Blyth Spartans in the FA Cup during the 1977- 78 season. Blyth figured in the draw for the quarter-finals, at home to the eventual runners-up Arsenal, having beaten League opposition in the form of Chesterfield and Stoke City and drawn 1-1 in the fifth round at Wrexham on 18 February 1978. This remains the farthest any non-league team has reached in the competition.

The result at Wrexham was actually a travesty of justice. Wrexham's late equaliser came from a twice-taken corner, the flag having been blown away from its moorings on the near-to-frozen pitch just as the first corner was struck. There is no provision for retaking a set piece in the rules apparently when this sort of thing happens. It was not even a corner in the first place, the ball having been skilfully played off the Wrexham forward by Keith Houghton (later of Carlisle United), if I remember correctly.

The prospect of a home tie with Arsenal was similarly dangled in front of the Spartans during their previous record run in the FA Cup six years earlier. Blyth had also beaten two league teams, Crewe and Stockport (whom they meet in the second round once again), before drawing with Reading at home in the third round. A 6-1 annihilation duly followed leaving Reading to face Arsenal in the fourth round. - Mike Dodds, London SE21

Q. In a clip from the recent Match of the Seventies series, I noticed Peterborough wearing "Posh" on their jerseys. Are there any other examples of British clubs wearing nicknames rather than club crests on their jerseys?

A. On at least one occasion Portsmouth have worn shirts with "Pompey" emblazoned above the shirt number. I seem to remember that the match when this occurred was a Coca-Cola Cup replay against Manchester United on 26 January 1994. Each United player had his name above the squad number. - Grahame Bennett, Dorchester

ANSWERS PLEASE

Q. I remember a few seasons ago there was a one-off "race" between the most prolific wings of both rugby codes, including Underwood, Offiah, etc. Who won? And how would the fastest wings compare with professional sprinters for sheer pace. - Dimitri Ttofi, Birmingham

Q. Can anyone please tell me why Bayern Munich appear to have ditched their traditional red kit for the strange cerise and magenta stripes, which they are currently sporting? - Stephen Clark, Liverpool

Q. Shrewsbury beat Marine 11-2 in the first round of the FA Cup. What is the biggest defeat a non-league club, having reached the second round, has suffered, or indeed what is the biggest winning margin a non-league club has gained. - Frank Rampton, Farnborough

Q. Which golfer has played the the most strokes at a hole in a professional or top-class amateur tournament? - Denis Turner, Scunthorpe

If you know the answers to any of these questions or have a question of your own, write to: Q & A, Sports Desk, Independent on Sunday, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5DL.

Fax: 0171-293 2894