Weekly Quiz: w/c 23 July - The Answers!

Time for the answers. Hard to believe that this is the final quiz of the close season. The summer gets shorter every year. Thanks to Imphistorian and Merthyr who assisted with question setting, and to everyone who took part.

1. City scored a measly 48 goals in 1923-24, but what was significant about Jimmy Bauchop’s goal at Wrexham on 12 March?

At 37 years 295 days, it made him the oldest goalscorer in the club’s history. Having finished joint top scorer on 12 with Archie Roe, that season also makes him the oldest top scorer in a season in the club’s history.

2. Which one-hit wonder became an airline pilot?

Former Scunthorpe midfielder Richard Kell, who joined the Imps on 5 December 2006 on a short-term contract after his release from Barnsley in the summer. Two broken legs in recent years had caused severe fitness problems and City let him go after six weeks. He retired immediately to train as a commercial airline pilot with Jet2.com.

The term ‘one-hit wonder’ refers to a mysterious ghost appearance by Kell as an 80th-minute substitute in the 2-2 draw at Accrington on 24 February 2007. Having left Lincoln in the middle of January, that would have been very difficult.

The answer lies in an error by the press. Paul Green joined Lincoln from Aston Villa on 23 January 2007 – the same week that Kell departed – and was allocated the No.6 shirt vacated by Kell.

3. What is Ben Futcher the only defender in the club’s history to have done?

Finish the season as City’s top scorer, which he did in 2002-03. He scored 11 in all competitions, and also finished top scorer in the League with 9.

The first defender to finish top scorer in the League was Steve Holmes, with 11 in 2000-01. However, Lee Thorpe’s six goals in the LDV Trophy made him the overall top scorer on 13.

4. During the Fourth Division game at Crewe on 26 November 1969, winger Dave Smith became the first player in the club’s history to be booked for…what? (Question set by Merthyr Imp.)

Kicking the ball away, which had been made a bookable offence at the start of that season. Smith had the minor consolation of scoring City’s goal in a 3-1 defeat.

5. Which City goalkeeper was conscripted as a Bevin Boy during WWII?

Ron Hewitt, who made three isolated appearances for City in 1948-49.

6. Which striker famously scored 15 goals in the first half of a season, and only one in the second half?

Gary Lund, in 1986-87. His downturn in form was a huge factor in City’s relegation from the League.

7. What was notable about City’s 2-2 draw with Rotherham Town on 16 March 1896?

It was Rotherham Town’s last ever home match, and the last Football League game to be played at their Clifton Grove ground. It was also watched by the lowest League crowd in Rotherham’s history, just 300.

Rotherham failed to gain re-election after finishing second from bottom of the Second Division, and folded immediately. The Rotherham Town that merged with Rotherham County in 1925 to form the current Rotherham United was a different club and played at a different ground.

The site of the Clifton Grove ground still exists, although it is now open land.

8. Who scored the hat-trick that wasn’t?

Walter Ponting, whose hat-trick in the Third Division North game at home to Gateshead on 2 September 1939 was expunged the following week when all football was suspended due to the advent of the Second World War.

He appeared in two of the first three fixtures of the new Regional League – East Midlands division which started in October (an 8-0 defeat at Chesterfield and a 7-3 defeat at Grimsby) and never appeared for the club again.

9. Which former player sued the club for unfair dismissal?

Matt Carmichael, who lost his job as kit man as a cost-cutting measure in 2011. He lost the case heard on 10 July 2012, the employment tribunal accepting that his redundancy was entirely due to the club’s dire financial position.

10. Who is this? What club record does he hold?

Shane Nicholson, who holds the record for the longest period of time between his first and his last appearances for the club. Nicholson made his debut at the age of 16 years and 111 days during the Littlewoods Cup game against Charlton at The Valley on 23 September 1986. His final appearance came during the League Two match at Macclesfield on New Year’s Day 2007, giving a gap of 20 years and 100 days between first and last appearances.

Writer: Scotimp