Congratulations to Mark Harris and Rubin Colwill for their selection in the Welsh World Cup squad. Unbelievably, the tournament the nation has waited sixty four years for is now almost up on us – I just wish it was being played somewhere else, but, clearly, greed was the main factor in FIFA choosing to hold the game’s biggest showpiece in Qatar.
Cardiff City go into their final game before the World Cup under a cloud following a performance on Tuesday against Hull of the kind which will see us relegated if it becomes the norm.
The Blades looked as good as any side I’ve seen at this level this season in thrashing Burnley 5-2 last weekend, but then, as if to show what a mad league this is, they went and lost at home to a Rotherham side which was really poor in our recent victory over them at Cardiff City Stadium. However, Tuesday has severely knocked the faith I had in this squad and, even though we should have a stronger starting line up this time, I can’t see beyond another defeat I’m afraid.
Anyway, here’s the usual quiz with the answers to be posted on here on Sunday.
60.s This midfielder shared his name with a soap character and his surname with a television detective of this time. He clocked up over a hundred appearances for Sheffield United before crossing county lines to become a record signing for a club in blue that had a reputation for producing fine players in a certain position. A succession of knee injuries prompted his retirement at thirty one and he went on to have a long career on the coaching/management side during which he worked for both of the clubs he had played for. Who is he?
70s. The specialism of a very particular kind of orthopaedic surgeon perhaps?
80s. You start vile stew for example and go out on a wing. (5,6)
90s. This defender got into hot water while at Manchester City for publicly criticising manager Brian Horton. This may have played a part in his move to Oldham which didn’t work out and so he next signed for Sheffield United. His three years with the Blades were dogged by injuries from which he never fully recovered during his time with his next club which was based at the venue of a famous treaty from this decade, He managed two clubs, one of which shares its name with a UK number one hit from the sixties. Can you name him?
00s. Capped fifteen times for his country, this player made his first league start for City in a game against Sheffield United during this decade. He was loaned to Carlisle while with us and one of his clubs after leaving us was Colorado Rapids, do you know who he is?
10s. There is a link between two players loaned to Sheffield United in 2014 and 2021 and this week’s announcement of the Welsh World Cup squad, what is it?
20s. Currently with the River Islanders, he scored his first goal in senior football at Cardiff City Stadium for a team we usually beat (although we didn’t this time). Since then, he’s played his club football in three countries besides England, played for Sheffield United and scored for his country against Cyprus. Who is he?
Answers.
60s. Frank Barlow was a character in Coronation Street and there was an Inspector Barlow in Z Cars and a spin off show Softly, Softly. Frank Barlow was also a footballer who played for Sheffield United and Chesterfield.
70s. Tony Field.
80s. Steve Wigley.
90s. Michael Vonk played for Maastricht after leaving Sheffield United. He later played for Maastricht and then managed Dutch club Telstar – Telstar was a number one for the Tornadoes in 1962.
00s. Miguel Comminges made his first league start for City in a 0-0 draw at Sheffield United in August 2008. Comminges was capped fifteen times by Guadeloupe and never played a game for Carlisle while on loan to them from us in 2010.
10s. Ben Davies. Ben Davies, a right back who began his career at Shrewsbury, was loaned to Sheffield United in 2014 before signing for them permanently later that year. Ben Davies, a centreback who spent some time on loan at Newport County early in his career, was loaned to Sheffield United last season from Liverpool and is currently with Rangers. Ben Davies is also arguably Wales’ most important player currently and is regular starter for Spurs.
20s. Oliver Burke scored for Forest in a 1-1 draw at Cardiff City Stadium in December 2015. He’s had a lot of big money moves since then and played in Germany, Spain and Scotland – he’s currently playing in Germany again for Werder Bremen. Burke’s one goal for Scotland came in a 2-1 win over Cyprus.
