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| Which international football team have played at the most 'home' grounds? | Which international football team have played at the most 'home' grounds? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| “Which international football team has played in the greatest number of stadiums in their own country?” asked Martin Peters last week. “Could it be Spain?” | “Which international football team has played in the greatest number of stadiums in their own country?” asked Martin Peters last week. “Could it be Spain?” |
| Well, it could be. But it isn’t. The Spanish national side has played all over the country – from Santander in the north, to Huelva in the south via Las Palmas, Tenerife, Gijon, Mérida and many others. All in all, Spain have played in 41 different cities in the country. Nailing down exactly how many stadiums they have played in is rather more difficult – for example, Madrid has hosted 61 Spain games at six grounds, with the Bernabéu, Vicente Calderón, and the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in Getafe hosting matches as well as Real’s old grounds Estadio de Chamartín and Campo de O’Donnell and Atléti’s old Estadio Metropolitano. | Well, it could be. But it isn’t. The Spanish national side has played all over the country – from Santander in the north, to Huelva in the south via Las Palmas, Tenerife, Gijon, Mérida and many others. All in all, Spain have played in 41 different cities in the country. Nailing down exactly how many stadiums they have played in is rather more difficult – for example, Madrid has hosted 61 Spain games at six grounds, with the Bernabéu, Vicente Calderón, and the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in Getafe hosting matches as well as Real’s old grounds Estadio de Chamartín and Campo de O’Donnell and Atléti’s old Estadio Metropolitano. |
| Related: Footballers sent off in the final match of their careers | The Knowledge | Related: Footballers sent off in the final match of their careers | The Knowledge |
| And 43 have been held in Seville, split between five arenas – the Olympic Stadium, Real Betis’s Estadio Benito Villamarín and Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán and former homes: Campo de la Reina Victoria and Estadio Nervion. All in all, we count that Spain have played in 55 stadiums around the country. | And 43 have been held in Seville, split between five arenas – the Olympic Stadium, Real Betis’s Estadio Benito Villamarín and Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán and former homes: Campo de la Reina Victoria and Estadio Nervion. All in all, we count that Spain have played in 55 stadiums around the country. |
| England, meanwhile, have played at 52 – including Leamington Road in Blackburn, the Aigburth Cricket Club, and The Oval – and Scotland have played in 17 different home arenas. | England, meanwhile, have played at 52 – including Leamington Road in Blackburn, the Aigburth Cricket Club, and The Oval – and Scotland have played in 17 different home arenas. |
| Mark van Dijk reports that South Africa have played full internationals in 30 different venues since their post-apartheid readmission to Fifa in 1992. And Paul Carver would like to propose South Korea, who, “according to the KFA website, have played 300 home internationals at 34 different grounds”. | Mark van Dijk reports that South Africa have played full internationals in 30 different venues since their post-apartheid readmission to Fifa in 1992. And Paul Carver would like to propose South Korea, who, “according to the KFA website, have played 300 home internationals at 34 different grounds”. |
| Jason Crawford points out: “China have played matches in 35 different cities that I have kindly put into alphabetical order for you: Anshan, Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chenzhou, Chongqing, Dalian, Foshan, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Hangzhu, Harbin, Hefei, Hohhot, Hong Kong, Jinan, Kunming, Macau, Nanchang, Nanjing, Nanning, Qingyan, Qinghuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xi’an, Xiaogan, Yiwu, Zhengzhou, Zhongshan and Zhuhai.” | Jason Crawford points out: “China have played matches in 35 different cities that I have kindly put into alphabetical order for you: Anshan, Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chenzhou, Chongqing, Dalian, Foshan, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Hangzhu, Harbin, Hefei, Hohhot, Hong Kong, Jinan, Kunming, Macau, Nanchang, Nanjing, Nanning, Qingyan, Qinghuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xi’an, Xiaogan, Yiwu, Zhengzhou, Zhongshan and Zhuhai.” |
| But way out ahead in this department are the United States. As of January 2011 the USMNT had played in 72 different cities around the country – New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, Fresno, Albuquerque, Pontiac, Greensboro, Fullerton, Mission Viejo, Fenton … the list goes on. Clayton Freeman points out that the US national side have played in 35 different stadiums since 2010. | But way out ahead in this department are the United States. As of January 2011 the USMNT had played in 72 different cities around the country – New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, Fresno, Albuquerque, Pontiac, Greensboro, Fullerton, Mission Viejo, Fenton … the list goes on. Clayton Freeman points out that the US national side have played in 35 different stadiums since 2010. |
| In fact according to this Wikipedia list, the US have played internationals at 102 different stadiums. That said, cross-reffing with details on the American Soccer History Archives site, this may well factor in the odd unofficial game, and some of the stadiums listed hosted behind-closed-doors matches. Some good background on why the US side move around so much here. | In fact according to this Wikipedia list, the US have played internationals at 102 different stadiums. That said, cross-reffing with details on the American Soccer History Archives site, this may well factor in the odd unofficial game, and some of the stadiums listed hosted behind-closed-doors matches. Some good background on why the US side move around so much here. |
| If anyone can furnish us with a full list of venues – or find a national team to have played at even more home grounds – do drop us a line at knowledge@theguardian.com. | If anyone can furnish us with a full list of venues – or find a national team to have played at even more home grounds – do drop us a line at knowledge@theguardian.com. |
| Brotherly shove (3) | Brotherly shove (3) |
| In last week’s Knowledge, we looked at the footballer sent off for fouling his brother. But there are more … | In last week’s Knowledge, we looked at the footballer sent off for fouling his brother. But there are more … |
| “An anecdote from Switzerland in the mid-70s,” begins Andy Duggan promisingly. “There were two Lusenti brothers, one playing for Neuchâtel Xamax and the other for Lugano (in the match I saw). They were both playing centre-back for their respective teams, as I remember, so (probably) didn’t actually come up against each other during the game, but after the final whistle they met up in the centre circle, and the Neuchâtel brother, Bruno, promptly nutted Lugano’s Gérard, laying him out cold, furious with the treatment his brother had been meting out to his Xamax team-mates during the game. I aways thought Sunday lunch must have been a highly convivial affair round their mum’s place.” | “An anecdote from Switzerland in the mid-70s,” begins Andy Duggan promisingly. “There were two Lusenti brothers, one playing for Neuchâtel Xamax and the other for Lugano (in the match I saw). They were both playing centre-back for their respective teams, as I remember, so (probably) didn’t actually come up against each other during the game, but after the final whistle they met up in the centre circle, and the Neuchâtel brother, Bruno, promptly nutted Lugano’s Gérard, laying him out cold, furious with the treatment his brother had been meting out to his Xamax team-mates during the game. I aways thought Sunday lunch must have been a highly convivial affair round their mum’s place.” |
| Winless run in top flight | Winless run in top flight |
| “Crystal Palace have not won any of their last 12 games,” wrote Jeremy Nash a couple of weeks ago. “What’s the longest winless run of a team that has survived in a top flight?” | “Crystal Palace have not won any of their last 12 games,” wrote Jeremy Nash a couple of weeks ago. “What’s the longest winless run of a team that has survived in a top flight?” |
| “Sheffield United, in 1990-91, made a terrible start to their first top-flight season for a generation,” writes Darren Beach. “After 16 matches they were already eight points adrift with just four points, all draws, before finally winning at the 17th attempt on 22 December with a 3-2 win at Bramall Lane over Nottingham Forest. | |
| “Flush with success, Dave Bassett’s men then proceeded to start the new year with an astonishing Leicester-last-year-esque run of 11 wins from 15 games, and were up to 12th by the end of March. They eventually finished 13th, a full 12 points clear of the drop, paving the way to the most successful period in the club’s modern history, with a top 10 finish the following season and the Steel City FA Cup semi-final the year after.” | “Flush with success, Dave Bassett’s men then proceeded to start the new year with an astonishing Leicester-last-year-esque run of 11 wins from 15 games, and were up to 12th by the end of March. They eventually finished 13th, a full 12 points clear of the drop, paving the way to the most successful period in the club’s modern history, with a top 10 finish the following season and the Steel City FA Cup semi-final the year after.” |
| It was the Blades’ post-Christmas form in 1990-91 and 1991-92 which prompted the editors of the club programme to start the 1992-93 season in August with this festive little number: | It was the Blades’ post-Christmas form in 1990-91 and 1991-92 which prompted the editors of the club programme to start the 1992-93 season in August with this festive little number: |
| “Wimbledon went on a 14-game winless streak in 1995-96, but recovered to finish 14th,” writes Michael Peters of the other notable names. “Sunderland also went 14 games without success in the middle of the 2009-10 season, but went one better, finishing 13th. | “Wimbledon went on a 14-game winless streak in 1995-96, but recovered to finish 14th,” writes Michael Peters of the other notable names. “Sunderland also went 14 games without success in the middle of the 2009-10 season, but went one better, finishing 13th. |
| “Manchester City didn’t win for – you guessed it – 14 games in 2003-04, but managed to claim a positive goal difference in their eventual 16th place finish, while Coventry’s 14-game hoodoo in 1995-96 ended with enough time remaining for them to stay up on goal difference. West Brom, meanwhile, saw 15 games without success in their 2004-05 Great Escape season.” “And last season in the Bundesliga, Hannover managed 16 without a win but finished in a quite respectable 13th.” | “Manchester City didn’t win for – you guessed it – 14 games in 2003-04, but managed to claim a positive goal difference in their eventual 16th place finish, while Coventry’s 14-game hoodoo in 1995-96 ended with enough time remaining for them to stay up on goal difference. West Brom, meanwhile, saw 15 games without success in their 2004-05 Great Escape season.” “And last season in the Bundesliga, Hannover managed 16 without a win but finished in a quite respectable 13th.” |
| Knowledge archive | Knowledge archive |
| “A passionate Rangers fan I know swears blind that Nikita Khrushchev went to a game between Kilmarnock and Rangers in the 1960s. Can this be true?” asked Andrew Farmer back in 2009. | “A passionate Rangers fan I know swears blind that Nikita Khrushchev went to a game between Kilmarnock and Rangers in the 1960s. Can this be true?” asked Andrew Farmer back in 2009. |
| “Doubtless Rangers fans all over the world are emailing you right now to tell you that Mr Farmer’s friend has in mind the visit of Alexey Kosygin – then Russian premier – to Rugby Park (home of Kilmarnock) to watch the home team lose 2-1 to Rangers in early 1967 (Khrushchev had fallen from power in 1964),” writes William Hogg. “There’s a YouTube clip of it here. Also see here.” | “Doubtless Rangers fans all over the world are emailing you right now to tell you that Mr Farmer’s friend has in mind the visit of Alexey Kosygin – then Russian premier – to Rugby Park (home of Kilmarnock) to watch the home team lose 2-1 to Rangers in early 1967 (Khrushchev had fallen from power in 1964),” writes William Hogg. “There’s a YouTube clip of it here. Also see here.” |
| And if that doesn’t convince you, here’s Roger Sigrist. “I remember it well because I unexpectedly saw the special train going through Crossmyloof Station on its way from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, knowing that it contained both Kosygin and my dad, a detective sergeant in the Glasgow CID,” recalls Roger. “My dad, having been issued with a revolver during WW2, had been trained as a firearms officer – very rare in those days. In 30 years’ service he signed out a gun three times!” | And if that doesn’t convince you, here’s Roger Sigrist. “I remember it well because I unexpectedly saw the special train going through Crossmyloof Station on its way from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, knowing that it contained both Kosygin and my dad, a detective sergeant in the Glasgow CID,” recalls Roger. “My dad, having been issued with a revolver during WW2, had been trained as a firearms officer – very rare in those days. In 30 years’ service he signed out a gun three times!” |
| For thousands more questions and answers take a trip through the Knowledge archive | For thousands more questions and answers take a trip through the Knowledge archive |
| Can you help? | Can you help? |
| “My local non-league team, Margate (National League South) have had a player sent off in each of their last five matches (all lost, unsurprisingly). A record?” muses Matthew Rosedon. | “My local non-league team, Margate (National League South) have had a player sent off in each of their last five matches (all lost, unsurprisingly). A record?” muses Matthew Rosedon. |
| “In 2004, a realignment regarding the Conference (now National League) caused Redditch United and Lewes to be promoted the equivalent of two levels in the football league pyramid (Southern Football League Division One West and Isthmian League Division One South respectively),” writes Ben Roberson. “Has there ever been a non-realignment reason for a team to be promoted more than one division in a season, and what is the largest number of divisions a team has been promoted upwards in one season?” | “In 2004, a realignment regarding the Conference (now National League) caused Redditch United and Lewes to be promoted the equivalent of two levels in the football league pyramid (Southern Football League Division One West and Isthmian League Division One South respectively),” writes Ben Roberson. “Has there ever been a non-realignment reason for a team to be promoted more than one division in a season, and what is the largest number of divisions a team has been promoted upwards in one season?” |
| “This weekend, Bath City were frustrated at home in a 2-2 draw with Bishop’s Stortford,” writes Edd H. “The match was refereed by a Mr Sam Allison, who happened to be a former City player. Has this ever happened before at a higher level, or is this the first occurrence of a former player returning to one of his previous clubs as a referee?” | “This weekend, Bath City were frustrated at home in a 2-2 draw with Bishop’s Stortford,” writes Edd H. “The match was refereed by a Mr Sam Allison, who happened to be a former City player. Has this ever happened before at a higher level, or is this the first occurrence of a former player returning to one of his previous clubs as a referee?” |
| “In last weekend’s Dundee v Dundee United derby, a sub that had come on for a sub … was subbed,” writes Gary Grant. “Dundee’s Thomas Konrad replaced the injured Kostadin Gadzhalov in the 16th minute, before being injured himself in the 40th minute. Konrad was then replaced by Nicky Low. Low was then chosen as the player to be replaced by sub goalie David Mitchell when goalkeeper Scott Bain was (harshly) sent off in the 52nd minute. Thus, the game stats will read: Gadzhalov (Konrad16’ (Low 40’ (Mitchell 52’ ))) Has this ever happened before? Has there been a more extreme situation – even in a friendly where perhaps a sub of a sub of a sub was subbed, as it were?” | “In last weekend’s Dundee v Dundee United derby, a sub that had come on for a sub … was subbed,” writes Gary Grant. “Dundee’s Thomas Konrad replaced the injured Kostadin Gadzhalov in the 16th minute, before being injured himself in the 40th minute. Konrad was then replaced by Nicky Low. Low was then chosen as the player to be replaced by sub goalie David Mitchell when goalkeeper Scott Bain was (harshly) sent off in the 52nd minute. Thus, the game stats will read: Gadzhalov (Konrad16’ (Low 40’ (Mitchell 52’ ))) Has this ever happened before? Has there been a more extreme situation – even in a friendly where perhaps a sub of a sub of a sub was subbed, as it were?” |
| Send your questions and answers to knowledge@theguardian.com or get in touch via Twitter @TheKnowledge_GU | Send your questions and answers to knowledge@theguardian.com or get in touch via Twitter @TheKnowledge_GU |