Incident off the Ball

Q&A

Q During last Saturday's First Division game between Stoke City and Manchester City, the latter's former manager, Alan Ball, was the subject of verbal abuse from both sets of fans. Has there been any other instance of such vilification?

A. On the evening of Tuesday 6 May 1986, Charlton Athletic and Wimbledon met in a Second Division match before a packed Selhurst Park crowd. A general atmosphere of end-of-season celebration was continually punctuated by derogatory references to the then manager of Portsmouth, pipped for promotion to the First Division by these London clubs the previous Saturday. The manager's name? Alan Ball. - Steve Edbury, Oxford

Answers Please

Q. Last Saturday at Edgbaston, Nick Knight hit the first ball of the day and caught the last in the cricket match between England and Pakistan. Has this feat been achieved before in one-day internationals? - Jonathan Sanders, London NW8

Q. In the Arsenal v Chelsea Premiership match on Wednesday, Chelsea fielded only two Englishmen for most of the game - Dennis Wise and Andy Myers. Is this a record? - M Flynn, Westbury

Q. Is there any Flat racing in Russia? Which country hosts the most Flat or National Hunt meetings? - Kevin Maguire, Batley

Q. Is the Redferns International Removers Central Midlands League Travis Perkins Supreme Division the longest name in any sponsored football competition? - Mark Billingham, Dover

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