Saving the Orient six

Q&A

Whatever happened to Peter Shilton shortly after he played his 1,000th League match for Leyton Orient recently?

A. Shilton made five appearances after the Brighton match before sustaining a knee injury in the home game against Wigan. His place in the next match was taken by Luke Weaver, the 17-year-old England youth international. Thus, in the space of a week the oldest and youngest goalkeepers in the Football League this season appeared for Orient.

Weaver played only two games, having to be substituted in the second because of a head injury - the defender Andy Arnott replaced him in goal. The third choice Peter Caldwell was already injured, so Paul Hyde was signed on loan from Leicester City. As both Caldwell and Les Sealey kept goal for Orient earlier in the season, he became the sixth player to wear the the keeper's jersey. Perhaps there is a further question: has any team used more than six players in goal during a season? - Mark S Waters, Billericay

Q. HM the Queen is visiting Valley Parade, home of Bradford City FC, this month to open officially the ground's new Midland Road stand. In 1953, the Queen visited the cricket section of the Park Avenue stadium, although not the adjoining football ground. Are there any other instances of monarchs visiting professional football clubs?

A. On Saturday 29 October 1938 King George VI visited Carrow Road to watch the Second Division match between Norwich City and Millwall. He was introduced to both teams before the game, which had a crowd of 21,593. Millwall won 2-0, though, apparently, the King had left much earlier, after just 15 minutes of play. - Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby

ANSWERS PLEASE

Q. The present Test match between South Africa and Australia features two left-arm wrist spinners in Paul Adams and Michael Bevan. Has this been seen before? - Hugh Ashurst, Brackley

If you know the answers to any of these questions or have a sporting question of your own, write to Q&A, Sports Desk, Independent on Sunday, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5DL. Fax: 0171-293 2894