Now You Know Big Book of Sports. Doug Lennox

Who holds the record for longest professional playing career?

      Sir Stanley Matthews, the only English player to have been knighted before retirement, was born in 1915 and started his soccer career in 1932, playing for Stoke City FC at the age of 17. He stayed with them until 1947, then moved to Blackpool FC until 1961, at which point he returned to Stoke City FC. He played his final game with Stoke on February 6, 1965, just after his 50th birthday, achieving the record of longest professional career at 33 years. Considered to have been one of the greatest players ever, Matthews died in February 2000.

       Who were the Bubsy Babes?

      Recruited and trained in the 1950s, the Busby Babes were a group of young Manchester United players who progressed from the club’s youth team into the first team under coach Matt Busby. The nickname for the group, said to have been coined by Manchester Evening News journalist Tom Jackson, refers to the players who won the league championship in seasons 1955–56 and 1956–57 with an average age of 21 and 22 respectively. In 1958, eight of the Busby Babes were killed while returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade. After making a refuelling stop, the airplane they were in crashed while trying to take off from a slushy Munich airfield.

       What was the “Hand of God”?

      The “Hand of God” was the hand of Argentine player Diego Maradona — his left hand to be precise. In the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, as Argentina faced England, Maradona scored in the 51st minute on what appeared — at least to referee Ali Bennaceur — to be a header. However, virtually everyone else in attendance knew, or at least suspected, that, as Maradona and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton jumped for a ball that was coming down into the goal area off a high kick, Maradona had punched the ball in with his raised left hand. At the post-game press conference, Maradona claimed that the goal was scored “un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Dios” (“a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”). It turned out it was a lot with the hand of Maradona, as press photos appeared over the ensuing days clearly showing him punching the ball. Argentina defeated England 2–1 and went on to win the tournament. Maradona later admitted on TV that he’d hit the goal in with his hand.

       The Munich Air Disaster of 1958

Fatalities S	urvivors
Geoff Bent	Johnny Berry
Roger Byrne	Jackie Blanchflower
Eddie Colman	Bobby Charlton
Duncan Edwards (survived, but died in hospital 15 days later)	Bill Foulkes
Mark Jones	Harry Gregg
David Pegg	Kenny Morgans
Tommy Taylor	Albert Scanlon
Liam “Billy” Whelan	Dennis Viollet
Walter Crickmer (club secretary)	Ray Wood
Tom Curry (trainer)	Matt Busby (manager)
Bert Whalley (chief coach)

       What is the George Best Egg?

      George Best, who died of illness related to alcoholism on October 3, 2005, was one of the greatest players ever to have come out of Northern Ireland. In June 2006, Sarah Fabergé — great-granddaughter of Russian Imperial Jeweller Carl Fabergé — was commissioned to create the George Best Egg as a tribute. A limited edition of 68 eggs — which feature the figure of a soccer player inside — were produced, with all profits from the sale of the eggs going to the George Best Foundation, which raises money for local football and research into liver disease and alcoholism. The first egg from the collection is now on permanent public display at the Belfast Airport, which was renamed the George Best Airport in May 2006.

       Quickies …

       Did you know …

      that for the first anniversary of George Best’s death, Ulster Bank issued one million commemorative five-pound notes?

       Why did French captain Zinedine Zidane head-butt Italian player Marco Materazzi during extra time in the 2006 World Cup final?

      In one of the most infamous moments in modern international soccer, French player Zinedine Zidane ended his international career and destroyed any hopes his team might have had to win the 2006 World Cup by head-butting Italian player Marco Materazzi in the chest at the 1:10 minute mark of the tournament final. The attack saw Materazzi crumple to the ground in agony and garnered Zidane a red card. Materazzi later said that after he had grabbed Zidane’s jersey, Zidane offered it to him sarcastically. Materazzi then replied, “I prefer the whore that is your sister,” which resulted in the head-butt. Italy went on to win the match 5–3 in a shootout. Zidane retired from professional play after the incident.

       Quickies …

       Did you know …

      that because it competed for attention with the men’s game, England’s FA banned women’s soccer teams in 1921?

       Who were the Dick, Kerr Ladies?

      The Dick, Kerr Ladies was the most famous early women’s football team. Founded in Preston, Lancashire, England, during the First World War, it was a works’ team for the munitions manufacturer Dick, Kerr & Co., owned by W.B. Dick and John Kerr. They played friendly matches with other women’s teams during the war to raise money for charity.

       What was the English Ladies’ Football Association?

      In reaction to the FA’s banning of women’s football, the English Ladies’ Football Association

      (ELFA) was formed. The first meeting of the ELFA took place at Blackburn on December 10, 1921. At that time there were approximately 150 women’s football clubs in England. The representatives of 25 clubs attended the initial meeting. Sixty attended the second, held in Grimsby. ELFA existed for about two years, and held one challenge cup tournament with 24 teams entered in competition. The winners were Stoke Ladies, who defeated Doncaster and Bentley Ladies 3–1, on June 24, 1922.

       Quickies

       Did you know …

      that England’s FA did not recognize women’s soccer until 1971?

       Who is Ann Kristin Aarønes?

      Ann Kristin “Anka” Aarønes is a retired Norwegian soccer player. She first played for Spjelkavik IL, then for Trondheims-Ørn, and the Norwegian national team. Later she played for the WUSA’s New York Power, during the first season. She was top scorer at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

       Quickies

       Did you know …

      that in 2004, when Pelé selected his list of the 125 “greatest living footballers” to celebrate the centenary of FIFA, only two women made the cut: Americans Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm?

       Who is Delma Gonçalves?