Double standards

Q&A

Q. Last season Arsenal and Chelsea represented England in the European Cup-Winners' Cup, yet neither had actually won the major domestic trophy of the previous season. Does this have any precedent?

A. For this to happen, an English side must win the European Cup-Winners' Cup, thereby qualifying as holders the next season, in the same season as a different side wins both the League Championship and FA Cup double.

Such a conjunction has only happened twice, the last time as a result of Manchester United winning the 1993-94 double and Arsenal the 1993-94 Cup- Winners' Cup. The precedent was set in the 1971-72 season when England's representatives in the ECWC were Liverpool, who lost to Arsenal in the 1971 FA Cup final and Chelsea, who won the 1970-71 ECWC and who therefore qualified again as holders. As winners of the League and Cup double in 1970-71, Arsenal played in the European Cup.

The 20th century's other doubles (Tottenham 1960-61, and Liverpool 1985- 86) took place in years when, respectively, there was no English winner of the Cup-Winners' Cup and English clubs were banned from Europe as a result of the Heysel stadium disaster. - Andy Burman, London W7

Sheffield FC, formed in 1855, are the oldest football club, while Notts County (formed 1862) are the oldest Football League club, but which is the world's second oldest team?

A. According to the European Football Yearbook, the German club VFL Bochum were formed in 1848. If true, this would obviously make them the oldest club, with Sheffield FC in second sport, while Hallam FC would share third place with TSV 1860 Munich. Both date from 1860.

The 1975 Hamlyn Book of World Soccer claimed Queen's Park were the oldest club in Scotland (1867), while the oldest in the present Premier Division are Kilmarnock (1869). As for Wales, Wrexham seem to be the oldest. They were formed in 1873, two years earlier that Newtown, Llanidloes Town and Chirk AAA. - Tim Adams, Liverpool

ANSWERS PLEASE

Q. Who were the last football team to win the Premier League or the old First Division Championship whose first strip was stripes? - T Lydon, Sunderland

Q. Aston Villa have just been drawn away in the FA Cup for the ninth consecutive time. Yet even this does not surpass their sequence of 12 consecutive away ties in the same competition between 1977 and 1984. Has any other club had such an unenviable sequence, or conversely enjoyed a long run of home ties. - Robin Kettle, Edgbaston

Q. The Wales fly-half Arwel Thomas plays for Bristol. When did Wales last field a player who represented a club outside the Principality apart from London Welsh? - David Steele, Carlisle

Q. How many of our sportsmen and women have been elected to the House of Commons as MPs? - Kevin Maguire, Batley

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