“I was recently visiting family in Northern Ireland and went to see Larne FC play at their home ground, Inver Park. The nearby St Cedma’s church stands directly beside, and the church tower is visible behind the stand. Google Maps shows the walking distance between church and stadium as 0.2 miles. Could this be the closest stadium-to-church relationship in football?” asks Ryan Peter Reed.
We had loads of answers to this question – thank you one and all – so let’s crack on.
England
The most popular answer, by far, came from the L4 postcode. “The church Of St Luke the Evangelist is enclosed on both sides by Everton’s Goodison Park, and according to Google Maps is only 200 ft (0.03 miles) away,” writes Chai from Atalanta. “Everton do not play games early on Sunday to avoid clashing with the church’s services.”
The north of England is a fertile ground for this particular question. “St Mary’s RC church in Burnley is 0.2 miles away from Turf Moor,” writes Marcos Garcia. “The nearest church to Preston’s Deepdale is St Gregory’s, about 200 yards to the north,” adds Michael Haughey.“St Mary’s church is 500 feet from Bramall Lane in Sheffield!” exclaims Nick Harland.
Michael Haughey returns with an example from deepest Surrey. “Dorking Wanderers have a prominent church near their Meadowbank ground. The parish church of St Martins is a Grade II*-listed building and the spire is 210 feet high.” As you can see here.
“Heaton Stannington of the Northern League Division One, who play at Grounsell Park, have a corner flag just 16 metres from St George’s URC church,” suggests David Bullock. “The club even calls that end of the ground the Church End.” Which makes sense, let’s be honest. And before we leave England, let’s not forget West Ham (1904-2016) at the old Boleyn Ground/Upton Park.
@TheKnowledge_GU Re: football stadiums in proximity to churches, the Boleyn Ground (RIP) backed on to Our Lady of Compassion Catholic church. Pity the many poor unknowing couples emerging onto the steps for wedding photos at 2.45 on a Saturday. pic.twitter.com/5HoH5zmvt8
— pennywisepeter (@pennywisepeter) March 22, 2023
Scotland
“Religion and football in Glasgow has many negative connotations,” says Graham Brown, “but here are two examples of the close physical ties between the two.”
1) Since Queen’s Park have now adopted Lesser Hampden as their on-off home ground, the distance from the playing surface to the wall of Mount Florida church is around 20m, as can be seen in some of the pictures of the stadium in Google Maps. A pedestrian leaving the stadium would need to walk less than 120m from the ground to the front entrance of the church.
“2). The distance from the main stand entrance at Firhill Stadium, home of Partick Thistle, to Queen’s Cross church is also about 120m.”
Re grounds near churches, 236 feet between Bellslea Park and Fraserburgh South Church pic.twitter.com/o5StXprHzm
— Neil (@NeilAMatheson) March 28, 2023
“If you’ll allow me to extend the scope to include churchyards and graveyards,” says Joe Murphy, “then the North Stand of Celtic Park overhangs Janefield cemetery (also known as Eastern Necropolis). So if you sit in the top rows you are effectively in the stadium and the graveyard at the same time.”
Another good one. (As the crow flies) @HurlfordUtd Blair Park shares a wall with a church pic.twitter.com/J3NZl6lqBM
— Fitbawbag (@GilesGraeme) March 28, 2023
@TheKnowledge_GU re churches near football grounds: it's also 0.2 miles (walking distance) from Coldside parish church in Dundee to both Dens Park and Tannadice.
— MSJM (@MSJM71223419) March 22, 2023
@TheKnowledge_GU re churches very close to football grounds: take a look at Hearts' ground, Tynecastle, there's a Church of Scotland church right by the Gorgie Road entrance.
— Fiona Z (@FionaM283) March 22, 2023
Ireland
“Richmond Park, home of St Patrick’s Athletic, and St Michael’s church in Inchicore are on opposite sides of Emmet Road,” says Luke Ryder, “and the fans in the south stand are probably closer to the church pews than to the north terrace.”
Europe
“Though football is a religion for most Catalans, even their idols at FC Barcelona need a place to say a quick prayer before performing their miracles on the field,” writes Chai from Atalanta. “Since 1958, the Camp Nou has had a chapel, with a replica of the Virgin of Montserrat, beside the tunnel leading up to the pitch. Fans can also visit it as part of the guided tour of the stadium.”
“Pisa’s Arena Garibaldi’s south stand is just 120 metres walk from the Chiesa di Santo Stefano,” says James Vortkamp-Tong, “which is also home to a very friendly cat!”
Rest of the world
“Providence Park (the home stadium of the Portland Timbers) is across the street from Zion Lutheran Church, a mere 364 feet (according to Googl, at least),” says Edward Dean. “I don’t believe the church is visible from the stadium itself (just as well, since it’s not particularly distinguished or attractive), but it’s certainly convenient.”
Goals but no cigar (2)
In last week’s Knowledge we looked at players who scored at least four goals but didn’t end up on the winning side. There are two more hard-luck stories (or maybe weird-luck stories) worth mentioning.
“You appear to have forgotten about Chris Nicholl, who scored all four goals when Leicester City drew 2-2 with Aston Villa on 20 March 1976,” writes Ian McPhillips. “I don’t think the fact that the two for Leicester were own goals should disqualify him; on the contrary, it adds to the achievement. I believe it rankled with him that he was not presented with the match ball!”
Another for your “scored loads of goals but didn’t win the game” - Tony Philliskirk scored 5 for Peterborough against Kingstonian in an early 90s FA cup game. Finished 9-1 but replayed behind closed doors after the K’s goalie was hit by a coin
— steve (@steve07820991) March 30, 2023
Peterborough did at least win the replayed game 1-0, with the goal scored by … you guessed it – Worrell Sterling.
Sacked in two countries in a season (cont)
A few weeks ago we looked at managers, such as Scott Parker, who had been sacked in two different countries in the same season. Regular Knowledge correspondent Dirk Maas has another one to add to the file. “Javier Clemente was sacked by Real Sociedad in October 2000,” begins Dirk. “He didn’t have to wait long for a new managerial position. A month later, Clemente was appointed as coach of Olympique Marseille. However Marseille struggled in the league – eventually finishing 15th – and the Spaniard was dismissed in April 2001.”
Knowledge archive
“What team holds the record for the shortest time between winning a league championship and getting relegated?” pondered Scott Cuthbert in 2009 (and a couple of you this week, in reference to Leicester City). “Has any team ever been relegated the year after winning the title (excluding relegations for rule-breaking)?”
They certainly have, Scott – in fact we were able to track down no fewer than three teams who were relegated the year after winning their domestic leagues.
Plenty of readers emailed to point out that Manchester City, having finished the 1936–37 season a good 10 points clear (at a time when teams received only two points for a win) at the top of the First Division, dropped out of the English top flight in 1937–38. Stunningly, and despite finishing second from bottom, City actually scored 80 goals in 42 league games that year – more than any other side in the division and only four fewer than they had managed the year before. They did also concede 77, but still.
The feat was emulated, albeit with rather less scoring, by FC Nürnberg – who won the Bundesliga in 1967–68 before finishing second-bottom the following year. “It must be noted that there was only a 10-point difference (again with two points being awarded for a win) between last place and second,” points out Eberhard Spohd. More recently, Herfølge BK, coached by the former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen, won the Danish title in 2000 and dropped out of the Superliga in 2001. “The title Herfølge won in 2000 is still the only major trophy the club has ever won,” notes Troels Witter.
Can you help?
“With seven Premier League teams (Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Leeds, Manchester City, Southampton and Wolves) currently managed by Spanish coaches, has one nationality coached so many teams in another country’s league?” asks Huw Roberts.
The England starting XI v Ukraine on Sunday was drawn from 10 different clubs. When was the last time we saw 11 different clubs represented at the start of an England international?
— Howard Groves (@howard_groves) March 28, 2023
“When Nottingham Forest drew with Manchester City in February, the scorers were translations of each other: Silva (Bernardo) is the Latin for Wood (Chris). Any other examples of translating scorers (any language)?” wonders Brian Coyle.
Last night Chile played vs Paraguay. On the pitch we had Bravo, Sanchez, Vidal and Medel. They first played together for Chile 07/09/2008 in a WCQ match against Brazil, 5314 days ago. Any other group of players having played for their country in an almost 15 years span?
— Jean-Luc (@jeanlucp) March 28, 2023
“Notts County could finish the season with 112 points in the National League this season and still finish second, as Wrexham are on course for 118 points,” notes Mel Lynam. “What is the most points a team have amassed and not won their division – and what is the highest number of points a team have won while failing to get promoted?”
There have been testimonials in which a player represented one team in the first half, and the other team in the second half (e.g. Pelé in a friendly between Santos and the NY Cosmos). Has there ever been a friendly in which multiple players switched between the two sides?
— Ben (@BenJaneson) March 28, 2023
“Before winning on Saturday, the mighty Southend United had managed to lose seven consecutive games by just a single goal. Is this a record?” asks Laurence Imich.
What is the highest position achieved in the English league (in the vaguely modern era) by a club that has never had one of their players capped for England?
— Alex G (@alexiterick) March 28, 2023
“Trailing 1-0 to Fenerbahce and down to 10 men last Sunday, Besiktas scored four goals and eventually won 4-2. Has a team has ever scored more with a player sent off?” wonders Bogdan Kotarlic.
In a similar vein, Patrick Houghton asks: “What’s the greatest numerical disadvantage a team has been at, but still gone on to win? Have nine men ever beaten 11? Have eight?”
This is interesting @TheKnowledge_GU - which players in England have played under the most prime ministers?
— Ed Barker (@edbarkerAIC) March 31, 2023
Mail us your questions or tweet @TheKnowledge_GU
