Misc

Quiz Ball (BBC)

A quiz programme screened on BBC1 in its evening schedule featured a team of four representing a football team from either the English or Scottish League and were allowed a guest supporter.

There were four routes to goal:
4 easy questions,
3 medium questions,
2 difficult questions
and 1 hard question.

After winning the opening kick off question the player chose a route to goal and answered the questions. The opposing team had one chance to tackle the player going to goal by pressing a buzzer prior to the player answering their last question. If they got it right they won possession but if it was wrong the challenge was unsuccessful and a goal was scored.

The route 1 question was not subject to tackle.

A group of Celtic fans/players won the tournament in 1969-1970 (congratulations lads).

First Round 2nd Match
Celtic 3	Sunderland 0
Cairney 2, Craig

Jim Craig player	Len Ashurst player
Billy McNeill player	Michael McGiven player
Willie Wallace player	Richard Pitt player
John Cairney guest supporter	James Bolam guest supporter

Semi Final 1st Match
West Bromwich Albion 1	Celtic 2
Ashman	Craig 2

Alan Ashman manager	Jim Craig player
John Osborne player	Billy McNeill player
Ray Wilson player	Willie Wallace player
Jeff Smith guest supporter	John Cairney guest supporter

after extra time

Final

Celtic 3	Heart of Midlothian 1
Cairney, Craig	Brown

Jim Craig player	Donald Ford player
Billy McNeill player	Jim Cruickshank player
Willie Wallace player	Alan Anderson player
John Cairney guest supporter	Eric Brown guest supporter

Source: http://www.btinternet.com/~m.d.pratesi/mp/quizball1969.html

Anecdote

Story taken from John Cairney's new book on his love of Celtic - 'The Sevenpenny Gate'.

Horse racing punters will appreciate Ken Smith’s piece in his diary in The Herald on a tale from Scots actor, John Cairney’s just published book about his lifelong love affair with Celtic FC: The Sevenpenny Gate. Cairney recalls being Celtic’s celebrity team member on BBC sports quiz, Quizball. There were graduates on the Celtic team, but Willie Wallace [former Celtic and Scotland star] had to make up the numbers after someone called off.

Wrote Cairney: “'Wispy' hadn’t opened his mouth, so we arranged to leave one question to him. It was: ‘Who or what is a Garryowen?' “We all knew it was a kick in rugby, but looked at Wispy to respond.

“He gulped, pressed his buzzer, and whispered tentatively: ‘The racing correspondent of the Daily Record?’"

Garry Owen, of course, being a tipster on the Record ...