Across the Great Divide Quiz / Test | UK

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1. There are numerous London derbies due to the plethora of clubs there, but probably the most bitter rivalry is that between Millwall and West Ham United. Which of these players began his career with Millwall, went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United (winning the European Champions Cup with the latter), before doing the unthinkable in 2004 and signing with West Ham?

Answer: Teddy Sheringham

Sheringham signed for Millwall in 1983 as a teenager and scored their first ever home top-flight goal in 1987. A big-money move to Nottingham Forest ensued in 1991, followed by two spells with Tottenham Hotspur, in between which he scored a vital goal for Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

As his career was winding down, he signed for Millwall's most hated rivals, West Ham, who they play in the "Dockers derby".

2. The "Steel City derby" takes place between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, with the city more or less equally divided by red and blue factions. Which striker, who was actually born in the city, began his career at United and later signed for Wednesday, following a successful spell with Queens Park Rangers?

Answer: Simon Stainrod

Stainrod began his career with Sheffield United as a teenager in 1976, before a short spell with Oldham. He moved to QPR in 1980, and helped them reach the 1982 FA Cup Final. The departure of QPR manager Terry Venables eventually led to Stainrod leaving Loftus Road, and he returned to his home city, signing for Wednesday in 1985. Probably to the delight of Sheffield United fans, his career at Hillsborough was short and unsuccessful, and he quickly moved on to Aston Villa.

3. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a fierce rivalry in the "North London derby" since the former relocated from Woolwich to Islington in 1913. Which England international defender incurred the wrath of Tottenham fans when he moved directly to Arsenal in 2001, which resulted in him being nicknamed "Judas"?

Answer: Sol Campbell

Sol Campbell made his professional debut for Tottenham in 1992, and made over 250 league appearances for the club. When his contract expired in the summer of 2001, he stated his intention to stay at White Hart Lane, only to backtrack and sign for Arsenal.

This led him to becoming a hate figure amongst Spurs fans, even long after he retired from the game. He enjoyed a successful career with the Gunners, winning two league titles and two FA Cups.

4. Newcastle United and Sunderland have been contesting the "Tyne-Wear derby" since 1883. The rivalry between the opposing supporters was summed up in 2013 when a police horse was attacked by a Newcastle "fan". A number of players have played for both clubs, including which midfielder who moved directly from Sunderland to Newcastle in 2014, causing enormous bitterness amongst supporters of the former club?

Answer: Jack Colback

Colback was born in Newcastle, but opted to join the Sunderland youth setup as a youngster. He made over 100 first team appearances for the Black Cats. When his contract expired in 2014, he opted to move to his boyhood heroes, Newcastle, on a free transfer, with a predictable reaction from the Sunderland supporters.

5. The "Edinburgh derby" between Heart of Midlothian (Hearts) and Hibernian (Hibs) has been contested, often quite bitterly, since 1875. Quite a few players have played for both clubs, despite the rivalry, but which one is unique in winning the Scottish League Championship with both clubs?

Answer: Gordon Smith

Gordon Smith is the only player, up until 2018, to have won Scottish Championship medals with three different clubs. He was part of Hibs' "famous five" forward line of the late 1940s/early 1950s, alongside Willie Ormond, Lawrie Reilly, Bobby Johnstone and Eddie Turnbull.

He won three titles with the Easter Road club between 1948 and 52. He moved across the city to Hearts in 1959, and won the title there in 1959/60. A move to Dundee in 1961 again saw him winning the top flight title at the first attempt.

6. Cardiff and Swansea are the two largest cities in Wales and are rivals in many spheres, particularly sport. Cardiff City and Swansea City, who play there football in the English leagues, have contested the "South Wales derby" since 1912, and the rivalry intensified in the second decade of the 21st century when both clubs had spells in the top flight after many years in the doldrums. Which player, nicknamed the "Golden Boy of Welsh Football", played for both clubs in a period stretching from 1947 to 1968?

Answer: Ivor Allchurch

Ivor Allchurch was born in Swansea in 1929, and signed for his hometown club, known at the time as Swansea Town, in 1947. He scored 24 league goals for the Swans before a big money (at the time) move to Newcastle United in 1958. Although he continued to find the the back of the net at St James' Park, his spell there coincided with a decline in the club's fortunes, and, in 1962, he returned to Wales, to Cardiff.

He spent three seasons at Ninian Park before ending his career back home in Swansea.

7. The "Merseyside derby" takes place between city rivals Liverpool and Everton. Although many families in Liverpool contain fans of both teams, no prisoners are taken on match day! Which England international moved directly from Liverpool to Everton in 1991, and became only the second player at the time to have scored for both clubs on derby day?

Answer: Peter Beardsley

Peter Beardsley played as either a midfielder or striker, and was a prolific goalscorer throughout his career. After spells at Carlisle, Vancouver Whitecaps and Newcastle, he joined Liverpool in 1987. He helped them win two championships and an FA Cup, before, in 1991, becoming one of the few players to move directly to local rivals Everton.

He was top scorer at Goodison Park in his first season there, but, in 1993, financial difficulties saw him being sold to his hometown club of Newcastle.

8. Aston Villa and Birmingham City contest the "Second City derby", and, in the early 21st century, this has been a fixture tainted with fan violence. Which midfielder, who helped Villa to European Cup success in 1982, became one of the few players brave enough to move directly between the clubs when he joined City in 1984?

Answer: Des Bremner

Scotsman Des Bremner began his career with Hibernian in 1972, moving south of the border to join Aston Villa in 1979. He was part of their squad which won the club's first League Championship for 71 years in 1981, and was in the team which defeated Bayern Munich in the European Champions Cup final the following year.

He moved across the city in 1984 and was a stalwart for the Blues over the next five years before moving to Fulham on a free transfer in 1989.

9. The "Old Firm derby" between Glasgow rivals is perhaps one of the fiercest, not only in Scotland or the UK, but in Europe as a whole. Sadly the rivalry is not just football related, but is rooted in religious sectarianism that was still endemic in the west of Scotland in the early 21st century. Celtic were founded by Irish Catholics in 1888, whilst Rangers, formed in 1872, are traditionally staunchly Protestant. Which player actually united both sets of fans in mutual hatred for him, when, as a Catholic ex-Celtic player, he signed for Rangers in 1989?

Answer: Mo Johnston

Maurice "Mo" Johnston began his career with Glasgow's "third" club, Partick Thistle, in 1981. After a brief spell in England with Watford, he joined boyhood idols Celtic in 1984, scoring 52 goals in 99 league appearances over the next three seasons. After a brief spell in France with Nantes between 1987 and 1989, he was set to return to Celtic Park, when a last minute decision to join Rangers instead rocked Scottish football.

He became only the second player since World War 2 to play for both clubs, and the first Catholic to sign for Rangers since World War 1.

His signing led to many diehard Rangers fans burning their scarves and tearing up their season tickets. The player himself received death threats, but would actually go on to have a relatively successful spell at Ibrox before moving to Everton two years later.

10. The "Manchester derby" between City and United first took place in 1881, when the clubs were known as St Mark's and Newton Heath respectively. United were traditionally the more successful club for decades until City began to turn the tables in the second decade of the 21st century. Which striker, who had a long and successful career with United, went into Manchester folklore in 1974, when, after joining City from United, scored the winning goal in a derby fixture to relegate his former team?

Answer: Denis Law

Denis Law was born in Aberdeen in 1940, but never played professionally in Scotland. He began his career with Huddersfield before joining Manchester City in 1960. He left for Italian club Torino a year later, but, within twelve months, was back in Manchester, this time with United.

His 11 year career at Old Trafford saw him win two league titles, an FA Cup, and the 1968 European Champions Cup. United's fortunes began to decline in the early 1970s, and Law moved back across the city to Manchester City for the 1973/74 season.

In City's final game of the season, at Old Trafford, Law's late backheeled goal gave City a 1-0 win to confirm United's relegation (results elsewhere meant they would have gone down anyway). Law refused to celebrate the goal, was substituted, and pitch invasions by United fans led to the game being abandoned.

Source: Author Dizart

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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Across the Great Divide Trivia Quiz

British football is full of intense local rivalries, normally referred to as "derby" matches. This quiz looks at some players who have incurred the wrath of fans by playing for both clubs in these particular games.

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