Andrew M., Julie Fleeting says she's "sorry."
I will start with a tip of the cap to our stalwart challenge participant, Andrew M. This week’s questions were tough- particularly the Ross County questions- and he did very well. Andrew answered seven of the questions correctly, we are currently engaged in a polite discussion about two other questions (we might both be right!), and he only missed question 10. All of the answers can be found after the jump.
1. We all know that Steve Zungul was the all-time leading goal scorer in American indoor soccer when he retired, but what other goal scoring distinction does he still hold?
In addition to leading Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) in goals on numerous occasions, “The King of All Indoors” also won an outdoor goal scoring title in 1983 with Golden Bay Earthquakes of the North American Soccer League (NASL). Another indication of Zungul’s dominance? In 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1986 he was the MISL MVP. What happened to him in those two missing years (1983 and 1984)? He was the NASL MVP. Yeah.
2. Only three men have lead American “top-flight” soccer in scoring on three occasions- who are they?
Giorgio Chinaglia (NY Cosmos, NASL, 1978-1981), Fabri Salcedo (Brooklyn Hispano, ASL2, 1938, 1941, 1946), and Archie Stark (NY Field Club, ASL1, 1923-24: Bethlehem Steel, ASL1, 1924-25: Kearny Irish, ASL2, 1934)
Archie Stark...who looks WAY too much like every old person in my family
3. What player scored the most “top flight” goals in American soccer history?
Archie Stark scored 253 goals in just his 10 years in playing for teams in the ASL and that is enough to give him the title. However, there is documentation for at least 64 more goals in other “major” leagues in which he played, and there are no records for the first nine years of his career! Fun Fact: Stark began his career a year after he moved to the U.S. from Scotland- he debuted at age 14!
4. In what league did the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Giants all play?
The American League of Professional Football (1894)
5. What what goal scoring distinction do Hector Alvarez and Ariel Gonzalez hold?
Both have been top scorers in the Mexican 2nd Division on four occasions. They’re also both from Argentina- although Gonzalez recently became a Mexican citizen.
Lookin' good, Predrag, lookin' good...
6. Only five players in MLS history have led the same team in scoring five times- who are they and with what teams did they accomplish this feat?
Jason Kreis (Dallas Burn/F.C. Dallas), Preki (Kansas City Wiz/Wizards), Ante Razov (Chicago Fire), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), and Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution).
7. Who is the only Ross County “alum” playing in the EPL?
Charlie Adam of Blackpool played for the Staggies 15 times in all competitions (scoring twice) while on loan from Rangers during the 2004-2005 season.
8. Who is the only Ross County “alum” to play professionally in the United States?
Trinidad and Tobago international Brent Sancho- most recently of the USSF-D2 Rochester Rhinos- played for the Staggies for the last three months of their 2007-2008 season in the SFL Second Division (County won the league and bounced right back to the SFL First Division). Sancho made two appearances for the club.
Not quite as rare as his Ross County card
9. Who is the only player to play in the top leagues in England, Scotland, France, Italy, and the U.S. AND play for Ross County?
Believe it or not, the player in questions is not an obscure one! Mark Hateley- part of the “three generations of footballers- question a while back not only played 32 times for England (scoring 9 goals), but he also played for Coventry, Portsmouth, A.C. Milan, Monaco, Rangers, QPR, Leeds, and Hull City before reaching the pinnacle of his career and appearing in 2 matches for the Staggie in September of 1999.
10. What former Ross County player scored 100 goals in 100 full international matches?
This would be none other than Scottish International Julie Fleeting, MBE. Fleeting debuted for Scotland as a 17 year old in 1996 and went on to score 100 goals in her first 100 caps. She has since increased her totals to 114 goals in 117 matches. In addition to playing for Ayr United, San Diego Spirit (WUSA), and now Arsenal of the Women’s Premier League, she also played for the Staggies’ Ladies side for a few years. The highlight her time in Dingwall was clearly getting to sit down for post-training chat in the RCFC tea room (on the right, just down the hall from the reception area) with Fuse. Among the other RCLFC players who enjoyed Fuse’s witty banter and irresistible charm on that day were coach Fiona McWilliams and twins Shelley Grant (currently married to former Staggie and now Watford and Scotland player, Don Cowie) and Suzanne Grant (who now has 65 caps of her own!).
And now I will retreat to the “Challenge Bunker” where I will be safe from the wrath of Andrew M.!
See you next week…
1) I read right over the “indoor” part of the question. His NASL days didn’t register because I was already including them.
8) I need to read the wiki pages better, because I clicked on Sancho’s. Maybe because I already had Moffat down for #8 and I was still looking for someone who’d played in Italy for #9 it didn’t register.
10) I figured it was either a lady international, or some sort of futsal/beach soccer player.