Simply Sims with Steve Sims:
CONGRATULATIONS to Hatters fan Alan Clarke – the electrician who was a bright spark on Mastermind on Friday night.
As you’ll see in the February 29 issue of the Luton News, Alan came out on top after he raced into the lead in the first round of the BBC quiz with his specialist subject of Luton Town: 1965 to the present day. Then his general knowledge was up to the test, allowing him to reach the semi-finals of the show with a score of 27, three points clear of his nearest challenger.
In all Alan, from Lincoln, scored 15 out of 17 on his Hatters questions, stumbling on the number of wins in the League One winning 2004/05 season (29) and who the Luton-born England international who signed for the club from Southampton and played an FA Cup semi-final against his former club (Kerry Dixon).
Luton Town historian Roger Wash tells me the number of wins question was the one that he – and a number of fellow supporters he has since spoken to – would have stumbled on if in the hot-seat themselves.
“It would have taken a guess on my part and I am not convinced I would have guessed right!,” he said.
“For supporters of a certain age the questions were quite easy but sitting in front of a camera brings with it a lot of pressure. He did very well especially when you add his general knowledge.”
For Town fans who did find it a bit easy. Here’s my own Simply Sims challenge to rival Mastermind...
1) In the famous 12-0 win over Bristol Rovers in 1936 (pictured), apart from Joe Payne with 10, name one of the other goalscorers for Town?
2) In the Division One relegation season of 1991/92, it took Town until the fifth game of the campaign to finally score a goal. Who got it?
3) Luton Town was formed in 1885 after the merger of Luton Wanderers and... which other team?
4) On October 29, 1985 who became the first side to beat Luton on their new artificial pitch?
5) In the first home match after the 1988 Littlewoods Cup Final win, which Town defender opened the scoring at the wrong end – against Watford!
Good luck. The answers will appear in my Simply Sims column in the Luton News on March 7. Athough if you’re desperate to find out before that then follow me on Twitter @simschat and direct message me requesting the answers.