Q From Ally McConnell: "Can you please name the Ayr United player who holds the British League Goalscoring record achieved in season 1927-28 which was the same season Dixie Dean was scoring 60 goals in England?"

A This was Jimmy Smith who scored 66 league goals for Ayr United that season. Counting friendlies he scored 84 in all in 50 matches. Previously with Dumbarton Harp, Clydebank and Rangers (for whom he played just two League games), Smith later went on to play for Liverpool, Tunbridge Wells Rangers, Bristol Rovers, Newport County, Notts County and Dumbarton.

There is a misconception that he was a flop in England yet he scored 38 league goals for Liverpool in 61 matches. In his two seasons at Anfield he was top scorer one season and 2nd best the next.

Q John Owen writes: "After my earlier query about Morton's record of consecutive league wins, I am asking about East Stirling's run of losses. What is the record for consecutive league defeats, and are East Stirling anywhere near beating the record?"

A They’re on their way. Third Lanark lost their last 21 League games in 1964-65 and the first two the following season for a total of 23 in succession. At the time of writing (April 2004), 'Shire have lost 19 in a row. So as far as East Stirling are concerned it’s ‘watch this space.'

Q Craig Kerr asks: "The McGrory versus McCoist debate has been raised again and no work is getting done! Can you please list their various attributes / scoring feats to allow for a comparison?"

A You’ll never settle it. I suspect followers of one team will always favour their man over the other no matter how much “evidence” is produced to the contrary!

Briefly, Jimmy McGrory scored more League goals than anyone else in Scottish football. Ally McCoist has scored more than anyone else in post-war Scottish football. McCoist is credited as being top scorer in Europe twice. McGrory was also top scorer in Europe twice. McCoist has scored more goals in Old Firm fixtures than any other player. McGrory scored more goals in the Scottish Cup than any other player. McCoist won far more Scotland caps than McGrory. McGrory scored far more goals in a season than McCoist.

Q Michael Brown's query is: "Can you name the last all-Scottish team to win the Scottish Cup?"

A It was May 16th 1987 and the team in question was St Mirren who fielded 13 Scots (including substitutes) thus: Money, Wilson, Winnie, Cooper, D Hamilton, B Hamilton, Abercromby, Lambert (Fitzpatrick), I Ferguson, McDowall (Cameron), McGarvey.

They defeated Dundee United 1-0 thanks to a goal from Iain Ferguson nine minutes from the end of extra time.

Q Ger Harley asks: "How many times has a Scottish side won a European tie on away goals?"

A Scottish teams have won just five times on away goals. Rangers v Sporting Lisbon CWC 71-72, Dundee United v Anderlecht UEFA Cup 79-80, Dundee United again v Rapid Vienna European Cup 83-84, then twice last season - Livingston v Vaduz and Celtic v Celta Vigo both in the UEFA Cup.

A rather poor record, seeing as our clubs have lost by this method on 25 occasions!

Q Mike Donaldson wonders: "Have Celtic broken every record going this season?"

A No they haven't. There's a popular misconception among Celtic supporters that their recent unbeaten run has seen every record in the book tumble to the Bhoys but it just isn't so. Yes, they have set some new and remarkable records. At the time of writing (March 2004) they have set new records for the most consecutive victories in the top flight, the most consecutive victories in a single season in Scotland and the longest unbeaten home run of any Scottish side.

BUT...... by drawing with Motherwell on March 14th their winning streak ended at 25 in succession - exactly the same as Morton managed between April 1963 and February 1964.

The longest unbeaten League run ever is 62 games between 1915-17 - a record held by Celtic themselves and one they are only just over halfway towards reaching. In Europe they have now played 18 games since their last home defeat - against Ajax. But from March 1969 when they lost to AC Milan to December 1983 when Nottingham Forest triumphed, Celtic played 34 home games in Europe without loss. Admittedly, three of those matches were at Hampden but they still count.

And in what will probably be a vain attempt to stop the Bhoys heads from swelling even bigger, I can confirm that six consecutive away defeats in the Champions League is also a new, if unwanted, record!