"I notice Stuart Taylor, of Arsenal/Villa/Manchester City reserve keeper fame, has played a grand total of 86 matches in 14 years," says Will de Freitas. "Which professional footballers have made fewer appearances in a full career? Only counting players in consistent employment and good health. I'd imagine the 'winner' will be a goalkeeper. What is the record for an outfield player?"

The phrase 'consistent employment and good health' rules out Kieron Dyer, who was suggested by Herbie Cullen. Besides, you'll be surprised to read that Dyer has played over 400 games in his career, although he has managed only 40 in the last four seasons.

Darren Anderton, generally perceived as the Sicknote's Sicknote, actually played 569 times between 1990 and 2008. And even though Winston Bogarde effectively gave up football in 2000 so that he could count his money, he still made over 200 appearances in a 16-year career.

We thought there might be a case for perennial splinter-gathered Steve Harper, although he has crossed the white line 235 times in the last 16 years. Other semi-regular substitute goalkeepers include Carlo Nash (278 appearances), Steve Simonsen (320) and Neil Moss (250).

There is one man who comes near Taylor's total, however, and he's not a goalkeeper. "Ipswich Town's Tommy Parkin must be a candidate for the outfield crown," says John Chubb. "Although a loyal professional at Portman Road from 1973 to 1987, the defender only made a total of 79 first-team appearances, nine of them coming in loan spells at Grimsby and Peterborough. He also failed to score a single goal, although a further 17-game loan spell in the NASL with Conneticut Bicentennials resulted in him finding the net twice.

If we count Parkin's spell at Connecticut –which we probably should, what with the Guardian trying to crack America and all – that makes a total of 96. So Taylor remains the benchmark with 86 appearances. Can you improve on that? If so, send an email to knowledge@theguardian.com

RIDICULOUS FINES (2)

Last week we looked at some of the more absurd reasons for players being fined. They included overtaking a manager, playing a square pass, kicking fresh air, stealing a suitcase and sending a text message. Yet we missed the story of Barry Fry clamping down on something far more sinister: optimism.

"I remember a ridiculous fine in the build-up to Chelsea v Peterborough in the FA Cup in 2001," says Mark Poole. "One of Barry Fry's Peterborough players came up to him in training and said 'I think we can beat them.' Naturally, Fry 'fined him a week's wages for being so stupid.'" Fry also said 'If we win I'm going to run round London naked.' Sadly, Chelsea won 5-0."

FOOTBALLER-INSPIRED ALBUM COVERS (3) AND FOOTBALLERS REFERENCED IN SONGS (2)

For the last couple of weeks we've been looking at musical references to football, and you've kindly sent in a few more examples.

"I'm surprised these have been missed but the Proclaimers have at least two songs referencing their beloved Hibernian," says Daniel Redpath. "The first is 'Cap In Hand', which has the line: 'I can understand why Stranraer lie so lowly, They could save a lot of points by signing Hibs' goalie' (Andy Goram). Also the song titled 'The Joyful Kilmarnock Blues' (written about the club's relegation battle with Killie) contains the line 'I'd never been to Ayrshire, I hitched down one Saturday; sixty miles to Kilmarnock, to see Hibernian play'. The more famous 'Sunshine on Leith' doesn't refer directly to Hibs but is written about the club's battle with bankruptcy in the early 1990s and the subsequent rescue by Sir Tom Farmer."

Further afield comes this from Anton Marks. "Here is a link to a song by one of the most famous and successful Israeli recording artists ever, Arik Einstein," says Anton. "He manages to include all the big stars of the 1990 World Cup, several of the greats of the game like Pele and Johan Cruyff, plus various top Israeli footballers from the past."

"Leicester band Family put out a greatest hits album in the 70s that had the lads swarming around a goalmouth in Leicester City's colours," adds Graham Fuller. "And there's a reference to Newcastle United in The Five Bridges Suite by The Nice. 'Take me to St James's Park, Where St James's people park their feet, On a Saturday, United there they stand, Now everybody's dad's there, With a bottle in his hand'. Also in Genesis' The Battle of Epping Forest, Peter Gabriel sang 'Georgie moves in on the outside left'. That'd be George Best."

Other suggestions include The English Disease by the Barmy Army (thanks to Adam Marshall), as well as Vinnie Jones and the magnificent Panini by Half Time Oranges (thanks to Matthew Brown).

KNOWLEDGE ARCHIVE

"Liverpool have gone through this season losing only two league games yet still finished second," noted Graeme Kennedy in 2009. "In the 1995-96 SPL Celtic lost only one game but still finished runners-up. Has a team ever gone a whole season undefeated but failed to win the league?"

"Perugia went undefeated all season in 1978-79 and still finished second in Serie A to Milan," writes Dan Seppings, among myriad others. "They drew 19 games out of 30 that season. The conclusion? Serie A was very boring for a number of years." What they'd give for excitement like that now, though, eh?

This dubious achievement can also be claimed by four other teams in major European leagues. In 1951 Spartak Sofia finished a point behind CDNV Sofia, despite winning 14 and drawing eight of their 22-game programme. Benfica were the next unfortunates, losing out on goal difference to Porto in 1977-78. After Perugia's antics of 1978-79 in Italy, Galatasaray were next to experience this singular type of frustration, trailing Besiktas on goal difference in 1985-86 after a 36-game unbeaten streak. And only last year Red Star Belgrade finished a whopping five points behind their rivals Partizan Belgrade after 33 games of mellow fruitlessness.

For thousands more questions and answers take a trip through the Knowledge archive.

CAN YOU HELP?

"What is the highest combined total of the squad numbers for a starting XI in a Premier League game?" wonders George Chilvers.

"I was recently watching the third Test between India and the West Indies," says Manas Phadke. "I was quite surprised to see Billy Doctrove (who is an umpire) sitting in a stand named after him and wearing a Liverpool jersey & kissing the badge for the cameras. Are there any other umpires in international cricket (present or past) who have publicly pledged their allegiance to a football club?"

Send your questions and answers to knowledge@theguardian.com