Another quiz show with football teams

[Rumford]

Who remembers 'Quiz Ball'?

My question is does the expression 'Route One to goal' come from this show. The basic pattern of the show was two teams of four footballers being asked questions. There was a model football pitch with flashing lights showing four routes to goal. Route One was was one hard question, Route Two two easier questions and so on.

Its been many years since this was on and the 'Route One' expression only seems to have been used in commentaries more recently - is it just a coincidence?

[elgroucho]

Rumford, you may well be right, but I can't answer the question.

Interstingly, the expression back to square 1 comes from the days when football was only covered on radio and listeners could have a copy of the Radio Times in front of them where there was a picture with the pitch divided up into boxes. Square 1 was where the goalkeeper was, and so when he had the ball the commentator would say that the ball is back to square 1.

Therefore, it srikes me as being entirely possible that your theory on route 1 could well be correct.

[Hobbeshorse]

At the risk of entering geekdom, I remember Quiz ball really well.  Route 4, 4 easy questions, route 3, 3 slightly harder etc. Route one and the straight line to goal lit up on the really cheap set.  One difficult question and stright for goal.  Think it has more to say about the commentators age than fashionable expressions!  Of course, they may also have dug it up for UK TV gold, everything else has been!