More Amusing Sportsmen's Nicknames Quiz

Answer: Dissa

Neil Pointon was a left back from Nottinghamshire who played for nine teams including Scunthorpe United, Everton, and Manchester CIty between 1981 and 2003. His nickname at some clubs was "Dissa", a pun on his name suggesting he was Disappointing. This feels rather unfair for a solid player who had over 600 professional matches including a spell in Scotland with Hearts.

Answer: Thirty-six

Billy Twelvetrees is a versatile rugby union back, from Chichester, who plays at centre or outside half. He has played over 20 times for England from 2013 to 2015, and his clubs include Gloucester and Leicester Tigers. It was at Leicester that Twelvetrees acquired his nickname of thirty-six, from the club captain Geordan Murphy, the Ireland international, who said that Twelvetrees sounded like "Twelve threes" in an Irish accent.

Answer: Bow Wow

Hank Arft, from Missouri, was a Major League Baseball player between 1948 and 1952 for the St Louis Browns. His best season was in 1951. His nickname "Bow Wow" came from the similarity of the sound of his surname to a dog's bark.
Many thanks to datsmeharse for suggesting this one.

Answer: Picca

Graham Dilley was a Kent-born fast bowler who represented his home county, Natal, and Worcestershire in first class cricket. He played 41 tests for England between 1979 and 1989. Highlights of his career include the legendary 1981 Headingley Ashes test where he scored 57 in a partnership with Ian Botham that turned the match around against incredible odds.

He became England's chief strike bowler, with 138 wickets at an average under 30. Dilley also made significant contributions in one day internationals.

His surname of "Picca" is a pun on his surname - Piccadilly is one of the most famous roads in the centre of London.

Answer: Judy

Jason Puncheon was born in Croydon in the south of England, and played for 15 clubs in a career from 2003-2024 which ended in Cyprus, where he became a manager. Puncheon's English clubs included Crystal Palace, Barnet, and Milton Keynes Dons. He had the distinction of scoring a goal in all four of the top English divisions and an FA Cup final, and playing over 200 games in the Premier League.

His nickname "Judy" is punningly based on his surname - "Punch and Judy" is a traditional English seaside puppet show.

Answer: Fitteran

Born in Sydney, Alan Turner was an opening batsman who represented New South Wales between 1968 and 1978. He scored over 700 runs at 29.5 in 14 tests for Australia, with a top test score of 136 against the West Indies. Alan Turner's nickname, "Fitteran" was a pun on his surname. A fitter and turner is a professional engineer who builds and maintains industrial machines.

Answer: Tumble

John Dreyer was born in Northumberland, and played nearly 500 matches for clubs including Luton Town, Stoke City, and Oxford United between 1984 and 2003. At Bradford City, Dreyer helped the club get promoted to the Premier League in 1999. The nickname, Tumble, is a pretty straightforward pun on Dreyer's surname - tumble dryer.
Thanks to runaway_drive for suggesting this one.

Answer: Hill Billy

Emil Bildilli was born in Indiana, and represented the St Louis Browns in 41 games between 1937 and 1941. A left hander as a pitcher, he batted right handed. Bildilli's nickname, "Hill Billy" rhymed with his surname, and also alluded to his upbringing in a tiny place called Shepardsville, with a population of around 200.
Thanks to datsmeharse for suggesting this player.

Answer: Tugga

Steve Waugh was one of the greatest cricketers of all time, a fierce competitor in all forms of the game. Born in New South Wales along with his twin, Mark, he played 168 tests for Australia (1985 to 2004), scoring nearly 11,000 runs at an average over 51.

He was also a useful fill in bowler, who took 92 test wickets. As a captain, Waugh led Australia to 15 out of an incredible run of 16 successive test victories. He was in the Australian teams who won two World Cups. His nickname is a pun on the sport of tug of war - "Tugga" Waugh.

Answer: Freezer

Marc Goodfellow was born in Derbyshire and played 235 professional matches between 2000 and 2014. His clubs included Stoke City, Bristol City, and Burton Albion. A left winger, he scored 31 goals. Goodfellow's nickname, "Freezer" is a pun on his surname, alluding to the popular congratulatory song "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow".