Observe the Globe by Awinger

Puzzle explanation

The extra words in across clues gave the message “Recent FA cup winners; first Letter of total wins”. Clashes in the grid formed the names of the most recent teams to win the FA Cup, each being replaced by the first letter of the team’s number of wins, as follows (in grid order): Arsenal 13, Liverpool 7, Man. City 6, Everton 5, Wigan 1, Chelsea 8, Portsmouth 2, Man. United 12, Spurs 8. The extra words in down clues, with spacing adjusted, gave “Seven years ago; managed; chaired; scored”, referring to Wigan’s sole victory, beating Manchester City 1-0 on 11 May 2013, with Roberto Martinez as manager, Dave Whelan as chairman and Ben Watson scoring the single goal. Their surnames formed a goal shape in the grid, within which the O for Wigan’s clash was marked with a cross. The title hinted at a Spot the Ball competition, though in this case the “ball” (O) was visible.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer Explanation
Across
1   KINESES (KANE’S SIDE) * − D(ele) − A(lli’s)
7 Recent STAFFERS GAFFERS with ’ST for G
13   ECUSA ACCUSE * − C
14 FA TIPPLE TIP + PELE − E
16   ALLELE (sm)ALL ELE(phants)
17   POLITE POLICE with T for C
18 cup ORSEILLE OR + SEE around ILL
19   HONKER HER around OK around N
21   CYMATIUM C(od) + MAY * + I in TUM
22   LEAMED LEA + MED
23   OVERTOILED (ROOTED EVIL) *
24 winners ENLARGE GENERAL *
26 first BASHES H in BASE + S
27   STANZE SIZE with TAN for I
30   TRAMWAY (RAM + W) in TAY
33   CHROMING R in (C + HOMING)
35   ENTICE ENTIRE with C for R
37 Letter HUE H(arsh) U(psetting) E(d)
38 of RISING RING around IS
40 total SIGHTSEERS H in TIGRESSES *
42 wins MOTORSPORT MOT + ORS + PORT
44   CINEMA MAC(h)INE *
45   ROTUNDED RED around DONUT *
46   REATE (sta)RE AT E(legant)
47   RED WINES RED + SWINE with S moved later
48   SPURNES (EDMUND SPENSER) * = (SPURNES + MENDED) *
Down
1   KETONE (KEEN TO) *
2   ICE RUN (NICE + RU) with N moved down
3   ALARUMS ALAS around RUM
4   SADIE IE after SAD
5   ÉTALAGE AGE after LATE *
6   BILLMEN BILL + M + EN
7 Seve SPLEEN S(ee) P(layers) L(ose) + E’EN
8   ALL ONE L in ALONE
9   FAILOVER FAIR around LOVE
10 NY ERIE (Upp)ER I E(xplored)
11   RETREE RE + TREE
12 ear SPEEDS PEED in S(tud)S
15 sag MELANOS (A + SOLEMN) *
20 Oman KISMETS MET in KISS
25 aged AT TIMES I’M in (A TEST) *
26 Chai BRIGADE BADE around RIG
27   SCOUTHER SCOUT + HER
28 Reds’ THRONE NOR < in THE
29   INSEMINATES (MEATINESS IN) *
31 cored AURATE U(sed) in (pe)AR + ATE
32   YESSES SESS < after YE
34   WANION (WAN + IRON) − R
36   CHARRS CHAOS with (R + R) for O
39   IRID I + (DID with R for D)
41   CHALLAN CLAN around HAL
43   TAW WAT <
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