Connect 4 x 4

[Diable Rouge]

1. Ipswich, Leicester, Sheffield United, WBA - Only English clubs to have won the top-flight only once - Sean of the Shed.

2. Eintracht Frankfurt, Fiorentina, Partizan Belgrade, Reims - First four teams to lose European Cup finals to Real Madrid, without subsequently winning the competition - ursus arctos

3. Athletic Bilbao, Bohemian FC, Celtic, Internazionale - European top-flight clubs that have never been relegated - 3 Colours Red/Elguapo

4. BFC Germania, Genoa, Le Havre, Recreativo de Huelva - Oldest clubs in their countries - Ad Hoc.

[elguapo4]

Bohemian fc or Bohemians Prague?

[Me Old Flower]

I think I know the answer to Number 4, and possibly 2, but stumped on the others.

[ad hoc]

I don't even know what we're supposed to be doing

[Diable Rouge]

I think I know the answer to Number 4, and possibly 2, but stumped on the others.

If it helps, the answer to 3 is probably the easiest to work out.

[Diable Rouge]

I don't even know what we're supposed to be doing

What connects the four clubs in each case.

[ad hoc]

Number 4 could be added to with Sheffield FC?

[Sean of the Shed]

All the teams in Q1 have won the top division title only once.

[Diable Rouge]

Number 4 could be added to with Sheffield FC?

Indeed, but that would have given it away immediately!

[ursus arctos]

2 are the first four losers of European Cup Finals who have yet to subsequently win the competition

[Southport Zeb]

All four teams for number 2 lost a European Cup final to Real Madrid. Not sure if there is something more specific such as losing their only European Cup final (or finals in the case of Reims) to Madrid - thus excluding Milan and doing so in the pre-Champions League era - thus excluding Leverkusen.

[ursus arctos]

This demonstrates how DRs mind works differently from those of the rest of us, as we are failing on the one he finds easiest.

[3 Colours Red]

3 - Only teams in their countries to have competed in every season of their league's top flight? As opposed to not having been relegated (I don't know if Real Madrid and Barcelona were in the top division when it started).

[elguapo4]

That was my thought but St Patrick's athletic have played every season in the league of Ireland top flight

[Diable Rouge]

As you say, there will be more than those four to whom it applies, but none of them have ever been relegated (presumably none of the Dutch Big Three have either).

[ursus arctos]

Athletic Club, Barcelona and Real Madrid were all original members of la Liga and have never been relegated.

Internazionale are the only club with the same distinction in Serie A.

Following HSV's relegation, there is no such club in the Bundesliga.

Ligue 1 and its predecessors haven't had such a club for some time. OM have the most appearances (68) in a competition that is currently in its 81st season.

[Merlin the happy pig]

Haven't Nottingham Forest only won the league once?

[Gangster Octopus]

Yes.