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[edit] Merseyside Quiz Leagues

[edit] History and Organisation

Mql logo.jpg

The MQL logo features Odin's Ravens. Huggim represents Thought and Mummim represents Memory.

The first Quiz League in the world was formed in Bootle in 1959 with just ten teams, making it one of the oldest in the coumtry. Now the MQL consists of teams spread amongst six large areas, the largest independent quiz league in the UK:-

The six areas are:

  • Liverpool
  • Northern (Bootle, Waterloo and Crosby etc)
  • Ormskirk
  • Southport & Formby
  • Warrington
  • Wirral


League Matches are played once a week during the season, which extends from September to March. Other MQL competitions include:-

  • Challenge Cup (open to all teams)
  • President's Trophy (Inter-League Division one, representative sides)
  • President's Shield (Inter-League Divisions Two, Three, Four representative sides)
  • Feeny Cup (Competition for the top three sides in each Division One)
  • Rendon Cup (Competition for champions and runners-up in all other divisions)
  • Mimir Trophy (an individual competition - open to all)


Additionally, each league organises its own knockout and/or cup competitions either during or at the end of the season.

Each area organises its Leagues via Local Committees. Representatives from the Committees serve on the MQL Council which takes decisions of overall importance.

Quiz teams come from pubs, clubs, works, local government, offices, churches, sports and political clubs etc. Players come from every walk of life.

All matches are played strictly in accordance with MQL rules which are continually refined and brought up to date. The rules are published annually together with fixtures and general information. Each playing member is issued with a handbook at the start of each season.

Highlights of the season - apart from the various Finals - are the Area Presentation Nights and the MQL Presentation and Finals Nights - at which an array of cups, shields, mementos are distributed.

Prior to each season, teams register and present their own sets of questions. Strict security is observed to prevent fore-knowledge of question sets.

A number of leagues make annual contributions to charities.

Since its inception, MQL has helped other areas in the UK to form similar associations - and in some cases ex-members have carried the gospel overseas.

The appeal of the Quiz League is difficult to define. At the top levels, matches are played in a spirit of fierce competition, whilst lower down the scale the "Quiz Night" is more of a friendly social occasion.

For several years MQL supplied the teams and questions for BBC Radio Merseyside's Merseyquiz knockout competition. In 1976, an individual competition was introduced with a unique format which ensures that players have an equal chance of answering questions without reliance on buzzers, extra bonus points etc. It is called the MIMIR competition and is named after the Norse god of wisdom.

In 1979, the Leagues adopted a depiction of Odin's Ravens as its badge and logo. One called Huggim represents Thought, the other called Mummim represents Memory.

After nearly 50 years, stories, jokes, legends and. myths about the Leagues abound, and have become part of the social history of the area.


External Links [1]