The origin of the phrase is easily traced to the 1930’s when commentary on football matches began to be broadcast by the BBC.
The BBC’s schedule magazine, The Radio Times, devised a numbered grid system which they published enabling commentators to indicate to listeners exactly where the ball was on the pitch.
Square one was the goalkeeper’s area and whenever the ball was passed back to him, signalling the start of the forward movement of the team , play was referred to as being ‘back to square one’.
More Totally Useless Facts!
* The longest one syllable word in the English language is “screeched”.
* Technically speaking, a female “dude” is known as a “dudine.” .
* The average cat has 24 whiskers
* A champagne cork can travel as fast as 100 mph when it is popped.
* If you refrigerate your rubber bands, they last longer.
* Elvis was nearsighted and owned $60,000 worth of prescription sunglasses when he died.
* In the 13th century, Europeans baptized children with beer.
* In snow skiing most men fall on their faces, whilst woman fall on their behinds .
* The sun is visible 24 hours a day during the summer months in Reykjavik, Iceland.