This crossword No. 21972 clues and answers were published on Wed 09 Aug 2000 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 21972 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – A man for all seasons? : SPICER
5-across – Fascination of ecclesiastical body with weaponry : CHARMS
8-across – Put duck back in pot, for it’s on the house : ROOFTOP
9-across – West gets around in Wales : MAESTEG
11-across – The Queen! – toast in fashion in Belgravia : VICTORIASTATION
12-across – Scoff, perhaps, at 11 : RAIL
13-across – Paperback about awful stench near Salford : MANCHESTER
17-across – Unpopular beat for coppers? : ESTATEDUTY
18-across – Coca Cola’s method of seeking a contract? : ACOL
20-across – Women tend to be erratic with course of action for long-term provision : ENDOWMENTPOLICY
23-across – Regret over Rome’s destruction : REMORSE
24-across – A painter is comparatively smart … : NATTIER
25-across – … but his rejected output shrinking and worthless : TRASHY
26-across – Officer on unknown outpost : COLONY
All Down Clues and Answers:
2-down – Outlaw professional writing : PROSCRIPT
3-down – Fruit – a hag almost swallows it : CITRON
4-down – Traveller goes over the brink and gets the rap : REPRIMAND
5-down – Albert, writer of Tree Climbing : CAMUS
6-down – A girl gets old without the means : AVERAGES
7-down – Saul’s clan involved in numerous matrimonial disputes : MATRI
8-down – Constable’s qualification, for example, is helpful to drivers : REVERSEGEAR
10-down – Common stainer – with Punjabi blood? : GENERALDYER
14-down – What the doctor ordered after Tom became morbidly inflexible : CATATONIC
15-down – Schemer’s play opening in strange antic : TACTICIAN
16-down – They may investigate race matters : STEWARDS
19-down – Hood left over the door : PORTAL
21-down – It’s almost modest to hesitate : DEMUR
22-down – The old soldiers held up their adversary : ENEMY
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.