Hi, Quizmonster. Thanks for your handsome apology.
My problem, of course, was that once I got 'regal', it didn't occur to me that it might be wrong, so I was pursuing this impossible A*G*T*O Red Indian, and becoming increasingly frustrated!
I thought there were other 'iffy' clues, too - in a long life of devotion to football, I never heard of a goalie 'keeping net' (1 down), for example.
No, not one of The Times' finest for me, I'm afraid - on the other hand, one up for answerbank for putting me on the track!