Crossword Genius

Football, perhaps gold and black (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

orb

'football perhaps' is the definition.
(footballs are spherical)

'gold and black' is the wordplay.
'gold' becomes 'or' ('or' is the heraldic name for gold).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'black' becomes 'b' (as in pencil classifications).
'or'+'b'='ORB'

(Other definitions for orb that I've seen before include "ball with cross" , "Heavenly body" , "Spherical object or shape" , "Ornamental globe" , "Royal sphere (paired with 13 across)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app