apologies to helly- I wrote this, then I went to play the next grid- and we've both used the same clue for one! this wasn't intentional, sorry :)

In is not a direction

The full accepted terms included "directional prepositions" which definitely includes "in"- I don't write the entire list of accepted terms in the box you see, just a simplified version.

Oh superb! Multilayered, very cleverly crafted. 5*+

No worries, Lorna! Great minds think alike and all that... yours is really good :)

Man that was tricky!

Excellent

Incredibly ambitious but, for me Clive, I think the compromises made in order to maintain the wider conceit diminished the effectiveness of the individual groups. For example, having the same number twice in the numbers group; having all but one of the sporting equipment being golf terms; and the inconsistency in the nature of the terms (or maybe the necessarily broad spectrum of them, not quite sure how to phrase it) in the other two groups.

"one" 2ce was a deliberate red herring as people stop looking once they think they've found it; woods was a reference to bowls not golf (although it could be either); already explained the directional prepositions; food and drink- too broad? I've seen worse- but I do take your point, it would have been easier to just make a straightforward set of 4 groups with no double layer- but where's the fun in that? ;)

fun concept and groups very tricky - got the sport one with 2 seconds to go!

Didn't accept "man" as a link

Very creative,inspired!

you need more than that on this one, Mr Tom!