"The pile of logs in front of me was rapidly diminishing as I turned it into kindling. ‘WAGS!’ I shouted, and down came the axe again. ‘Bloody, bloody WAGS!’, and another thundering blow sent chippings everywhere. ‘Ferraris!’ ‘Penalty shoot-outs!’ ‘All hype and no do!’ And with each incantation the blows came raining down, but still I felt no better..." Read more

"The second half started with the Brentford Bees swarming all over Barnet. Four minutes into the half Charlie Ide was felled in the box and the ten men of Brentford had a penalty. Kevin O’Connor made no mistake. Terry Butcher danced on the edge of the pitch. Paul Fairclough scribbled busily and removed his jacket. The Brentford supporters were a hive of activity, leaping, shouting and singing, and the Wendy House fell silent..." Read more

"The night grew colder and as I put on my second fleece Peter Jackson took off his suit jacket and stood outside the dugout, hands on hips, looking like an accountant whose figures were not adding up.
Chester won a corner on the right and Lincoln’s Lee Beevers, who had been holding the home defence together, was taken off in pain nursing a dislocated shoulder. His replacement Danny Hone came on for his debut, adding a fourth entry to the list of fathers and sons who have played for Lincoln..." Read more

"Another squall of rain whipped across the ground. At the back of the Car Wash Terrace was an advertising board showing a mob of kangaroos hopping across a sunny beach, oblivious to the soaking they were getting. In front of the North Stand seven very young cheer girls were shrinking down into their red tops, with hands almost too cold to hold onto their pom-poms. With ten minutes to go before kick-off the Shrimpettes swung into their routine. Their trainer and two even more diminutive apprentice Shrimpettes danced on the touchline to lead the troupe, and also to keep warm. The routine ended with the young ones rushing on and the enlarged group forming three pyramids which swayed precariously in the wind..." Read more