1. Saw my sister get married to a Manchester City fan. He goes frequently, but his brother goes to every single City match. He asked me for advice ahead of their trip to Santander and I have done the same about a possible trip to Deportivo La Coruna. Who says charity doesnâÂÂt begin at home?
2. Had a very pleasant conversation with Andrew Cole about being in my next book. HeâÂÂs well up for it and weâÂÂll meet for lunch in Cheshire on January 5. He wants to give his fee to charity.
3. Interviewed the former Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards at his house for almost three hours. ItâÂÂs no squat. He wants to give his fee to the worthwhile body that is the former Manchester United players association.
4. Watched United at Stoke. As I stood in a queue for a pie outside the ground, a Stoke fan sidled up to me and said: âÂÂI really hope we beat The Shit today.â They didnâÂÂt. Bunny, the former editor of a Stoke fanzine, was much more cerebral company â but he still hoped theyâÂÂd beat us, obviously.
The away end in full
5. Spent a week getting over the jet lag from the trip to Japan. For the first six days after my return I woke up between 4 and 5am. It was worth it â itâÂÂs not often that you see your team crowned champions of the world.
6. Received a sledge for Christmas from my dad. IâÂÂm 35 and spend most of my time where itâÂÂs sunny. I donâÂÂt need nor desire a massive wooden sledge. I told him this and he looked at me like a little boy lost. IâÂÂve received your emails and yes, IâÂÂll dedicate a future blog to the lunatic who, when once introduced to my then girlfriend for the first time, said: âÂÂDear me love, youâÂÂre horny.âÂÂ
7. Stood with AltrinchamâÂÂs kit man when he received a call from their manager with the news that they had beaten York City 2-1 away with a late winner. Oh to witness the joy on his face. Football gives those moments of unconditional happiness. IâÂÂll watch them play Northwich Victoria in the Cheshire derby on New YearâÂÂs Day but have refused his offer of a free ticket. Clubs like Alty need money on the gate.
8. Sat at a table as a beautiful dancer whoâÂÂs done the Moulin Rouge and all the big Paris shows came over to say hello. The cat was away but the mouse didnâÂÂt play. My sister used to dance with her and IâÂÂve not seen her for a few years. 20 minutes into a conversation, she asked what I was doing the following day. I replied: âÂÂIâÂÂm going to pop in at Kendal TownâÂÂs ground to take a picture and then get back to Manchester." "Oh,â was her reply.
"Not tonight luv, I'm off to Kendal"
9. Sold fanzines as the temperature plunged to minus 4 outside Old Trafford before the Middlesbrough game. Not good. IâÂÂll reward the other sellers and writers by treating them to pictures with the four trophies won by United in 2008 at Old Trafford.
10. Had a birthday beer in Tokyo. Word spread fast. By the end of the night, it seemed that every Manchester United lad was in the bar. There were even some who havenâÂÂt received banning orders. A great night.
11. Received a request to write a match report for the Club World Cup final in Tokyo from a national British newspaper. The request was sent the day after the match when I was on a flight homeâ¦
12. Met three Pachuca directors in a Yokohama bar and stayed out with them until 5am. They were extremely posh, well-educated Mexicans. By the end of the night IâÂÂd persuaded one of them to give Finch a trial and one of my travel partners, a TV presenter/journalist who I shall write about in a future blog, had them standing up singing La Bamba. And Please DonâÂÂt Go by KWS.
A Happy New Year to you all.
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