Here are the details:-

5023: Audit Commission 2 Abbey 2 (London League)
5024: Queens Park Rangers 1 Aston Villa 2 (FA Youth Cup)
5025: Sidley United 1 St Blazey 2 (FA Vase)
5026: Old Town 4 Wealden 4 (Youth)

The Youth Cup tie at Loftus Road turned out to be much closer than most people (including me) had thought. Villa, who have appeared in two of the last four finals, are top of their Academy League and were tipped for a comfortable win.

But after a whirlwind first few minutes, in which Villa scored once and could have had another four, the Rangers youngsters notched a slightly fortuitous equaliser and matched their opponents after that.

Some of the R’s fans near me at the back of the South Africa Road Stand were getting quite excited. One chap about three seats to my right spent the whole 90 minutes on his feet, shouting rude comments.

Instead of taking in Wealdstone v Folkestone on Friday night I opted for the thrill of watching the World Cup draw live on BBC 2. The last time Germany hosted the World Cup was in 1974.

I was watching one of the early group games on the telly when I suddenly felt the urge to go out there. I rushed out of the front door, passport and a few quid in my pocket, and took the first train up to London. Then I paid £25 for a return ticket to Dusseldorf and I was on my way.

I got there very early the following morning, bought some breakfast and slept in a park near the Rheinstadion before kick-off in mid-afternoon.

The game I had randomly selected was Sweden v Uruguay and I stood on the terraces as the Swedes won 3-0. (I think it was the Uruguayan manager’s last game in charge.) After the game I went straight back to the station and got the first train to London, via Ostend of course, and still in the same shirt.

Vase matches don’t always produce flowing football but what you do get is two teams who are desperate to win. Sidley United bravely fought back after being dominated for most of the first half by St Blazey, their Cornwall visitors who had travelled for more than six hours on a coach to be there.

At 1-1 Sidley had a good shout for a penalty (ball to hand, I think) and a goal disallowed which looked good to me (possibly offside).

Then St Blazey netted the winner with two minutes to go to earn them an away tie at Crook in County Durham in Round 4. That’s about as far as Purley to Dusseldorf.