There were more problems on the Piccadilly line on Friday evening, echoing that 48-minute wait for a train some years ago, and one stop on the outward journey took nearly half-an-hour.

I hobbled up to the Vale Farm entrance less than five minutes from kick-off and found that the programmes had sold out. Wembley were ahead after about a minute, via a saucy free-kick routine, and produced the best display I had seen from a Wembley side for years.

The "Football Focus" cameras were there to see them romp home 3-0. They missed a penalty too, the Thame ‘keeper making a great one-handed save.

I watched the second half with a former FA colleague at Lancaster Gate in the ‘70s and we returned to Sudbury Town to see people coming away from the station saying "There are no trains!" It meant a 182 bus to Wembley Park – now looking very impressive – and a Metropolitan line train back to Blighty.

Saturday afternoon started inauspiciously. The blue sky became grey with heavy rain within five minutes of leaving home and, walking along Edgware Road to Marble Arch tube, I saw some poor chap lying in the middle of the road being attended to by medics after apparently coming off his motor bike at speed.

He looked in a bad way but at least he was conscious. Then a Central line train hurtled along to Mile End with me in it and I soon had the privilege of seeing Sporting Bengal United’s first ever home tie in "The Cup".

This Asian team, representing the Bangladeshi community, moved the ball around quickly and skilfully in the first few minutes against fellow Kent Leaguers Slade Green before going behind to a freakish goal.

Sporting’s No.3 headed back to his ‘keeper but the ball was well short. The latter rushed out and kicked it against the visitors’ No.7 as they collided. The ball then rolled gently into the net, the goal credited to the No.7 but he didn’t know much about it.

Slade Green were awarded two penalties in the last five minutes, scoring the first but having the second pushed away. Sporting’s Chairperson wrote in the programme: "This is the first time that Mile End Stadium is hosting an FA Cup match. This is truly a momentous occasion for the whole community. The whole club is very excited about this game and very much looking forward to kick-off". In a crowd of about 150 I couldn’t see any females.

The Barber’s "Cup treble" was completed at Yeading on Sunday afternoon and featured a tie between Rye United, technically at home, and Bedfont Green.

Formed in 1965, and now starting their second season in the Combined Counties League’s Premier Division, "The Green" were playing in their first ever FA Cup match.

After a goalless first half they scored with a mortar shell of a free-kick that nearly took the Rye ‘keeper’s hand off and later made it 2-0 as the big No.9 nudged the ball over the line with the sole of his right boot.

So Wembley, Slade Green and Bedfont Green go through. They are only 12 wins from the Final.