It was dry on Friday evening and during the night. But heavy rain in the morning, which showed no sign of stopping, made me doubtful there would be any football.

Oddly, I called Eastbourne Town at 1.30, due to host Chipstead in a Ryman Div 1 South fixture, and a very brief conversation went like this.

The Barber: "Hello. Is the game on this afternoon?

Town: "Yes, it is."

About 15 minutes later, Mum took a call in the flat.

"Please tell your son David that the game is actually off this afternoon."

But how did they know it was me who had called?

Then I phoned Eastbourne Borough, who were at home to Bognor, and Eastbourne United, reserves at home to Eastbourne Town, and both times a lady told me the game was off. Not the same lady, obviously.

I went down to the shops around three o’clock: Town’s pitch looked playable, but with the rain continuing to lash down, it would’ve been in a right old mess if they’d played on it for 90 minutes.

Shopping on a Saturday afternoon. What a nightmare.

After no football for five days, something I hadn’t experienced since June, The Barber saw an FA Youth Cup Third Round tie between Crystal Palace and Hull City at Selhurst Park last night. I went via Selhurst Station, retracing the steps I made 47 years ago on the occasion of my first-ever game.

The sweet shop in Holmesdale Road, where Dad used to buy me a bag of 'shrimps' (pink sweets in the shape of shrimps), is now somebody’s house. In those days there was only one stand and it was half-a-crown for boys. Prices start at 25 quid now.

I calculated that my seat, 184 in Row 25, was more or less exactly where I was sitting for Palace v Hitchin in The Cup on 5 November 1960. But I had no-one next to me this time.

It finished 1-0 to the Young Eagles last night, but it could’ve been 5-5. I’ve been to nine FA Youth Cup ties this season and they’ve all been excellent. If it’s not too cold tonight, I’ll do a double-header at Market Road that will take me up to 100 games for the season and 5,432 all told.