I thought it might’ve been a touch of "Cup fever", with the Third Round Proper taking place on the first weekend of the year. I saw Watford play Crystal Palace on the Saturday, my first visit to Vicarage Road since the ‘70s.
My regular reader will know that my first ever game was Palace v Hitchin in the FA Cup First Round at Selhurst Park in 1960. My second was Palace’s Second Round tie with Watford, played three weeks later at the same ground. To my great disappointment it finished goalless, though I did see a Hornets player called Freddie Bunce rattle the bar with one effort.
Watford were winners in both 1960 and 2008. On the Sunday, 6 January, there was some FA Women’s Cup action at Hanwell for "The Barber". Barnet Ladies had a tough Fourth Round tie with Everton, a team packed with internationals.
Barnet had already lost 6-0 to the same opposition in the League Cup and this time a crowd of 91, well above the average, saw the home side go 3-0 down inside 17 minutes. I could only recall a couple of brief stoppages for injuries, but the ref played an extra nine minutes at the end of the first half.
6-0 down at the break, Barnet kept Everton out until the 82nd minute. Then there were three more goals for 9-0. There was a complete list in the programme of the Women’s Cup games played by Barnet Ladies (formerly "Wembley Ladies") and it turned out to be my 18th.
I had three days in bed with all the usual ‘flu symptoms, but ventured out last Saturday because it was dry and sunny – but chilly, of course. I saw Carshalton draw 3-3 with Staines in a Ryman Premier clash that was awarded five stars in "The Non-League Paper".
I’ve been watching the Robins since an FA Amateur Cup replay with Chobham in 1963, but this was my first visit to Colston Avenue this season. Our family lived in Carshalton in the ‘50s, before I had any interest in football, and I got off the train at Hackbridge to take a look at our old house in The Causeway.
Before Saturday’s game the home side had a very energetic warm-up, during which their Assistant Manager would shout at intervals: "Attack the cones!" The Robins made a good start, leading 2-0 after 12 minutes, but one of this campaign’s FA Cup heroes (Staines knocked out Stockport) came away with a deserved draw.
I may go to Charlton’s FA Youth Cup tie tonight – or stay in the warm to watch the live FA Cup game on TV.