However, the match does hold some extra-special significance for David as he watches his 5,000th match.

By day, 54-year-old Barber is The FA’s historian and publications editor, but by night, and on weekends too, he visits scores of football pitches to satisfy his hunger for the beautiful game.

It all began for David on 5 November 1960, exactly 45 years ago tomorrow, when, aged just nine and in short trousers, he was taken to his first ever match. That, too, was an FA Cup First Round tie between Crystal Palace and Hitchin Town at Selhurst Park and his seat in 'Wing Stand B' cost his father half-a-crown.

Palace won 6-2, with future England international Johnny Byrne scoring the opening goal after ten minutes. David remembers that grey November afternoon very well and still has the match programme. It cost four old pence.

He joined the staff at The FA as a teenager in 1970, working in the International Department alongside the legendary Sir Alf Ramsey. He became the administrator for the England amateur team and Great Britain Olympic team.

David had a period away from The FA in the late ‘70s, graduating from Liverpool University with a philosophy degree before returning to Lancaster Gate to work in the Press and Publications Department. He has now been full-time with football’s governing body for more than 30 years.

Over the years he's seen some memorable action in places as far afield as Barbados and as near as Paddington Rec. He even went to four matches during the 1966 World Cup, including England’s quarter-final with Argentina.

David has been to 33 FA Cup Finals, citing Sunderland v Leeds United in ‘73 as his favourite, but has admitted that he will happily watch any kind of official 11-a-side match.

It could be a full international or a match in the Premier League, Football League, Conference, Conference Feeders or County Leagues. It could also be a women’s match, a youth match or a Sunday morning match.

David says: “I love the whole experience of going to a game, pushing through the turnstiles into that ‘altogether more splendid kind of life’, and it certainly hasn’t diminished over the years.

"Even today I’m often the first person in the ground. Every game is different, unique, and a Bournemouth Sunday League Division 10 fixture doesn’t have to be any less entertaining than one in the Premiership”.

He has compiled more than a hundred football annuals for The FA and those produced under his own name include We Won The Cup and The FA Quiz Book. He wrote the script for the Official History of Wembley video and has contributed a weekly column to TheFA.com for the last three and a half years called The Barber: Something from the Weekend.

“For someone like me it’s been amazing to spend virtually the whole of my working life with The FA. It’s been a fantastic privilege”, he says.

Barber Facts

Most prestigious match: Euro 96 Final, Germany v Czech Republic, at Wembley.
Most exciting match: England v Poland at Wembley in 1973.
Most eventful match: Isle of Wight v Sark on Guernsey in 2003.
Most unusual match: Wandsworth Police Station v Uruguay at Roehampton in 1990.
Best player seen: 'Cannonball' Cliff Holton, Palace star of the '60s. I've even got his autograph.
Most games in a month: 31. That was this August.
Most games in a week: 11. I've done that several times
Games played: I played a lot for The FA Staff team in the '80s, and I also played at school, but I don't count these.
Favourite ground: Church Road, Whyteleafe. It's like watching a game from the middle of a wood.
Longest walk from the station: Paghaml near Bognor. It was just over four miles.
Best soup: Definitely at Basingstoke. Their Beef & Tomato.

Don't forget, you can follow The Barber's adventures every week with us here on TheFA.com.