What about Stevie Wicks?

My sixth and last pre-season friendly was a west London derby between two clubs who achieved promotion last season. Hayes & Yeading United are now in the Conference Premier after their play-off win at Hampton, and Brentford were League Two champions by six points. The Bees’ first team looked slick in the first few minutes, scoring after three and 14, and ended up 3-0 winners.

So the superfan’s six friendlies were all away wins and the six home sides managed just one goal between them. Now there’s plenty of competitive league football to look forward to at the weekend. I have my eye on Coulsdon United v Chobham in the Combined Counties League Division One.

Prior to Saturday’s kick-off at Church Road there was a minute’s silence for Sir Bobby Robson, one of football’s great personalities in the last half-century. ‘Bob’ was a colleague at Lancaster Gate for eight years and I remember going through his correspondence with him in the first couple of years. Whether it was an organisation needing a message for a publication or a young child asking for a badge, Bob would insist on helping every single one.

We went to a game together once, a League Cup replay at Chelsea. “Do you fancy going?” he said. We met downstairs at reception after work and walked along the Bayswater Road to my place in Holland Park. Almost every ten yards someone would greet that very popular guy. “Alright, Bob?” they’d be calling from cars, taxis, shop doorways, people walking along the street.

We travelled to Stamford Bridge on the District line tube and it was packed solid. A lot of Chelsea fans noticed the England manager travelling with them. “What about Stevie Wicks then, Bob?” asked one chap, referring to a big Chelsea defender of that time. Bob was relaxed; it was all good-natured. A man of the people? Always.

I’m writing this at Wembley Stadium, where The FA moved this morning after nearly nine years at Soho Square. The move has suited me but then again, even if The FA had been relocating to the moon, it’s the only organisation I’d want to work for.