A Game for All

3rd round day arrived with a peculiar feeling, see this would be the first game we had been too which you could describe as local since the opening round the first time we did this. That meant a much more normal Saturday. In the morning I took JJ’s brother to the supermarket. Then JJ and I had lunch together in our own dining room. I still had time to pack up our bag (and a lot of warm clothes) before it was time to drive the 25 mins or so to the home of Oxford United. Now 3rd round day for me was always when the competition really started. The cup upsets felt bigger the stories would consume the papers. In this very round back in the 80’s it was rumoured Sir Alex Ferguson (back when he was just Alex) would of lost his job had Man United be knocked out by my beloved Forest. I remember watching the game and being so disappointed at the Mark Robins goal. Ok, ok I’ll stop reminiscing my point being this was always the start when I was young I never really understood the significance or...

So 2nd round day bought some proper football weather freezing temperatures greeted me on the morning of departure. Again due to the craziness of work I was really late organising tickets so late I hadn’t realised that the game was on Sunday cue some hilarity as I asked repeatedly for tickets for Saturdays game, much to the amusement of the ticket office. The club were excellent talking me through parking arrangements and where to collect tickets etc. So match day and an early start was required a because frankly it’s A bloody long way to Exeter and B Sunday’s mean a 2pm kick off. So with JJ medicated and in his car seat I knew i was guaranteed some piece and quiet. We had a relatively uneventful journey and came into Exeter with plenty of time. A stop at a big Sainsbury’s for a bathroom break as I had way to many drinks on the way down before we went to find some parking near to the ground. On the Blue badge we were able to park within a 5 min walk of the ground. Residents parking...