6400 and some Albion followers will descend on Villa Park this Saturday. That’s like almost all Brighton and Hove’s traffic wardens having a day out en mass.

There has been a bit of a hoo ha getting tickets. This has involved the equivalent of splitting the atom and firing a space rocket into a minute angle of trajectory. But that is all child’s play compared to having to work out if you are a Gold, Blue or White member and then following the instructions on how to purchase given by the club. If Einstein were alive I expect he say ‘‘sod it, I don’t understand I’ll listen in on the wireless instead’’.

Not really of course I have a ticket. I followed the instructions given by the club. Even to a techno fool like me it was easy.

Everyone is talking about the match, except in Birmingham I expect. Though from what I can work out most Villa fans think 'Four Poof’s and a Piano' are certain to turn up.

Now, the Albion haven’t played Villa in a first team fixture since November 1982 and haven’t beaten them since 1980.

If Saturdays match programme contains a 'when we last met' page, it will no doubt show men with bouffant hair and very tight shorts. I actually bought the last Villa Park, Villa/Albion programme from eBay.

It does indeed show Sammy Nelson and Steve Gatting with bouffant hair and very tight shorts. Neil Mcnab is ambling along by the touch line, so I know it’s a genuine photo.

Sammy lives quite near me.Next time I see him at the Post Office I’ll show him the photo. He loves all that.

Apart from the Manchester United trip in 1993, my previous memory of the 4th round is a trip to Bolton’s Burden Park in 1992. The Albion lost 2-1 and Paul McCarthy practically caught the ball in the area, to give the hosts the chance to win from the spot.And of course they did.

However, I was greatly cheered up by Stuart Hall’s summing up of the match during Sports Report’ on our way home. In his closing sentence he described a moderate match as a game of colours ‘’Bolton in plain white, Brighton in plain crazy’’.

If you’re going, enjoy your day. If you are one of the many Albion fans rumoured to have a ticket in the home end. Remember its’ ‘’Aorright Skip. Buustin’’. Post Script.The accompanying picture is from the era when Brighton last beat Villa. It is of course Lewes Road Viaduct.