On Saturday I am going to Watford via Littlehampton and Horsham. Or I could get a bus to Crawley, but my mother tells me I haven’t had all my inoculations! Not really of course. Crawley is lovely and the bus goes to Three Bridges actually.

Crawley themselves are in the FA Cup fourth round, against that other renowned cup team Torquay United. When was the last time two Sussex teams were in the fourth round of the FA Cup? I hear you ask. Never actually.

The Albion played Watford at Vicarage Road in the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1984 and lost 3-1.

I didn’t go to that game sadly. Watford went on to the final and the “lady in red” Steve Sherwood was beaten in an aerial challenge with Andy Gray for the second goal at Wembley. Gray looked offside to me, do you think he knows the rules?

Albion are still top of League 1 and can’t get knocked off top spot until at least Saturday 29, and that is only if we fail to get a point at home to Colchester and Bournemouth thrash Plymouth at Home Park at the weekend.

Now back in 1984 I attended Hove Park Upper the nearest school to The Goldstone.

My dear OLD 40-something friends are having a bit of reunion on Saturday, mainly to discuss the good old days. You know, Coasters, bowling at the King Alfred, discos at the Lansdowne Hotel and a flat in one of the Avenues for 40 grand. Sadly though it's Hertfordshire and Dancing on Ice for me.

So as brief as a Labour Shadow Chancellors career, I’ll be off.

But I will back with great gusto in February and the inevitable fifth round cup tie at home to Chelsea.

Here’s hoping!