I HAVE suddenly become the most popular man in Cirencester. Smiling strangers accost me in the street or supermarket aisle. They laugh or commiserate. Many offer gifts of the edible variety, many containing red meat. You will all know why.

Forest Green Rovers have introduced a ban on burgers, sausages and that football stadium staple – the meat pie.

I write in this column not just about the football – that would at times be too depressing. I write about an afternoon at the match. I love the whole experience.

These days my diet is, for medical reasons, restricted. No Whiddets Lardy Cake, no Walkers cream buns, one matchbox-sized portion of cheese a week. I am sorry to inflict upon you such personal hardship, but I will endeavour to lift the mood.

A visit to the Forest Green Rovers refreshment bar is one occasional treat. Service is excellent, the food is enjoyable and Mrs Light sees to it that I do not over-indulge.

What now? The engaging Emma gave a hint that the menu would be widened when I visited the previous week.

When the chicken dish, on offer in the Green Man for the Hayes match proved so successful, this was a tremendous opportunity.

But any new dishes must be placed alongside the old ones.

Chairman Dale Vince deserves some heartfelt thanks for saving our club. But in PR terms he has scored a crucial own goal in banning meat.

In my rural childhood I heard the phrase “They can be led, but they can’t be driven”.

It probably referred to cattle, but how appropriate it is to football fans. We are a conservative bunch. The improving menu could have been used to point us gently in the direction that Dale, a vegan, wants us to go.

The backing of the Supporters Club and Trust should have been enlisted to ease the way forward.

As chairman it is much better to be a leader than a driver. Those of us who in our professional lives have tried to be the latter have the scars to prove it.

Now back to the real world – the use of ball boys! I have heard rumours that training and health and safety reasons are a reason they are not used at FGR.

I have solved it by writing a handbook. I quote it in its entirety. “Fetch the ball – be careful”. Let common sense prevail.

There seems to have been a lack of common sense at Southport on Saturday. I spent the afternoon in an increasing state of disbelief. Surely it was all a dream. Styche not used; Bartlett sent off for elbowing. None of the many friends Bartlett made when at the Cirencester Academy believe he is that sort of player.

Now for Darlington. One word of warning. Their centre forward Liam Hatch makes Reece look like little Miss Muffet.

What splendid cricket news for the county! To hear a glowing Alex Gidman announce the signing of Murali was a moment of joy, especially as Cotswold cricket watchers can see him in action at Gloucester on June 10 and 12.

He is a cheerful and engaging character who will certainly love the intimate atmosphere of Archdeacon’s Meadow.

He has signed for two years and this more than anything shows the county’s real ambition.

Murali is successful at every level – T20 or five-day Tests – and is the sort of player to whom our younger players will respond. More than 800 Test wickets is a figure that speaks for itself.

To see a world record holder playing in the county town, under the shadow of the cathedral is a prospect to relish.

The ghosts of Bomber Wells and Tom Goddard will be looking on approvingly. We all should be.

Now John Bracewell will be upping his search for an up-andcoming overseas batsmen to put pressure on his top six.

The stumbling block is that visas are only now given to players from international squads in the last three years.

Instead, does anyone know of a good overseas player with an English grandfather?

The two cricket occasions at Hatherley and Reddings were first class. The Board’s annual meeting showed the game in the county is in good hands. Steve Silk and his team are leading us forward.

To present the County League awards was a privilege. My real education was not ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels and a degree at a Thamesside University, it was on the cricket fields of the Cotswolds, graduating at the Cheltenham Festival.

I learned lessons and made friends that have lasted a lifetime. Mind, there were problems.

As a Sheepscombe lad I found myself presenting deserved awards to Cranham and as a former Rodmarton player to Cherington & Avening. I consoled myself with the thoughts that my grandmother was a Causon from Cranham and Cherington had to amalgamate before they won anything.