WHAT a mistake! Tuesday, October 11, presented attractive opportunities to venture forth.

I had received a gracious invitation to watch Fairford Town, and Cirencester Town were at home to Stratford-on-Avon. However, England were on TV, playing a World Cup qualifier against Slovenia.

Still affected by jet lag, I settled for the sofa but England were awful!

They have, of course, been poor for some time.

Our national team are serial failures and despite a merry-go-round of manag- ers, everyone brings a false dawn.

Veteran spectators, like myself, remember when the opportunity to watch England was an occasion to anticipate.

Individual skill was on show and no matter what the result, there was a real chance of entertainment.

One England vs Scotland encounter produced 12 goals – the Scottish goalkeeper conceded nine of them and later had a short spell with Swindon Town.

Now, however, goals and skills are at a premium.

England have let us down too often.

The FA Cup is back. Never have I written a more inaccurate sentence.

It has been with us all season with preliminary rounds and three qualifying rounds already played.

Brimscombe & Thrupp, with six former Cirencester Town players in their ranks, had a record run and were hoping to earn a tie against Forest Green, but how many hopes and dreams in his marvellous competition come true?

I started the Forest Green trail at Sutton on Saturday, where there was an opportunity to see a game on a ‘plastic pitch’. The writing was on the wall before kick-off.

The match sponsors were named as ‘Green Waste To Go’.

Never was a truer word written.

Forest Green wasted their overall superiority.

Missed chances, poor dead-ball use and casual defending allowed Sutton to stay in the game, and their spirited smash-and-grab tactics eventually paid off.

To rejoin the coach, I had to walk past the celebrating Sutton fans and players.

Such was their spontaneous joy, I found myself uplifted. Sutton continue to dream. For them, the magic lives on.

At Forest Green next week, there is a book launch.

Chris Gardner, chairman of the Gloucestershire Deaf Association, has written The Rise and Rise of Forest Green.

The book describes the trip to the play-off final at Wembley.

Jilly Cooper will be there, as indeed she was at Wembley.

I am sure it will make fine reading, and of course I am looking forward to the sequel out next season.

The title will surely be Football League, Here We Come!

Preacher at the parish church on Sunday morning was Sheran Harper, a worldwide trustee of Mothers’ Union.

I wonder how many in the congregation realised she was the wife of Roger Harper, who was a distinguished player for the West Indies.

Rogers bowled off-breaks and was an especially fine fielder, particularly off his own bowling.

Did he not once run out Graham Gooch?

Rogers, who played as an overseas player for Northamptonshire, is now coaching back home in Guyana.

I am delighted to hear of a recent cricket amalgamation.

This one seems unlikely as it is between Northleach and Minety, at least 20 miles apart.

It makes complete sense, however, as pitchless Minety were playing at Northleach.

From the embers of these two clubs, the strong flame of a new team will surely emerge.

It is the best news I have heard since next year’s Cheltenham Festival will again have two four-day games, and our opponents in one of them could be local rivals Wiltshire.