By Neil Ravenscroft
October 23 2003

I know it's my own fault that I missed the summer holidays and have to go away at October half term, but why did that idiotic fixture computer set up two home games? I remember the good old days before computers. There was a bloke down at the Football League whose job it was to sort out the fixtures every year. Because he had a brain, you used to get a short trip for Christmas, for example, with the return at New Year. Brilliant! Not much travelling to do and some real blood and thunder double clashes.

Whar happens now? God knows. That computer at HQ this season seems to have had a fit of two at home, then two away, rather than home one week and away the next. It has decreed a trip to Cardiff for a noon kick off on Boxing Day, instead of Albion, Coventry, Derby, Stoke or Forest.

Of course, there is some bitterness in this, mainly because, having had to forgo our summer hols for health reasons, I did promise a holiday at October half term. This means I am travelling to Cornwall this Saturday and back next Saturday.

What with not making away trips, having to take the daughter to University open days, I won't have seen the lads for weeks by the time I get to my next game!

Bring back the little man at the Football League now. Always did hate computers, anyway.

On the news front, Baird has signed for another month and most of the site staff will be on hoilday next week, but we'll try to keep up to date!